Welcome to the boards, and to the hobby.

The cycle probably did start, but it takes quite a while and usually you should be adding food or something to the water to help it along.

A 5 gallon is a small tank for goldfish. They produce a lot of ammonia (their waste product). It can take 4-6 weeks for a cycle to be complete, and if it gets interrupted it can take even longer. You should also be using spring water not drinking water. I don't know the exact difference, I just know you should use spring water or if you use tap water (which I guess is the same as drinking bottled water) you should be using a water conditioner because of the chlorine in the water. It kills fish.

In my opinion you shouldn't add any chemicals used to lower ammonia, nitrite or nitrate during the cycling process because that will mess the cycle up. There is a bacterial additive you could try, well two you can try if you can find them: biospira or cycle. Cycle is sold at most pet stores.

Hope this helps.
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Phishie
Site Coordinator

"An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."

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