Filter pads in unfiltered betta tanks

[Raechal]

I had a few new filter pads I had bought from a yardsale for fairly cheap and I've had no use for them since so I stuck them in my filter of my 120 gallon for a sday to pick up "good bacteria". Then I stuck each one in my bettas' tanks. Will this automatically cycle their tank? The smallest tank my betta is in is a 5 gallon, the rest are in 10 gallons and only one of them is filtered.

Would I still have to do water changes every 2-3 days like I normally do?

 

[SPLiSH]

Good idea! Although it won't automatically cycle the tanks, it will speed up the process a lot. I'd still do frequent water changes, just to be safe.

Edit: Spelling.

 

[BettaMomma]

I put a scoop of gravel into my boy 10G tank from my cycled girly 10G tank, and it apparently instantly cycled. I tested their water every single day for weeks, and there were no significant spikes in ANYTHING. So, I would have to say that it's entirely possible for that to happen to you with your filter bacteria