How to ship coral? - Aquarium Advice

MsBeanCtr · 04-15-2008, 05:33 PM

I don't know where to post this question so I'm gonna guess....

I'm shipping some corals to someone and I'm just curious if anyone has done this and if you can add any suggestions?

For example-should I add a heat pack during this time of the year? Is it ok to ship a hammer coral and frogspawn in the same bag? etc..

TIA!

**Ziggy953** · 04-15-2008, 05:43 PM

You should never ship more then one coral in a bag. Depending on where you are shipping it you may want to use a heat pack. I'm still using them becuase it is cold in those airplanes and the overnight temp is still pretty chilly in most of the country. Double bag the corals and pad the box.

MsBeanCtr · 04-15-2008, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ziggy953

You should never ship more then one coral in a bag. Depending on where you are shipping it you may want to use a heat pack. I'm still using them becuase it is cold in those airplanes and the overnight temp is still pretty chilly in most of the country. Double bag the corals and pad the box.

Thanks! I'm trying to keep the box size down but still ship all the corals that I want. Is there a general guideline for amount of water in the bag with the coral?

Oh! and is newspaper or noodles the best for shipping?

Thank you again!

cmor1701d · 04-15-2008, 06:33 PM

If you search for the Kudos to Ziggy953 posting I made a couple of weeks ago you should get an idea of how Ziggy packs them. Just enough water to cover the coral and plenty of air space, double bagged, boxed with peanuts surrounding the corals. The box is lined with styrofoam and there is a heat pack in with the corals.

**Ziggy953** · 04-16-2008, 01:14 PM

I have used and still use both peanuts and or newspaper. I would rather use the peanuts though. They work much better at keeping the bags from shifting around in the box. You don't want to put too much water in the bag but you want to have enough to keep the coral covered as the package is moved around. Lining the box with foam is one of the more important things I do when shipping a coral. It keeps the heat in and it adds protection to the corals.

MsBeanCtr · 04-16-2008, 02:15 PM

Thanks Ziggy-I got a styrofoam box from the lfs and I've got a huge bag of peanuts so I should be good to go. Oh, and I've also got the heat packs so I think I'm ready. Thanks very much for all of the info. I really appreciate it!

fijiwigi · 04-16-2008, 10:01 PM

I checked the forcast it will be below freezing here in Washington State here is my Local 10-day forcast 10 Day Weather Forecast for Yakima, WA (9890

- weather.com Possibly even some snow. Kinda depressing It was about 80degrees last Saturday I was loving it. now some snow a week later its crazy

yellowtangs · 05-01-2008, 09:39 AM

Never ship more than one item in a bag. Always check the forecast for all areas that the container will pass through. Always ship next day air. Make to label the box "live Animals" or "live fish"

**lando** · 05-03-2008, 01:07 PM

I prefer to tripple-bag the corals. Making sure the open ends of the bags are oppisit the one it is covering. I use a couple of rubberbands to close the first two bags and use a plastic zip-tie (the kind used to bundle wirering) on the outside bag. A broken rubberband can spell disaster for the shipment. I also tape the lid to the cooler completely closed and place the cooler in a plastic bag, tied on top before adding it to the shipping box. Heat packs are great, just make sure they are the 10-12hr kind. Place them between the side of the cooler and the packing peanuts and not directly on the corals bags. Also, do not use the peanuts and disolve in water. While I am a huge fan of those for environmental reasons, you do not want a leaky or broken bag to melt the peanuts. I have had the best luck shipping FedEx Express overnight. IF possible, have the receiving party pick up the package at the local hub instead of putting it out on the truck for delivery.

Sorry...I just saw the date of this post and it seems I am a bit late to the party. Anyhoo...maybe someone else can put the tricks here to work.

Innovator · 05-03-2008, 01:45 PM

Not sure if mentioned, but I will add that using small styrofoam squares or circles can be used to hang lps and soft corals to keep them floating in the bag (reduces possible damage), holding them upright (or is that updown) allowing water movement in and around their tissue instead of sitting stagnant at the bottom in their own waste.

04-15-2008, 05:33 PM	#1 (permalink)
MsBeanCtr Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Washington State Posts: 516 Images: 9	How to ship coral? I don't know where to post this question so I'm gonna guess.... I'm shipping some corals to someone and I'm just curious if anyone has done this and if you can add any suggestions? For example-should I add a heat pack during this time of the year? Is it ok to ship a hammer coral and frogspawn in the same bag? etc.. TIA! __________________ If you can't run with the big dogs - stay on the porch! *Adopt a retired greyhound *

04-15-2008, 05:43 PM	#2 (permalink)
Ziggy953 Aquarium Advice Addict Community Moderator Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Sumerduck, Virginia Posts: 3,091 Images: 5	You should never ship more then one coral in a bag. Depending on where you are shipping it you may want to use a heat pack. I'm still using them becuase it is cold in those airplanes and the overnight temp is still pretty chilly in most of the country. Double bag the corals and pad the box. __________________ Happy Reefing! *120 Build in progress 6/18/08* Visit our Article section for answers on a variety of topics. LFS, PWC, PH RO/DI what in the world? Look here! Pods, algae and more!

