Reddit mentions of Marina 50 Air Pump

Kits tend to be more expensive and lower quality compared to buying things separately.

A 5 or 10 gallon tank from petco, pet smart, pretty much any pet store is usually only around $15 max.

An air pump, some airline tubing and a sponge filter, all about $12.

A simple adjustable heater, $9 and a thermometer, $2.

Water conditioner, a small bottle is like $6.

Those are the vital basics, for about $35.

Another thing that is a bit pricier but ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY to get as soon as possible is a liquid drop water test kit which currently on Amazon is $22. Do not get the paper test strips, they are a bit cheaper but they are completely inaccurate and they'll end up costing more because you need to keep buying new ones.

A test kit will be absolutely necessary to cycle the new tank, which, if not done carefully, can kill the fish.

If your friend can't get the test kit right away, I'd check around your local pet stores, because often times they'll offer free water testing. Until then, do big water changes (at least 50%) every day to be fairly sure the water is kept clean and safe.

I've had two bettas (separated) sharing a 5-gallon portrait tank while I've been trying to cycle a second identical tank. Several months in and several restarts later I'm having zero luck fishless cycling, despite having been successful in the first tank. I mean, the first tank is really doing well, apart from having two fish in it.

So I'm starting "fresh" (so to speak) in the new tank, completely replaced the water twice (Prime both rounds), next I'm trying a sponge filter; I've ordered a biologically active sponge and a small air pump, the idea being when both arrive I'll plop them in and have cycled media.

Other than the obvious API test kit tests, is there anything I should have to do before moving one of the bettas into his new tank? Should I continue running the powered filter while the sponge is going, too?