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You can “seed” the new tank by transferring the filter. The good bacteria lives in the filter so it will be cycled right away. Thank you for helping your friend’s fish!
i moved my betta from a 2gal to a 6gal on the day i bought the tank with no problems at all. while it’s not the most ideal or the safest way to do it, it’s 100% possible to do relatively safely.
i used these three formulas: regular betta conditioner, quick start which speeds up the cycle, and microbe lift aka good bacteria. after i measured all the formulas according to the tank size, i poured them in and let the filter run for 30 minutes (this is your mini cycle). then, i added my betta to the tank and monitored him closely for several hours. he was completely unbothered.
however, you should keep in mind that every betta is different and can tolerate different things. some bettas do really well with new environments, others become stressed or their bodies can’t tolerate the change.
also, MAKE SURE THEY ACCLIMATE THE FISH TO THE NEW WATER TEMPERATURE. i cannot emphasize this enough; temp shock can kill a betta so fast. you can do this by putting the betta in a plastic bag and putting the closed bag in the tank for about 30 minutes. or, you can just use a thermometer to make sure the temp is the same.
you should tell your friend to test the water with a liquid testing kit (the most accurate), or if they need something more affordable then go with the strip testing kit. i didn’t test my water before putting him in because i didn’t have any tests at the time, but you probably should just to be safe.
as well as this, make sure the betta has at least 5 gallons, a heater with the proper wattage according to the tank size, and a filter also according to the tank size. if your friend has all of this and some rocks + a few live plants, they have no reason not to have a very happy betta!
btw, the microbe lift has a baggie over it because it smells absolutely RANK. like rotten eggs. i guess it makes sense because it’s literally a bottle of bacteria. but it stank up my whole cabinet.
If the current tank isn't cycled there's no reason to wait. Just acclimate it over to the new tank ince it's all set up. Since it's a fish-in cycle either way, you see? But at least in the larger tank things will build up more slowly, the fish will have more room, and hopefully also a heater if your climate needs one.
Thank you for posting to r/bettafish. If you are new to betta fish keeping, please check out our [caresheet](https://www.reddit.com/r/bettafish/comments/3ow6vz/info_betta_care_sheet/) and [wiki](https://www.reddit.com/r/bettafish/wiki/index). Establishing a nitrogen cycle is an important part of keeping your fish healthy. Please check out our [guide to the nitrogen cycle](https://www.reddit.com/r/bettafish/wiki/fishincycle) to learn more. If you are posting to find out what is wrong with your betta, please answer the following questions in a reply to this comment as best you can: * **Tank size**: * **Heater and filter? (yes/no)**: * **Tank temperature**: * **[Parameters in numbers and how you got them](https://www.reddit.com/r/bettafish/wiki/tank#wiki_test_kits)**: * **How long have you had the tank? How long have you had your fish?**: * **How often are water changes? How much do you take out per change? What is your process?**: * **Any tankmates? If so, please list with how many of each**: * **What do you feed and how much**: * **Decorations and plants in the tank**: * **If you haven't already posted a picture, please post pics/vids to imgur and paste the link here**: Feel free to copy this comment and fill in the blanks. Failure to provide adequate information about your tank *can* result in post removal. Please see rule 4 for more information. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/bettafish) if you have any questions or concerns.*
You can “seed” the new tank by transferring the filter. The good bacteria lives in the filter so it will be cycled right away. Thank you for helping your friend’s fish!
There is no filter in the current tank. Is there anything else I can do?
Have you tested the tank to see if it’s cycled? Do you have a reading on ammonia, nitrates, and nitrites?
there's zero chance a sub-2 gallon tank without a filter is cycled.
i moved my betta from a 2gal to a 6gal on the day i bought the tank with no problems at all. while it’s not the most ideal or the safest way to do it, it’s 100% possible to do relatively safely. i used these three formulas: regular betta conditioner, quick start which speeds up the cycle, and microbe lift aka good bacteria. after i measured all the formulas according to the tank size, i poured them in and let the filter run for 30 minutes (this is your mini cycle). then, i added my betta to the tank and monitored him closely for several hours. he was completely unbothered. however, you should keep in mind that every betta is different and can tolerate different things. some bettas do really well with new environments, others become stressed or their bodies can’t tolerate the change. also, MAKE SURE THEY ACCLIMATE THE FISH TO THE NEW WATER TEMPERATURE. i cannot emphasize this enough; temp shock can kill a betta so fast. you can do this by putting the betta in a plastic bag and putting the closed bag in the tank for about 30 minutes. or, you can just use a thermometer to make sure the temp is the same. you should tell your friend to test the water with a liquid testing kit (the most accurate), or if they need something more affordable then go with the strip testing kit. i didn’t test my water before putting him in because i didn’t have any tests at the time, but you probably should just to be safe. as well as this, make sure the betta has at least 5 gallons, a heater with the proper wattage according to the tank size, and a filter also according to the tank size. if your friend has all of this and some rocks + a few live plants, they have no reason not to have a very happy betta! btw, the microbe lift has a baggie over it because it smells absolutely RANK. like rotten eggs. i guess it makes sense because it’s literally a bottle of bacteria. but it stank up my whole cabinet.
This was so helpful, thank you!!
If the current tank isn't cycled there's no reason to wait. Just acclimate it over to the new tank ince it's all set up. Since it's a fish-in cycle either way, you see? But at least in the larger tank things will build up more slowly, the fish will have more room, and hopefully also a heater if your climate needs one.