Shipping corals/ mushroom in uk

[Rick's Reviews]

So my mushrooms appear to be happy as my population has got out of control to the point that I'm fragging each new spawn/ growth, currently 20 frags for one mushroom alone and 10, other frags from various corals that have also outgrown my aquarium

I will add this was not my intention in setting up my aquarium,to be fragging or selling.

So in regards to shipping, I have purchased polystyrene/poly boxes, I have newspaper and bubble wrap, 10 HR, 12hr, 40hr heat pads.
I have watched various videos but all are larger poly box?
How do you ship safely using heat packs please, my polyboxs are 7" X 5"
I also have condiment cups to encase frags
Any, honestly any advice will be appreciated so much, thank you

 

[Saltyreef]

So my mushrooms appear to be happy as my population has got out of control to the point that I'm fragging each new spawn/ growth, currently 20 frags for one mushroom alone and 10, other frags from various corals that have also outgrown my aquarium

I will add this was not my intention in setting up my aquarium,to be fragging or selling.

So in regards to shipping, I have purchased polystyrene/poly boxes, I have newspaper and bubble wrap, 10 HR, 12hr, 40hr heat pads.
I have watched various videos but all are larger poly box?
How do you ship safely using heat packs please, my polyboxs are 7" X 5"
I also have condiment cups to encase frags
Any, honestly any advice will be appreciated so much, thank you

Hi Rick!

I have standardized my shipping practice as outlined below.

7x7x7 foam lined shipping boxes
14x4" 2mil poly bags
2oz clear cups
40hr small animal/reptile/fish heat packs

This works for 95% of frags. Some larger pieces may not fit well and would require larger material. (Bags, boxes and a different cup or jar)

Double up on the bags, fill with a little tank water (i do this with the bag inside a fish keeper holding onto the side of my tank as i scoop up frags directly from my racks)

Cut a small cross in the bottom of the cup so you have to forcefully push the frag peg into the holes (this ensures it will not dislodge during shipping.

I put just enough water to cover the cup and when i tie it, i let some water out of the bag while twisting to create a bubble with no air. This protects the coral inside while still not allowing the cup to float freely.
Line box with crumpled news paper, place frags inside and then line the top with more crumpled news paper.

After this i put take the foam lid of the box and poke some holes in it, set the heating pack over the holes with the breather side facing up and tape it all up.

This ensures the coral do not overheat in transit.

If the temp will be below 60 degrees in the daytime at the place of recieving, i will put the heatpack inside the box but coushined away from the coral.

If its hotter than 80 in both locations, use a very very small disposible Uline Ice pack in place of heat pack.

Hope this helps and any questions feel free to reach out.

You can check out my reviews over the years for shipping coral here.

Saltyreef's Feedback Thread

Hey everyone! Since itrader/xentrader is no longer available on this site, please post feedback from deals we've made here! Thanks for all the support! Without such a great community full of friends and family, this hobby would be a lot more dull and boring.

www.reef2reef.com

 

[Rick's Reviews]

Hi Rick!

I have standardized my shipping practice as outlined below.

7x7x7 foam lined shipping boxes
14x4" 2mil poly bags
2oz clear cups
40hr small animal/reptile/fish heat packs

This works for 95% of frags. Some larger pieces may not fit well and would require larger material. (Bags, boxes and a different cup or jar)

Double up on the bags, fill with a little tank water (i do this with the bag inside a fish keeper holding onto the side of my tank as i scoop up frags directly from my racks)

Cut a small cross in the bottom of the cup so you have to forcefully push the frag peg into the holes (this ensures it will not dislodge during shipping.

I put just enough water to cover the cup and when i tie it, i let some water out of the bag while twisting to create a bubble with no air. This protects the coral inside while still not allowing the cup to float freely.
Line box with crumpled news paper, place frags inside and then line the top with more crumpled news paper.

After this i put take the foam lid of the box and poke some holes in it, set the heating pack over the holes with the breather side facing up and tape it all up.

This ensures the coral do not overheat in transit.

If the temp will be below 60 degrees in the daytime at the place of recieving, i will put the heatpack inside the box but coushined away from the coral.

If its hotter than 80 in both locations, use a very very small disposible Uline Ice pack in place of heat pack.

Hope this helps and any questions feel free to reach out.

You can check out my reviews over the years for shipping coral here.

Saltyreef's Feedback Thread

Hey everyone! Since itrader/xentrader is no longer available on this site, please post feedback from deals we've made here! Thanks for all the support! Without such a great community full of friends and family, this hobby would be a lot more dull and boring.

www.reef2reef.com

Thank you so much, and I appreciate you taking time out to help me, honestly I'm so thankful for advice.

I have these 7 X 4and half X 5 polybox, I have 2oz condiments cups which I cut and place frag into (pictures) I have heat packs with various hours, 10hr 20hr and ordered X 20 40hrs packs today, I have bubble wrap and paper

So all the gear but no idea lol, sorry

I'm just unsure about heatpack placement

I tried a mock test with packing a coral and just leaving it outside for a 24hrs, I packed it like I was going to send to a buyer, I placed 40hr heat pack, and left it outside, next day I unwrapped and inside paper was wet (not from bag leaking) like condensation? water was cold and poor mushroom (water was smelly) and water was freezing cold?
Thank you for your help

 

[Saltyreef]

The uniheat 40hr packs are the only ones i use. I double bag and then use another 3rd bag and heat seal the end with a food saver to keep any water from making its way out. Ive had double knotted and double bags leak.

Your boxes are a little tough to work with as they are just foam clamshells and if the heatpack gets wet it wont work anymore.

Thats another reason i like them on the outside of the foam and inside the cardboard.

These are a little spendy but you would ideally want boxes like this.

Styrofoam Boxes, Insulated Shipping Boxes, Foam Shippers in Stock - ULINE

Uline stocks a wide selection of Insulated Shipping Kits. Order by 6 p.m. for same day shipping. Huge Catalog! Over 42,000 products in stock. 13 Locations across USA, Canada and Mexico for fast delivery of Insulated Shipping Kits.

www.uline.com

I used to supply thermal boxes to coral and fish vensors and these small boxes just dont work good at all. Never had a good review anything smaller than 7" cubed.