How do I preserve bacteria during a tank move?

[Ringoffire]

I am picking up a 55g established and cycled tank tonight. I will not be able to set the tank up till in the morning. The filter is not coming with the tank, only some of the decor from in the tank. I know it's possible that some bb live on the ornaments and such. Should I try to preserve the bacteria that is living on it during transport? Possibly just put them in a 5gallon bucket with treated water?
Also the tank previously housed gold fish but it will be freshwater tropical. Should I even try to preserve the bacteria to jump start the cycle or do I just clean everything and start a brand new cycle? It's coming from my sister so I'm not too worried about disease and such. Plus it will be fish less cycled till I move my few fish over to it. Problem is I still don't have a seeded filter to put on it as I am still fish-in cycling my 10 gallon tank. A brand new filter will be going on the 55g now, then once the 10g filter is cycled it will be moved over as well.

So the questions are:
Should I try to preserve the bacteria from a goldfish tank to a freshwater tank or clean everything and start fresh?
And if so what do you suggest as the best way to preserve them overnight?

 

[tnfinfan]

All you need is a bucket of dechlorinated water to put them in. Dry bacteria is dead bacteria but wet bacteria with access to oxygen will live for a long time without fish. Weeks. Overnight is no biggie. If it's very cold where you live, take care not to leave them outside. They don't like to freeze either.

 

[ArtistGardener]

BB from a goldfish tank is fine to jump start your new tank. If you know your sister's fish weren't ill recently, it should be fine to reuse decorations.

 

[mrvincent]

You only need to keep media wet with tank water.