Suggestions For Bowl To Tank Cycle?

[Hegrey]

Hi All- love to have some suggestions; I've got an unusual situation (for me). Little background, I have four separate 3.5 gallon, established betta tanks. I've always done fishless cycles then purchased my livestock post.

Now, long story short, I have a rehomed betta in a bowl that I'm taking on (probably less than 1 gallon). Surprisingly, the water's pretty decent- he's got great ph, nitrates, nitrites, & ammonia, so he's not in as dire straights as I thought-

I have a tank I can clean out and cycle, in the meantime he's hanging out in the bowl. I'm looking for suggestions for the smoothest transition. Media from the other tanks? A full switchover w/ the bowl's current water and media? Would that be enough to seed the tank, or better stick with conventional methods then acclimate him and his media? Any suggestions welcome!

 

[75g Discus Tank]

Use a bit of media to cycle the tank.

I wouldn't hold the betta in the bowl.

It's better to do a fish in cycle than using a bowl.

 

[Hegrey]

Use a bit of media to cycle the tank.

I wouldn't hold the betta in the bowl.

It's better to do a fish in cycle than using a bowl.

That was my first thought- sort of the lesser of two evils, but the bowl's levels are actually perfect atm, so that's what's giving me pause. The one fish-in cycle I ever did (first tank), it took me many months to repair a nasty outcropping of fin rot. So I'm a little hesitant.

 

[75g Discus Tank]

That was my first thought- sort of the lesser of two evils, but the bowl's levels are actually perfect atm, so that's what's giving me pause. The one fish-in cycle I ever did (first tank), it took me many months to repair a nasty outcropping of fin rot. So I'm a little hesitant.[/QUOTE
The quality of the water will drop worse in a bowl. It may seem perfect now,but the quality will drop quicker as there is less water to dilute the ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates. The quality will be much worse than a fish-in cycling tank. also, the temp will drop. It's more dangerous to keep the betta in the bowl than in a cycling tank.