Shipping first coral - 85 degree weather

[SauceyReef]

Hello friends + reefers,

As you may have seen from a couple other posts I have made in the past I am finally going to try to ship my first coral. I am doing one day shipping from Ohio to Idaho. It looks like it will be going Tuesday or Wednesday with 78F-86F through the travel depending on the states it is going through. I am guessing this will need a cold pack - correct? For those who are experienced shippers - where do you typically place the cool pack in regards to the styrofoam container? Any suggestions on where to get one or a brand?

Any other suggestions are welcome!

 

[Lost in the Sauce]

What are you shipping and what size box?

If the high of 86 is on the receiver end, I would definitely opt for the earliest delivery possible.

When I have shipped mushrooms and LPS in the past needing a cool pack, I've made my own with ice cubes in a vacuum seal bag.

You Do Not want the cool or heat pack close to or touching the coral bags. I normally tape them to the lid of the box.

 

[SauceyReef]

Just a few coral frags in tiny food containers. The polar tech dimensions are:

15.5" Length x 13.75" Width x 10.5".​

 

[SauceyReef]

Is it best to put the polar tech insulated styrofoam box in another box with shipping peanuts/cold packs in between? Or is that unnecessary.

 

[SauceyReef]

Bumps!

 

[polyppal]

Is it best to put the polar tech insulated styrofoam box in another box with shipping peanuts/cold packs in between? Or is that unnecessary.

Unnecessary

 

[SauceyReef]

Unnecessary

Thank you! Somone else told me not to do this as well. So I will just place the cool pack in between the packing material and top styrofoam lid with some newspaper around it.

 

[polyppal]

Thank you! Somone else told me not to do this as well. So I will just place the cool pack in between the packing material and top styrofoam lid with some newspaper around it.

yeah the cooler insulates it, so the effect of additional packs on the outside would prob be useless. The most important thing is shipping with the overnight/early morning delivery (not the end of day) and taking it to the shipping place as close to last call as you can.

 

[SauceyReef]

yeah the cooler insulates it, so the effect of additional packs on the outside would prob be useless. The most important thing is shipping with the overnight/early morning delivery (not the end of day) and taking it to the shipping place as close to last call as you can.

Thank you for the advice. Multiple people have given me the great advice of making sure to go in as late as you can, and going for Tuesday/Wednesday to avoid a weekend hangup. I am not sure what you mean by "shipping with the overnight/early morning delivery". I thought the best I could do is one day delivery?

 

[Lost in the Sauce]

Thank you for the advice. Multiple people have given me the great advice of making sure to go in as late as you can, and going for Tuesday/Wednesday to avoid a weekend hangup. I am not sure what you mean by "shipping with the overnight/early morning delivery". I thought the best I could do is one day delivery?

One day has 10am, 12 noon, 3pm and sometimes 5pm options. The earlier the better, and more expensive.

 

[SauceyReef]

One day has 10am, 12 noon, 3pm and sometimes 5pm options. The earlier the better, and more expensive.

Oh okay I see. I did not know I would even get those options.

 

[Lost in the Sauce]

Oh okay I see. I did not know I would even get those options.

Depends on what carrier you use. Fdx has at least 10/12 and End of Day.

 

[SauceyReef]

I was going to use FINISHIP which I believe was using UPS. Maybe that is why they were not giving me an option?

Also curious - what brand cold packs do you use? Was wondering if I could find them at Walmart or some local store, or if I have to order them online.