1st Post - Need cycle coaching

[Creature From The Tank]

I've never done a 5 gallon, planted betta tank. Just started cycling 2 days ago. No plants or fish yet. Just inert substrate and hardscape for now. I borrowed filter media from my goldfish tank. My heater is set to 78°. I had my timer light on the first day and a half, and then read I should not being using a light during cycling. Ugh! What else shouldn't I be doing? As for fishless cycling, I have no idea what I'm doing, LOL. Yes, I've read countless cycling articles, but it's just not clicking. Maybe I should mention I got my very first D in 12th grade chemistry, LOL. It's day 3, what am I supposed to be looking for? Water's looking just a bit cloudy. I'm not using any carbon. I have an API Test kit. I'm not use to dealing with an uncycled tank. Help!

 

[Colin_T]

If you took some established filter media from another tank, you don't need to cycle the new tank. Just add dechlorinated water, plants, then let it run for a couple of days and add a fish.