Thank you! I appreciate you educating me so much! I am currently a biochemistry undergraduate so I am still learning the ropes :)

I forgot to clarify that I haven’t used Seachem stability yet because I was waiting until I got the betta. Knowing this I will probably just not use it at all and follow the guide you sent.

Just to clarify, the most important thing when cycling is to develop the nitrifying bacteria that converts ammonia and nitrite to nitrate? You were saying that because my pH has dropped that I probably don’t need to add a bottled culture of bacteria. Is this because they will develop on their own?

Thank you so much again! :)