Question: Tank Cycling using Betta Filter Medium?

[Neomorph99]

Hello there,

I'm new to this forum so apologies if this topic would fit better elsewhere. I am trying to get a tank cycled for 2 axolotls who are currently being tubbed. I read that you can use filter media from an established tank to seed a new aquarium with the beneficial bacteria. I don't have another Axolotl tank but I do have a Betta fish community tank that is cycled and healthy. Can I put a used filter from the Betta tank into the Axolotl tank? I wasn't sure if Axolotls could catch something from my fish. The temperatures of the two tanks are also quite different (betta tank is 82 degrees F and Axolotl tank is 64 degrees F) so I wasn't sure if that temp change would kill off the bacteria. Would this be okay to try?

I was also playing around with the idea of Aqueon Pure Bacteria Balls - are these any good?

Thanks in advance for any ideas!

 

[JM29]

Cycling is cycling.
The beneficial bacteria treat ammonia whatever source it comes from.
You can put a used filter from your Betta tank but make sure your filter won't be stopped (without water flow) more than a few dozen minutes, otherwise the bacteria will suffer.

As for Aqueon pure bacteria balls, I don't know personnaly this product but a reference says it is unuseful, inefficient :

Bacteria-in-a-Bottle Review

Bacteria-in-a-bottle products that claim to cycle an aquarium in one day simply do not work.

aquariumscience.org

 

[Neomorph99]

Cycling is cycling.
The beneficial bacteria treat ammonia whatever source it comes from.
You can put a used filter from your Betta tank but make sure your filter won't be stopped (without water flow) more than a few dozen minutes, otherwise the bacteria will suffer.

As for Aqueon pure bacteria balls, I don't know personnaly this product but a reference says it is unuseful, inefficient :

Bacteria-in-a-Bottle Review

Bacteria-in-a-bottle products that claim to cycle an aquarium in one day simply do not work.

aquariumscience.org

Thank you for the information! That is helpful.