Cycling Question

[ChaseTheBetta]

I'm getting a new 5 gallon tank for my new betta. It's a Top Fin one, with a regular filter (can't remember the name of the filter). I'm wondering if I need to do a fishless cycle before I put the betta in? I have a 2 gallon with a UGF and I didn't cycle it before I put the betta in, I just let it sit for a few days.

I've heard that bettas don't need cycling, but I want to be sure.

 

[Phaedra]

I don't see why they wouldn't need cycling. They're like any other fish in that they will suffer from ammonia and nitrite spikes. In fact, I have read that bettas suffer in uncycled tanks, that they are more sensitive than other, hardier species.
If I were you, I'd get some filter media from the old tank and then introduce the betta.

 

[ChaseTheBetta]

That's what I thought, too. But some people say that bettas are hardy fish and don't need cycling. But I think I will do the cycling.

I can't use filter media from my other tank because it has no media. It is a UGF. But I can take gravel from that tank and put it in the new one.

 

[gilaesther]

It will never hurt a fish to go in a cycled tank.

Ammonia will always hurt a fish...

Good job going with the cycling.

 

[rdd1952]

Because bettas produce so little waste, you don't necessarily need to do a full fishless cycle. Probably the best option for you would be to take some of the gravel from the tank with the UGF in it and place it in the filter of the new tank. That would give you bacteria from the start. That's not to say the tank will be cycled but you will at least have a jump start. I only say this because you have a UGF. Otherwise, there is very little bacteria in the gravel.