Sticky Situation... (urgent!)

[McCool]

Well, to start out I'll say this has turned into a mistake and just a cluster.
A couple of weeks ago, I tore down my bettas tank (forced to) and had to house him in a 1 gallon temporarily until I got my new tank for Christmas. The 1 gallon is not filtered, however I have been changing the water religiously and all has been fine. So I got my new tank, a 5 gallon, and immediately set it up. Mature media filter, plants and all. Surprise! We are going out of town for ten days! This was not good news for me. We are leaving in.... 3 hours! I don't know what to do. The new tank is obviously not done cycling, but if I leave the betta in the 1 gallon there is no one to change water. I put another filter stuffed full of mature media on the 5 gallon about 3 hours ago, and I just tested and I have 1.0 of ammonia! And to top it all off, I'm out of both Nitrite and Nitrate test! Surprise vacations are not a fishkeepers friend!
I really don't know what to do. We have no one who could come over and change water, and I fear losing my betta. What would y'all do? I'm honestly freaking out right now....
It's either leave him in an unfiltered one gallon where ammonia is sure to build up, or risk putting him in a cycling tank....
By the way, The cycling tank has a clump of Java moss, a big sword and a smaller sword in it. I can add another big sword too. It has one makeshift 10 gal. Filter with lots of mature media than the tanks actual filter with some mature media.
The 1 gallon has a bubbler and I can stuff it full of live plants if need be.
Please help!

 

[MBOU]

All I can think of is... have you got a big plastic storage box? Anythingthat holds water that is as big as poss!! He would be better off in a high volume of water, it will dilute the waste products that he produces.... with an airpump and a filter if possible... he'd likely be ok...

 

[McCool]

All I can think of is... have you got a big plastic storage box? Anythingthat holds water that is as big as poss!! He would be better off in a high volume of water, it will dilute the waste products that he produces.... with an airpump and a filter if possible... he'd likely be ok...

I did have one that was around ten gallons, although I'm not sure if I still do. If I do it's out in the garage, and I'm always afraid anything out there has been contaminated by chemicals. I do have a filter and airpump though..... I have a 5 gallon bucket... But that's pretty much the same as the tank...
I'll see if I have anything, but it probably wouldn't be anything bigger than 10 gallons, if that.

 

[MBOU]

Find the one outside if you can and give it a good wash, it will likely be fine!! Use boiling water to rinse it out and water as hot as you can to scrub it and rinse it again... the more water the better because it will be uncycled....

 

[McCool]

Find the one outside if you can and give it a good wash, it will likely be fine!! Use boiling water to rinse it out and water as hot as you can to scrub it and rinse it again... the more water the better because it will be uncycled....

Sorry for the late update! I found the tub and set it all up with plants, a filter and a bubbler and acclimated him! When we left he seemed happy to explore, and I'm thinking in that much more water he'll be okay. He's a pretty small little guy. Thank you so much for the help!

 

[#1 Fish Fan]

I've missed out on all the action! Anyway have a nice time and hopefully your betta will as well.

 

[McCool]

Bad news today :'(
We got home today and I found him in a clump of java moss. I'm not sure if he couldn't get out or if perhaps it got a little too cold. The weather got a little cooler than we thought it would, and my parents turned the heating in the house down a little more than I thought they would.
Thought I'd throw a picture of him up, excuse the quality!

I've had him the longest out of all my fish, around 2 years. Usually the death of fish doesn't bother me too much, but a bit distraught over him as it could have been avoided.

 

[#1 Fish Fan]

Bless him!

 

[Shelster]

Oh that's rubbish so sorry! We had a power cut this morning, and that was stressful enough for me!

 

[Jenste]

So sorry for your loss - he was a stunning looking guy!

 

[McCool]

Thank you for your kind comments Atleast now I have more time to set up my new tank and such.
Thank you for all the help y'all!

 

[BigFish01]

Sorry for your loss. Very frustrating indeed. good luck with the new setup!!

 

[McCool]

Sorry for your loss. Very frustrating indeed. good luck with the new setup!!

Thank you!

 

[MrsM]

sorry for your loss

 

[McCool]

sorry for your loss

Thank you