ricktavious

Hey guys, my girlfriend found a tank that is "several times bigger" than the current 3 gallon tank we have for our beloved betta, Ricktavious. I'm guessing it's somewhere between 10-15 gallons. I have not seen it yet, nor will I for around a week when I get back to Ricktavious.

When we first got Ricktavious, we kept him in a 1.5 gallon bowl (my goodness, I feel horrible about not knowing better ). Then we got him a 3 gallon tank, but put him in without cycling it properly (once again, MY GOODNESS, feel horrible thinking about what could have been and my ignorance ).

So with that being said.....with the "many times bigger" tank, would it be safe to put Ricktavious in the much bigger tank, condition it Prime, and let the tank cycle with him in it? I would definately not want to put him in harm's way, but am also anxious to get him into a bigger tank. Please help me out betta experts!

capekate

Against all advice on cycling tanks.. I can tell you that I have put all my Betta's in uncycled tanks when I bought them. If it were any other tropical fish I would say no, to cycle first. But Betta's are hardy fish and so many have been conditioned to live in fishbowls that have not been cycled, but lived fine with constant water changes. So I would say IMO that yes, you can set up your new tank for him, add the prime to the water, get it to the appropriate temp* and add your Betta. Check the water with tests and do your water changes, at least a 25% water change every four days or so. Before you know it, your tank will be cycled. I have not had any problems or lost any of my Betta's doing it this way. Do you have any filter media from another tank that you can add to speed along the cycle process? If you do, I would add that as well.
~ kate

Phloxface

I say yes, go ahead. I have cycled all my tanks with a fish in it and never had a problem. I used Prime and NovAqua+ (they can be used together while cycling because they mostly serve different functions).
Use the gravel you currently have in the 3 gallon (add the extra new gravel first and put the old gravel on top) and use the same "dirty" filter media or add however much of it you can to the new filter. Don't leave the filter media out of the used tank water and don't rinse it in "new" water. This will help seed the new filter with bacteria.
Do 20% water changes every second day and test your levels. It should cycle faster if you have gravel and filter media from already cycled tanks.

armadillo

Cycling with fish is supposed to reduce their lifespan, but how is one to tell whether such and such a fish died of his ripe age, or whether his death was precipitated by having gone through a cycle?

Phloxface

That is only if you allow the fish to be exposed to high levels of ammonia, nitrite and nitrate while doing it. The way I cycle they are not exposed and I do not believe it harms them in any way.
Some people, especially newbies, simply put the fish in and let the tank cycle. Sometimes the fish will survive this but his health will be comprised because of the bad condtions it lived in for several weeks.

COBettaCouple

another one of those imponderable questions.. but using a detoxifying water conditioner does help minimize stress and damage to the fish population.

armadillo

Mmmmh. Do you reckon my fish will be equally unaffected if I've cycled with fish, but using Prime? Sorry to go briefly off subject here, but it's been on my mind.

They were exposed to massive levels of ammonia and nitrites as they were in temporary accommodation with plecos that had diarrhea (wish I was kidding). You wouldn't believe the speed these n'ites/a'nia went up at. Crazy. I was doing 2x daily water changes and still they were up the roof for a while.

COBettaCouple

they probably were affected some i think - that's a LOT of toxins, but the Prime most likely kept it to a minimum.

Phloxface

Cycling normally though with one fish only and no one having the runs, Prime will protect the fish totally if you keep up with small water changes and keep using Prime as your conditioner.

chickadee

As long as you keep the ammonia level below .5 and the nitrites below 1.0 and the nitrates below 10 with water changes and test every day you can cycle any fish almost in a tank. I cycled with a betta and he did fine with small daily water changes in a 5 gallon hex tank so what would a 10 gallon be different but need larger changes maybe every 2 or 3 days. Testing will still need to be done for ammonia EVERY day. When the nitrites start to show up then they also need to be tested for EVERY day to make sure you are not allowing him to be poisoned by them. Otherwise, I see no danger in it.

You do have to allow the ammonia to build up some to allow the bacteria to grow and have something to feed on so you cannot remove all of it or your tank will never cycle, so don't fall into the trap that says NO ammonia. Just keep it below .5 or if that makes you feel squeamish .25.

Rose

armadillo

hi hi hi, I love your disclaimer there (in bold)