Shipping Corals

[Krazy]

Originally posted by redvipe2010
What do you tell USPS when they ask if your shipping any liquids or parishables?

You tell them "no" or you'll get harassed

[alexinfla]

Or you just say saltwater :-)

[123and456]

as promised here are the lest pictures of the shipping process they dont show much however as I already Had them in bags when I remembered I needed to take pictures. (these are for shipping Zoas)
1. Wrap zoa frag in soaked paper towel with no writing on it and place in bag put water in bag enough to just barely cover the paper towel. Double bag.


2. Pack the contents of the box in with news paper I use news paper because it is a good insulator.


3. Tape up and label.

[toddman74]

when do you ship with heat pack and when do you ship with ice pack?

[123and456]

thats a fine question. heat spikes are much worse then being a little to cold. So if the weather is looking like 70s I put nothing in the box if its anything less then mid 60s at night I put in a heat pack. The ice pack is going to work out when the temps are set to be above 80-85
any other info on that question would be great these are just what I do.

[Mac's zoas]

So it gets about 100 where i live so i would need put in a ice pack
right?THANKS

[collective]

I usually ship my hard coral frags in wet paper towels, but have been asked about soft corals, is the same process generally ok? While I’m asking what is the shredded plastic I’ve heard people using?

[123and456]

I only have shipped zoas so other then the way that I have listed above I really dont know whats the best way to ship things. If the temp is going to be 100 during the transit of the package then a Ice back will definitely be needed. I have not heard of the shredded plastic.

[jojo22]

You don't put water in the bags??? Just a damp paper towel if I understand you correctly. Does that work with all zoa's, and paly's???

[ckekelle]

What about softies?

[mcclandy]

i have heard of people using thermos containers for zoa/palys. I have had bad experiences with hard corals shipped in saltwater... DOA.

[jojo22]

So you guys ship ALL corals just wraped in paper towels???

[bboy aqua]

i think the wrapping in wet papertowel is only for zoos,palys
for sps ive heard of people rubberbanding the rock that the softy is on to a piece of styrofoam so that no matter which way the bag is turned it will float up making the coral upsidedown and never hitting the bottom

[mvite]

Hey gang---I have a detailed thread on another board---I can't link it here--but I ship a lot and here's what I do.

For boxes--I use 123's method. If it's Express, I turn the box inside out and I staple and tape the corner.

For shipping ALL TYPES OF CORALS--I use 6x12 bags that are 2 mil thick. I cut a couple bags into three parts to use little plastic "sleeves" in each bag with the coral for cushioning.

I fill up a 6x12 bag about 1/5 with water. I place the coral in there. I put one or two the cut plastic sleeves in the bag--on top of the coral. Then I tie that bag with about---1/15th (of the 1/5th) area left with air in it. There is very little air in the bag. Then I rubberband that bag and then insert it into another 6x12 bag and tie it. I have had acros, montis and LPS last for 2 days (6 times in the last 3 weeks because of USPS screw ups) without any problems. I figure that air is the killer---so I limit the amount. I am sure there is a benefit for gas exchange---but I have shipped hundreds of frags like this without problems.

For zoas, I have used paper towels and very little water. That works.