Starting A Betta Fish Aquarium

Question
Hi, I want to start out right with a male Betta.  I am planning on an Aqueon 5 gallon mini bow tank. It has what they call a quiet flow filter (whatever that is).   Do I need to cycle the tank (I am clueless about that).  What are all the products I need to care for him.  From water testing and curing to food, additives and medicine. Products I have are Spendid Betta Complete Water Conditioner, Kordon Fish Protector with Vitamin B12 and Echinacea, Aquarium Salt, freeze dried brine shrimp and Hikira Bio Gold Betta Pellets. I use bottle drinking water because our water is very hard and leaves lime deposits on the tanks.  I bought a male scarlet viel tail betta and I got all my advice from a major pet store chain.  And none of it was good!  I started out with a 2 gallon bowl and no heater and after researching online switched to a 2.5 gallon tank with a heater but it was too late.  I feel like I have learned a lot by trial and error.  I have spent and wasted a lot of money on equipment.  I also have a snail that the pet store said was an apple snail.  They said I didn't need to feed him.  Doing further research online I don't think that is true either.  But I don't know what he eats.  He doesn't eat my live plants.  He doesn't appear to eat brine shrimp or Betta pellets.  I plan on him living with the Betta.  My beautiful Edward Fishy Fins lived with him for the few weeks I had him and they got along fine.  My two little boys and I loved our Betta and miss him.  He had such an awesome personality!  I am really sorry I didn't have good information to keep Edward alive.  Poor guy.  We want to get it right this time!  Any advice you have we will be happy to hear.  Thank you very much.  P.S. I am not in a rush for an answer.  I would like to buy a new tank and start cycling it by mid-March.

Answer
April,

Looks like you learned the hard way about big pet stores no nothing about the fish they sell. The 5 gallon tank would be the best thing for him. As for the filter, Betta's do not need nor do they like filters. The long fins and tail make him a very slow swimmer. The heater he definitely needs and needs it set at 82 degrees at all times. Since they breath air like we do it is not necessary to cycle his tank. Just make sure you use the water conditioner each time you change the water. Getting a water test is a must. Stay away from the test strips, they are unreliable. The liquid testing kits are the best. You will test the water weekly and also do weekly water changes of 25%. Even though your water is hard it will be better for him than the bottled drinking water. There are things in the tap water they need that the bottled water does not have. As for the snail, he eats the waste from the fish. I would watch them though Betta's like snail snacks. You can have one that will leave the snail alone but the next one will try to eat it. Make sure the salt is used only for treating illness and injuries. Do not put it in his water all the time. The freeze dried brine shrimp is a good treat but not for everyday feeding. Frozen blood worms and brine shrimp would be better for him along with the pellets. I hope this has helped and if you have any more questions don't hesitate to ask.