Seeding a betta tank

[DaveSch]

Great information in this article:
https://www.fishlore.com/aquariumfishforum/threads/seeded-fish-in-cycling-method.531514/
But, I do have a few questions.

I'm setting up a 6 gallon betta tank and I put a new sponge filter in my established 40 gallon community tank yesterday to start seeding it. When you say a "few" weeks, would two weeks be enough for bb to seed it?

I don't have a HOB on the 40 gallon, I have a cannister filter a pre-filter. Does it make sense to squeeze the pre-filter once or twice in the betta tank just after adding the seeded sponge, or would the additional organic matter complicate things? Or is it better to just take some bio-media from the cannister and put it next to the seeded sponge?

How long after the seeded sponge is in the tank should I add a betta? You say a "few" days, so more than one but I'm guessing that if I wait too long that the bb will run out of food.

 

[Lucy]

Great information! But, I do have a few questions.

I'm setting up a 6 gallon betta tank and I put a new sponge filter in my established 40 gallon community tank yesterday to start seeding it. When you say a "few" weeks, would two weeks be enough for bb to seed it?

Hi welcome to FishLore!

I have moved your question from the article since every tank is unique. The answers in a new thread will best suit yours.

I usually put the filter media in the established tank for about 2 weeks. You can add the betta at the same time.
Never had an issue. Might want to keep an eye on the parameters just in case.

A betta doesn't have a huge bioload so you should be fine. I'd avoid squeezing a dirty sponge into nice clean water

 

[BigManAquatics]

I run 2 sponge filters in all my community tanks, so when i want to set up a new betta tank, i just replace a used fikter with a new one, put the old one in a betta tank and add the betta right after, more or less, once the tank is warm enough.

 

[bgarthe]

Yes…..two weeks would be fine. You could probably do it the same day as I was allowing for temperature. Perhaps a few days is too long to wait. I’m just a forced slow poke when setting up newer tanks.

 

[DaveSch]

Thanks for the answers and clarifications! It looks like this will be an easy process.