Got tank from a friend and woried about it cycling

[coolerpooler]

Hey im new to the site and not sure if this is the correct place for this thread but i got a 5 gallon salt water tank from my friend that got deployed. I went to the local aquarium and they told me how to transport tank and fish inside. He had lost track of cleaning so tank was pretty nasty when i got it i have now cleaned most of it up but im worried it might cycle. The numbers arent at 0 my salinity is spot on but nitrite is at 1 not sure on nitrate. The reason this worry started is my chocolate chip starfish is looking pretty sad im going to post on the invertebrates section on that topic. but any help would be appreciated

 

[Reefer69]

A cycle will happen. Maybe frequent water changes?

 

[ErinCahir]

Keep lots of water on had for water changes. It will prolong you cycle, but it gives your livestock a better shot of surviving. (Don't change more than half the water at a time and make sure the temperatures are really close.)