How Long Can SPS be in the Dark?

[Dr. Jim]

Just hoping to get some opinions. I have to move over 100 frags (on 2x2 tiles) by car on a 40 hour trip (including 1 hotel stop-over).
I have an option of leaving them in the car for the entire trip in which case they won't have light for 40 hours (other than ambient light) or move them into a hotel after the first 12 hours where I can hook up lights for about 8 hours during the night but this will be quite a bit of work. If I leave them in the car, they will be in a climate controlled (electric) car. In either case, there will be an air stone and power head as well as a little live rock.

I'm guessing they will survive 40 hours in the dark but because they are frags I'm concerned that even the slightest stress might be detrimental. (All frags were obtained in the past 2 - 9 months). I'm leaning toward moving them in unless I can be convinced to leave them in the car!

What do you think:

A. Essential to bring them into hotel for light (XR 15's)
B. Not sure, but probably good idea to bring them into hotel for light (understanding it will be a bit of a hassle......but what is a little more work!)
C. Don't bother. Leave them in the car.
D. Other: _____________

Thanks for your opinion!

 

[TopShelfAquatics Verified Sponsor]

Your biggest enemy when doing a long trip like that will be temperature more than anything. When corals are transshipped they can be in boxes for 2 to 3 days until they reach their final destination. 40 hours with no light will be fine as long as you are closely monitoring the temperature. Colder is always better than hotter. Once you get them to where you are going bring the temp back to normal slowly. We ship all over the country and we always find when a box gets delayed for a couple days the ones that are kept in temperature controlled areas always do fine vs the ones that are in a container or truck for too long getting hot or freezing cold. Hope this helps. If there is anything else we can help with don't hesitate to ask.

 

[Dr. Jim]

Your biggest enemy when doing a long trip like that will be temperature more than anything. When corals are transshipped they can be in boxes for 2 to 3 days until they reach their final destination. 40 hours with no light will be fine as long as you are closely monitoring the temperature. Colder is always better than hotter. Once you get them to where you are going bring the temp back to normal slowly. We ship all over the country and we always find when a box gets delayed for a couple days the ones that are kept in temperature controlled areas always do fine vs the ones that are in a container or truck for too long getting hot or freezing cold. Hope this helps. If there is anything else we can help with don't hesitate to ask.

Wow! Great to hear a reply from a company that certainly knows what they are doing!

I think you made up my mind for me already: I will leave them in the car.
The car is electric so I will have climate control on during the night and a 25 W heater in each bin, along with an air stone, tiny power head and a little live rock. (There will be one container with fish, too, with a similar set-up). I'll be around N. or S. Carolina for the night sleep-over so no problem with temperatures being too high. I'm checking out my new 25 W heaters to make sure they are accurate. I'm also bringing an extra 5 gal of water in case I have to change out some water (especially for fish). I'm also bringing NH4 test kit and Erase (NH4 remover) in case I need it.

Thanks for helping!
Jim

 

[ScottB]

Wow! Great to hear a reply from a company that certainly knows what they are doing!

I think you made up my mind for me already: I will leave them in the car.
The car is electric so I will have climate control on during the night and a 25 W heater in each bin, along with an air stone, tiny power head and a little live rock. (There will be one container with fish, too, with a similar set-up). I'll be around N. or S. Carolina for the night sleep-over so no problem with temperatures being too high. I'm checking out my new 25 W heaters to make sure they are accurate. I'm also bringing an extra 5 gal of water in case I have to change out some water (especially for fish). I'm also bringing NH4 test kit and Erase (NH4 remover) in case I need it.

Thanks for helping!
Jim

I agree with the above advice. Also like that you are testing the heaters before. I am doing the same right now.

Sounds like staying charged up will be your larger challenge, but that seems to be getting better all the time. Tesla?

 

[Dr. Jim]

I agree with the above advice. Also like that you are testing the heaters before. I am doing the same right now.

Sounds like staying charged up will be your larger challenge, but that seems to be getting better all the time. Tesla?

Hi Scott,
I just checked with Tesla and was told I can plug in up to 150W in each of the two "cigar lighter" sockets. I don't need nearly that much....maybe 100W at tops, total, if everything is on. He estimated that if I leave the climate control on all night and run 100W of equipment, I may lose only about 10-15 miles of charge, depending on outside temperature. I'll definitely give the car a full charge before stopping at the hotel, though! Will be interesting!

Now I just have to decide if I should leave the cat in the car all night, too! Probably not..... she's never slept alone!