How to package corals with no air and minimal water

Brockly

Community Member
View Badges
Joined
Oct 18, 2017
Messages
86
Reaction score
49
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Hey all, sorry if this is well covered here I searched and could really find what i was searching for. I curious on shipping coral with no air in minimal water. I’ve seen both writers and video of people shipping coral plugs in specimen cups upside down stuck in block of styrofoam. I like this method for sure.

But I have received a few shipments that came in thick small bag tubes that had no air and appeared to be sealed with a heat cutter. Reminded me of a food bag processor but full of water. It was amazing. Who knows how this is accomplished? What tools are needed. Who can write up the process or better yet make a video for us thick heads thst learn visually. Thanks
 

CC13

Valuable Member
View Badges
Joined
Apr 15, 2018
Messages
1,126
Reaction score
779
Location
Toronto, Canada
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Hey all, sorry if this is well covered here I searched and could really find what i was searching for. I curious on shipping coral with no air in minimal water. I’ve seen both writers and video of people shipping coral plugs in specimen cups upside down stuck in block of styrofoam. I like this method for sure.

But I have received a few shipments that came in thick small bag tubes that had no air and appeared to be sealed with a heat cutter. Reminded me of a food bag processor but full of water. It was amazing. Who knows how this is accomplished? What tools are needed. Who can write up the process or better yet make a video for us thick heads thst learn visually. Thanks

I'm not sure how its done, but looking at this logically you could fill up a bag of water with a coral and use one of those hand balloon pumps to suck the air out. I highly doubt they use a vacuum machine. Commercial grade units cost thousands of dollars and they would destroy themselves with the salt that would get inside them.

https://www.google.com/search?q=han...rN7fAhXrxYMKHTrLCkEQ_AUIDigB&biw=1920&bih=969
 

robert

Valuable Member
View Badges
Joined
Jun 14, 2011
Messages
1,028
Reaction score
491
Location
Silicon Valley - Ca
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
to suck up any water pulled out of the container which could interfere with the heat sealing of the bag...
 
OP
OP
Brockly

Brockly

Community Member
View Badges
Joined
Oct 18, 2017
Messages
86
Reaction score
49
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Not the method I was thinking, but that was a cool method for sure. Thanks for sharing.

I have a feeling the method I am thinking they use the hot imulsion tool and just press on a back of water. I just see this making a huge mess. Hopefully something can comment on that method too
 

bubbaque

Follow me on Instagram @ Bubbaquecorals
View Badges
Joined
Apr 6, 2016
Messages
6,343
Reaction score
21,583
Location
Central Florida
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
OP
OP
Brockly

Brockly

Community Member
View Badges
Joined
Oct 18, 2017
Messages
86
Reaction score
49
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Nice. That is close to what I was thinking you did. Is the water spill pretty minimal? Do you mind sharing what mil bag you use? Thicker to only need 1 or you double bag? Just trying to figure out a method I’ve never shipped before but the thought interests me. I live in knowwheres college MT and don’t have a market for the Zoas I brought in for personal use.

“I swear officer all this is just for me, it’s my personal stash” as I spill a bunch of baggies on the floor. The coral trade is like a drug trade, as least to the in informed haha
 

Sir Chris

Valuable Member
View Badges
Joined
Apr 30, 2016
Messages
1,129
Reaction score
374
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Take you bag. Smaller is better. Add your water and frag and as your twisting the bag closed push down on where your twisting as it will push the water out of the top. Use a band that you loop into itself like a lasso not a traditional way you use a band. Grab one end and pull it through the loop of the other one and as your squeezing the bag loop the band tight so you have a pressurized bag with no air and being a smaller bag the water will insulate the plugs from being damaged

EDIT: try and try and try. Smaller bags are easier to accomplish this task. I call it the pillow method

2EA4AE8A-BA45-40E7-A900-C172443F0AB5.jpeg


20D42DD8-EC2D-4C8E-AF8B-B6FF84D15396.jpeg


1C40EA0C-01C9-487D-B074-C8585574510C.jpeg
 
Last edited:

samnaz

Earthling
View Badges
Joined
Dec 30, 2016
Messages
3,564
Reaction score
6,879
Location
Humble.fish
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Just curious, why you don't want any air in the bags?

I know you didn't ask for anyone's opinion but I just have to say I hate when the bags come with no air, because floating them to temperature acclimate isn't possible. I hate having to secure each bag with a bungee and chip clips.
 

Justfebreezeit

Valuable Member
View Badges
Joined
Nov 30, 2017
Messages
1,472
Reaction score
1,785
Location
SoFlo
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Just curious, why you don't want any air in the bags?

I know you didn't ask for anyone's opinion but I just have to say I hate when the bags come with no air, because floating them to temperature acclimate isn't possible. I hate having to secure each bag with a bungee and chip clips.

I have no experience with this myself other than receiving corals with no air. I believe not having air reduces any sloshing the water does in shipping and thereby reducing damage to the frag. Also water is a much better insulator and wont expand in an low pressure environment like an airplane.

Could be off but just my assumptions.
 

Squeaky McMurdo

Active Member
View Badges
Joined
Jun 16, 2018
Messages
420
Reaction score
943
Location
Star Valley, Wyoming
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I believe they are using Kordon Breather Bags. They are permeable to air but not water, so they are supposed to be topped off. They can also be sealed to custom sizes. If the bags you received were separated by a layer of paper or something instead of packed touching each other, you most likely have breather bags as they shouldn’t touch. It stops the oxygen exchange.
 

Mastering the art of locking and unlocking water pathways: What type of valves do you have on your aquarium plumbing?

  • Ball valves.

    Votes: 72 51.8%
  • Gate valves.

    Votes: 70 50.4%
  • Check valves.

    Votes: 35 25.2%
  • None.

    Votes: 31 22.3%
  • Other.

    Votes: 9 6.5%
Back
Top