Help! My Tank Broke, I Need Emergency Setup

[cat w]

Last night my daughter's 10 gallon tank with Mollys and neons got broken, I was not home when it happened. There was about 2 inches of water left, most of the fish survived and were taken to the neighbor who set up a 5 gal tank on the spot. Not sure what chemical she used, but they lived through the night. Today I'm off to buy a new tank, but I need to get it set up ASAP. They neighbors tank doesn't have a heater and it was cold last night! We've only had the tank about 2 months and are definately beginners. I do have little packets of stress coat+ and stress zyme+. I also have some of the old water and the old tank filter. Could I use them to help get my tank going? Is there a magic chemical I can buy? I really want at least some of these fish to live, as they belong to my 6 year old and we have about 10 tiny week old balloon bellied molly babies. (They're so cute when they're not in the carpet!)

I really need some advice! Do to household drama, I barely slept last night and I'm kinda sick, so please keep responses simple so my ADD doesn't send me into despair! Lol....

Thank you!
Cat

 

[fluttermoth]

As long as you use the old filter in the new tank, your fish should be fine; at least as long as the filter media (the stuff inside it) is still wet, anyway.

There really isn't anything you can buy; what you need is the bacteria living in your old filter

 

[Noahs ark6]

DId the filter sponge become dry? if so the bacteria will have died off. If it didn't, you can put that in the new tank, wait an hour or two, test the water and if all the parametres are good you can add the fish. If not, you will have to do a fish in cycle or borrow some media from a fish keeping friend.
EDIT--Woops, same time post

Make sure you acclimatise the fish over a period of an hour or two because they have been in cold water

 

[cat w]

As long as you use the old filter in the new tank, your fish should be fine; at least as long as the filter media (the stuff inside it) is still wet, anyway.

There really isn't anything you can buy; what you need is the bacteria living in your old filter
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What should I use to treat the new tapwater?

 

[Noahs ark6]

You must always use a dechlorinator (removes chlorine from the water, chlorine damages there slime coat). The stress coat you mentioned is a dechlorinator, but make sure you add enough

 

[cat w]

DId the filter sponge become dry? if so the bacteria will have died off. If it didn't, you can put that in the new tank, wait an hour or two, test the water and if all the parametres are good you can add the fish. If not, you will have to do a fish in cycle or borrow some media from a fish keeping friend.
EDIT--Woops, same time post

Make sure you acclimatise the fish over a period of an hour or two because they have been in cold water

The filter is still wet, should I put a little water from the bottom of the old tank in there too?

 

[Noahs ark6]

That won't do any harm, but it isn't necessary

 

[cat w]

You must always use a dechlorinator (removes chlorine from the water, chlorine damages there slime coat). The stress coat you mentioned is a dechlorinator, but make sure you add enough

OK- Thank you, luckily I have premeasured little packets of the stress stuff....

Thanx for the advice! I'm off to the store for a new tank. I'll let you all know if everyone lives!

 

[slimeneo]

As long as you use the same filter, the fish will be fine Remember, the filter media should never come in contact with tap water without dechlorinator, or else the bacteria will die. I hope all the fish survive!

 

[cat w]

It looks like most of the fish are going to make it. We lost a 5 or 6 I think, not too bad all things considered.

Thanx for all the help!