Is my water safe for betta?

[Despreauxb]

I've had my tank set up for a while and my testing kit just got here. My levels are ;
Ph 7.6
High range ph
7.4
Amonia level* .25
Nitrate o2* 0ppm
Nitrate o3* 0ppm

I was told to add fish food to help start my levels over a week ago. I plan on getting a betta (its a 10 gallon tank) and I think my ph is just a little high. According to the book my ammonia level should 0 but I read under .5 is healthy? And I have 0 Nitrate which I feel like I need. I added some live plants in today and im hoping to get my betta in 5 days. What can I do to fix my levels?

[Aiken Drum]

You arent cycled.

Is the water safe to put in a fish? Yes.

Will the water stay safe for your betta? No, because you arent cycled.

You need to cycle the tank. You can either do a "fish in" cycle, where you maintain safe water parameters through regular testing and water changes, or a "fishless" cycle where you dose ammonia to replicate fish waste until your cycle is complete and then add fish.

Each method will typically take 3 to 8 weeks.

Do you have a preference?

I would read up on the nitrogen cycle.

[Aiken Drum]

Some articles for newcomers.

https://www.aquariumadvice.com/forum...d.php?t=154837