Bringing coral home from MACNA

[Herby’s reef]

HI,

My daughter and I will be attending our first MACNA. I have seen several videos where people were able to bring home coral from macna on their carry on, but I also read about people who have had to throw theirs out. Can anybody say for sure if I will be able to carry coral home? Will most of the sellers be willing to ship the coral if I pay shipping? Because MACNA is on the weekend, will I be able to ship it myself if I want to? Sorry for all the questions, but I dont want to risk making an expensive coral purchase if I will not be able to bring my purchase home. I would also love any recommendations that you guys have related to the subject.

David

 

[Marisa Stanton]

HI,

My daughter and I will be attending our first MACNA. I have seen several videos where people were able to bring home coral from macna on their carry on, but I also read about people who have had to throw theirs out. Can anybody say for sure if I will be able to carry coral home? Will most of the sellers be willing to ship the coral if I pay shipping? Because MACNA is on the weekend, will I be able to ship it myself if I want to? Sorry for all the questions, but I dont want to risk making an expensive coral purchase if I will not be able to bring my purchase home. I would also love any recommendations that you guys have related to the subject.

David

MelevsReef made a video about transporting corals from MACNA on YouTube.

 

[Tuffyyyyy]

There have been a lot of posts about this if you use the search function. Last years MACNA was literally across the street from both a FedEx and a UPS, I think that’s the route I would have gone if I flew. That or one of those Building an Obsession transport kits.

 

[reefwiser]

I bring home corals every year from MACNA have been going since Macna 3.
I currently use a https://buildinganobsession.com/shop/personal-frag-transport
He has them on sale at the show and at a lot of the coral vendors tables as they all use his stuff to transport their own corals. I also carry a paper explaining the rules of the TSA for corals as carry on as I have lost corals due to crazy TSA agents at the check in gate. Back in the day I would carry on three back packs full of corals from Steve Tyree's house every few months.

 

[Herby’s reef]

I bring home corals every year from MACNA have been going since Macna 3.
I currently use a https://buildinganobsession.com/shop/personal-frag-transport
He has them on sale at the show and at a lot of the coral vendors tables as they all use his stuff to transport their own corals. I also carry a paper explaining the rules of the TSA for corals as carry on as I have lost corals due to crazy TSA agents at the check in gate. Back in the day I would carry on three back packs full of corals from Steve Tyree's house every few months.

So have you had any corals lost since you started carrying the rules? I have no worries that it is allowed, the crazy tsa agent is my worry.

Thanks

 

[Herby’s reef]

There have been a lot of posts about this if you use the search function. Last years MACNA was literally across the street from both a FedEx and a UPS, I think that’s the route I would have gone if I flew. That or one of those Building an Obsession transport kits.

MelevsReef made a video about transporting corals from MACNA on YouTube.

I believe I watched this one, but I will watch it again. I have seen the many posts, and watched several videos, but I cant say they give me overwhelming confidence. Yes, many people get their coral home fine, but I have seen many who say the tsa agent dumped the water out and would not let them board with it. I think Meleves reef is the one that said some people have had success transporting their acros in a wet paper towel, but I am not super excited about trying this. I just worry if I purchase several expensive acropora that they could die on the way home. My main question is, is there a for sure way to get my coral home. I looked on fedex and ups and they do not ship for a Sunday delivery, so I would have to ship out on Friday to make this option work. Will most of the coral vendors ship it out later if I pay the shipping? Is there a for sure way that people get through TSA?

David

 

[reefwiser]

So have you had any corals lost since you started carrying the rules? I have no worries that it is allowed, the crazy tsa agent is my worry.

Thanks

No I haven't and I like the way these carriers work as I can use them to dip the corals and place the corals into the tank for acclimation. My friend Sanjay uses them all the time.