Fresh Water With Filter?

[Htw]

Ok guys, a question about water.

You can keep a betta in a tank with fresh water, doing frequent water changes.

You can keep one in a cycled tank with filter etc doing weekly [or so] water changes.

Can you keep one in a tank with fresh water and a filter running and doing frequent water changes?

I ask this because my cycled tank may not quite be ready for a new boy and I have another suitable tank which does have a filter and it seems a shame not have it on , even if only to distribute the heat around. I know boys are not keen on filters but this one is ok.
Not sure if having the filter running would class it as cycling even though the water would be changed a lot more often.

 

[SarahFish]

sure you can

 

[Htw]

When does it become classed as cycling, because surely the filter will start to mature, even though it would be slow. Or does changing the water [ and how much are we talking here ] make the difference?