Fish Tank Issues (not mer related. just pet fish)

[Mermaid Pickles]

I just adopted a fishtank full of platies. Now I have to clean it without a pump, because the pump my coworker had was messed up. I've got the fish in some other treated water, but now I have to clean the other stuff. What do I do? And I have to get this done tonight. But the other water treatment stuff takes twentyfour hours to work. And the last of the quick-working stuff got used on the water the fish are in. And there's not enough water for the full fish tank.

[Mermaid Pickles]

Oh, an I haven't had fish in years.

[Elle]

The best I can suggest is that you is to empty out half the tank water. If the tank is gunky get a clean cloth that has no chemicals on it and wipe out what you can.
If there are any stones or plastic plants in the tank you can wash them in plain water (you can use warm water if you want.)
put all that back in your half empty tank, and let the water settle.
Float your fishies in a plastic container for an hour (Add any left over clean water that the fish have been in to the tank too.) and slowly add tank water to the container.
continue to do this until there is no point in the plastic container (this process can take a while depending on the size of the tank and how much water the fish are currently in)

As for new water having to be treated, do that now! in a separate container so that when the 24hrs are up you can add it straight to the tank.

Platies are usually reasonably hard wearing so a bit of untreated water isn't going to overly hurt them. Just add slowly, and give them at least 30min to adjust.
I've got guppies and angelfish and have had to do this and they're all fine.

[Mermaid Pickles]

Thanks. I actually have to leave them in the container until tomorrow until I can go get some more water treatment stuff, because had to literally SCOUR the whole tank, because my coworker hadn't cleaned it in two months. I asked her, and she said it had been two months. GAH. SO the fishies should be fine, I just have to splash around the water a bit so they have air. BUt that also means doing so whenever I wake up during the night. Oh well, not the end of the world.
Tomorrow, I'm putting the stuff back in the tank, and putting water in, and the treating that water, and then putting the fish in. I have to get the quick-working stuff....and put the tank up in my bathroom until I finish cleaning my room.

[Mermaid Pickles]

But yeah, my MOM said to do that, so I shall listen to her. Moms know best. Sometimes. But yeah. I pay her rent, so she'd better know best.

[Elle]

They'll actually be fine without the air for that amount of time. as long as the container isn't airtight (so there isn't a closed lid) they'll be fine for a day or 2.

[Mermaid Lorelei]

Also be careful about keeping the tank in the bathroom. If you take a hot shower, you can shock the fish with the change in temperature. :P They should be fine otherwise.

[Mermaid Pickles]

Thanks, and I feel really odd saying this, but I take cold showers. I do, it's weird, but I don't like taking hot showers. The tank is cleaned, I put new water in, two of the babies got nommed overnight, the other three are fine, ran(literally) two miles to a pet store, got some new water treatment stuff, filled the fishtank, put the water treatment stuff in, plugged in the air thing, and put the fishies in. They're happy. And They're staying in the bathroom until I get a table that I can put the tank on in my room.