need help shipping coral!

[One Reefing Boi]

I shipped coral before and it has gone okay, but this time of year I struggle a bit. It’s about 70 where I live but if someone from a warmer state (Florida/Texas etc..) where it’s upper 70s-mid 80s - do I include a cooler pack? Would a cooler pack be too cold for where I am (70 deg) and cause it to drop too low?

also, where do people get insulated boxes? I got mine from uline but they’re like $50/box for a small 8x6x6 and shipping on that small of a box is between $40-$90 for overnight.
Thanks!

 

[The_Paradox]

I usually throw a few grains of carbon in the bag before sealing them, then wrap the bag in several layers of butcher paper. Then place the bags in the cooler with a cool pack. As for the coolers, if you don’t have any check with your local fish store. They usually throw/give them away by the dozens.

 

[Jason_MrFrags]

Buy cardboard boxes and then Sheets of rigid insulation foam from lowes/home depot. Cut to build your own inside the box.

 

[One Reefing Boi]

Yeah, that can deff be a cheaper alternative. Curious if I should be using a cooler pack or not though given the temperature diffemrces

 

[The_Paradox]

If it’s going somewhere in the 80s I usually do. If you’re shipping priority overnight it’s probably fine without as it should be delivered before noon.

 

[woodyarmadillo]

As someone in Texas, I am new to this (started in February) but I have only received stuff with little heat packs in it so far. Again it hasn’t been higher than about 85 though so far when I’ve received them. I’ve ordered from several different vendors and of the probably 7 packages I’ve received with coral, they all seem to have a good styrofoam cooler, good plastic bags with some peanuts to fill in spaces, and sometimes a little paper with a small heat pack on top. I don’t have any experience in the warmer weather yet though. I haven’t received any dead coral.

 

[NkSde]

Had some zoas come in w a heater pack in the 80s they seemed to survive the shipping but the 24 hr delay for rural delivery that day killed em.

 

[Reefium]

I usually throw a few grains of carbon in the bag before sealing them, then wrap the bag in several layers of butcher paper. Then place the bags in the cooler with a cool pack. As for the coolers, if you don’t have any check with your local fish store. They usually throw/give them away by the dozens.

How do I get a discount on shipping coral?

 

[The_Paradox]

How do I get a discount on shipping coral?

Commercial rates are much cheaper.

 

[Reefium]

Commercial rates are much cheaper.

How do I get that?

 

[archercorals]

All common costs of trying to sell and ship. Do one ice gel pack and order boxes in bulk if you want any price break.

 

[christwendt]

How do I get that?

Look into pirate ship. It’s never over 50$ for me.

 

[workhz]

I’ve used pirate ship to ship wheels and tires when not sold through eBay and their rates are much cheaper than the online quotes direct from ups/FedEx/usps.

 

[lynn.reef.nerd]

If in doubt, add an ice pack. Corals fair better if the water is slighty cold but usually die/melt if it gets too hot.

Depending on distance, check the hub where the package might go to before heading to the destination. weather can be too hot/cold there.

Double bag and try to use as much water as you can to bag the corals.

 

[Gretchacha]

I shipped coral before and it has gone okay, but this time of year I struggle a bit. It’s about 70 where I live but if someone from a warmer state (Florida/Texas etc..) where it’s upper 70s-mid 80s - do I include a cooler pack? Would a cooler pack be too cold for where I am (70 deg) and cause it to drop too low?

also, where do people get insulated boxes? I got mine from uline but they’re like $50/box for a small 8x6x6 and shipping on that small of a box is between $40-$90 for overnight.
Thanks!

If you are open to reusing boxes, Maybe post your need on Facebook reef and buy/sell groups, local reef club forums, Nextdoor etc. I have 20+ I have saved that I would give you if you were nearby.