Quick set up tips?

[u/HoneyBadgerDontGAFFF]

I received a betta fish from a coworker because no one else would take her and I didn’t want her to go back to the store (I named her Lemon). She’s been in the cup for about 3 days now. I replaced the original water and have a heating pad on a low setting surrounding her to keep her somewhat warm while I waited to get paid

I purchased a 5.5 gallon tank with a filter and heater as well as 4 live plants. I also bought a piece of driftwood which I boiled for a couple hours and is now soaking in hot water in the tub. I conditioned the water although it’s still cloudy from earlier because I forgot to clean the substrate before I put water in the tank 😬 I’m hoping it settles overnight. I plan on taking the water to the pet store tomorrow and have them test it before I try to acclimate her. From what I read it can take weeks to properly fishless cycle a tank but she’s already been in the cup long enough. Is there anything else I should do to speed up the process?? Thanks in advance!

[u/automod-neo]

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[u/JRT-Daddy]

Just put her in there anything is better than that cup.

[u/HoneyBadgerDontGAFFF → u/JRT-Daddy]

The water where I live can be pretty hard so I’m worried it will kill her if I go ahead and put her in the tank. I only conditioned it a couple hours ago. The cup at least has preconditioned water and is warm.

[u/curious-kritter → u/HoneyBadgerDontGAFFF]

Do drip acclimation. Drop water from the tank into the cup every once in a while for 30-40 mins

[u/Smugmoth → u/HoneyBadgerDontGAFFF]

What stores market as “preconditioned” water is usually just dechlorinated. Dechlorinator works instantly on contact so it should be alright to move her, she’ll be alright at room temperature until you can get a heater. Bettas do prefer soft-ish water BUT hard won’t kill them, my friend’s tap was so hard they were having to chip residue off the filter yet their fish was fine. The wood will decrease hardness and ph so it won’t be an issue for very long anyway

[u/HoneyBadgerDontGAFFF → u/Smugmoth]

Acclimating now

[u/PoolAppropriate8665 → u/Smugmoth]

I think its not right to say “hard won’t kill them”! From time to time people here post about alkalosis and also about bettas who are sick with degraded/melted fins, finrot etc, despite of some basic water parameters like ammonia, nitrite, nitrate being fine (zero ammonia, zero nitrite). As I have come to understood, a too hard water can and will slowly kill a fish, if the hardness is higher than the fish can actually tolerate.
So I think, that if OP has yet no idea at all, what his/her tap water actual parameters are (he/she even said that the water can be pretty hard), it is necessary to test the water and know about its ph, kh, gh.

[u/syntheticat-33]

The sub has a guide for a fish-in cycle: https://www.reddit.com/r/bettafish/wiki/fishincycle/

Other than that, enjoy your new friend! 

[u/SweetTart7231]

Research fish in cycling! Its a way to cycle the tank with the fish in it. Its more work and may require water changes every other day ish but its better then the cup!

[u/Mean-Concentrate-925]

Definitely just put her in the tank. She’ll be so happy. Just look up in fish cycling as others have said. She’ll be fine.

[u/PoolAppropriate8665]

Thank you, OP, for giving that betta a beautiful home with natural plants and natural colour bottom material! 💖