04-15-2008, 06:33 PM	#4 (permalink)
cmor1701d Aquarium Advice Addict Community Mentor Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Belle Mead, NJ Posts: 3,562 Images: 43	If you search for the Kudos to Ziggy953 posting I made a couple of weeks ago you should get an idea of how Ziggy packs them. Just enough water to cover the coral and plenty of air space, double bagged, boxed with peanuts surrounding the corals. The box is lined with styrofoam and there is a heat pack in with the corals. __________________ Click here to Vote for Aquarium Advice on AquaRank . Vote EVERY day! Click Here for a list of commonly used acronyms and abbreviations. ____ Cmor

04-16-2008, 01:14 PM	#5 (permalink)
Ziggy953 Aquarium Advice Addict Community Moderator Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Sumerduck, Virginia Posts: 3,091 Images: 5	I have used and still use both peanuts and or newspaper. I would rather use the peanuts though. They work much better at keeping the bags from shifting around in the box. You don't want to put too much water in the bag but you want to have enough to keep the coral covered as the package is moved around. Lining the box with foam is one of the more important things I do when shipping a coral. It keeps the heat in and it adds protection to the corals. __________________ Happy Reefing! *120 Build in progress 6/18/08* Visit our Article section for answers on a variety of topics. LFS, PWC, PH RO/DI what in the world? Look here! Pods, algae and more!

04-16-2008, 02:15 PM	#6 (permalink)
MsBeanCtr Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Washington State Posts: 516 Images: 9	Thanks Ziggy-I got a styrofoam box from the lfs and I've got a huge bag of peanuts so I should be good to go. Oh, and I've also got the heat packs so I think I'm ready. Thanks very much for all of the info. I really appreciate it! __________________ If you can't run with the big dogs - stay on the porch! *Adopt a retired greyhound *

04-16-2008, 10:01 PM	#7 (permalink)
fijiwigi Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Yakima, Washington Posts: 1,050 Images: 7	I checked the forcast it will be below freezing here in Washington State here is my Local 10-day forcast 10 Day Weather Forecast for Yakima, WA (9890 - weather.com Possibly even some snow. Kinda depressing It was about 80degrees last Saturday I was loving it. now some snow a week later its crazy __________________ The "experts" are many, but the truths are few. "When we have stopped learning, we have stopped listening"

05-01-2008, 09:39 AM	#8 (permalink)
yellowtangs Aquarium Advice Apprentice Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 12	Never ship more than one item in a bag. Always check the forecast for all areas that the container will pass through. Always ship next day air. Make to label the box "live Animals" or "live fish"

05-03-2008, 01:07 PM	#9 (permalink)
lando Aquarium Advice Addict Community Moderator Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Savage, MN Posts: 7,623 Images: 46	I prefer to tripple-bag the corals. Making sure the open ends of the bags are oppisit the one it is covering. I use a couple of rubberbands to close the first two bags and use a plastic zip-tie (the kind used to bundle wirering) on the outside bag. A broken rubberband can spell disaster for the shipment. I also tape the lid to the cooler completely closed and place the cooler in a plastic bag, tied on top before adding it to the shipping box. Heat packs are great, just make sure they are the 10-12hr kind. Place them between the side of the cooler and the packing peanuts and not directly on the corals bags. Also, do not use the peanuts and disolve in water. While I am a huge fan of those for environmental reasons, you do not want a leaky or broken bag to melt the peanuts. I have had the best luck shipping FedEx Express overnight. IF possible, have the receiving party pick up the package at the local hub instead of putting it out on the truck for delivery. Sorry...I just saw the date of this post and it seems I am a bit late to the party. Anyhoo...maybe someone else can put the tricks here to work. __________________ Some people are like slinkies...they serve no real purpose yet can still bring a smile to your face when you push them down the stairs! Have a great day! Brian

05-03-2008, 01:45 PM	#10 (permalink)
Innovator Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 1,036	Not sure if mentioned, but I will add that using small styrofoam squares or circles can be used to hang lps and soft corals to keep them floating in the bag (reduces possible damage), holding them upright (or is that updown) allowing water movement in and around their tissue instead of sitting stagnant at the bottom in their own waste.

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