Shipping to florida

Nano-Newb1983 · Aug 24, 2009

Hello,

I am planning on shipping a Zoa to florida tomarrow morning and was wondering do you guys think it would be a good idea to use a Cold Pack?

If so what kind and where would i get one?

Also, i will be shipping from Michigan

thanks alot
mark

MikeB · Aug 24, 2009

I am in Orlando and its hot here. I would use a cold pack. You can usually get them from Shipping stores like the UPS Store. You can get them from Grocery stores also. Just make sure you do not put the cold pack right on the corals. You want lots of newspaper or distance between the corals and the cold pack.

Also when shipping I ALAWAYS ship for 10:30 am delivery. FedEx Priority OVernight

Viva'sReef · Aug 24, 2009

I've used Frozen Freeze pops before, just put them in a ziplock in case one leaks and everything doesnt get all stickey

H@rry · Aug 24, 2009

In the past I have simply used a small bag of ice cubes. Make sure you wrap it well in newspapers so it can't come in contact with the corals. I think that cause more problems than they solve due to improper use.

I never use a cold pack or ice anymore. When you pack in the evening and FedEx delivers the next day you will avoid the hottest part of the day. If it will be very hot (> 85) at destination I try to get the buyer to pick up at the FedEx facility to avoid the ride in the local delivery truck.

Nano-Newb1983 · Aug 24, 2009

ok thanks for all the adive everyone

So where in the grocery store would be a good place to look for cold pack?

Dont they make these cold packs/pads for pain? would one of those work?

Tomasz · Aug 24, 2009

MAke sure you size it properly too. Not too much not enough. Not sure what size would be good for you.

revhtree · Aug 24, 2009

You can also buy some CapriSun drinks and freeze them for shipping.

droblack · Aug 24, 2009

I wrap the ice pack, etc. with newspaper and then tape to the top inside of the cooler/container. I try to then lay peanuts or more paper on top of the coral bags so there is no chance the corals are going to get too cold from being in contact with the ice.

If the weather was extremely cold from your home, you might not want to use ice. It will most likely have melted before the package even arrives in FL anyway. Of course that is not the case this time of year, even living way up North. Chances are your package will goto Tennessee if sent FedEx. Check the weather there. I think it is hot.

H@rry · Aug 24, 2009

revhtree said:
You can also buy some CapriSun drinks and freeze them for shipping.

Rev, how would that differ from a small bag of ice?

The problem I have with "cold packs" is that you put them in in the late evening when the temp has cooled off. The cool pack cools the frags down a little cooler than they had been in the tank. Now they get to ride to Memphis at night and then transferred to some other city by daylight. By now they have been pretty cool overnight. Now they are put on a local delivery truck and exposed to the heat of the day. This is where the cool pack would be of benefit but now it is about spent. This is the exact opposite of using a heat pack in the winter. The heat pack keeps the frags warm during the cold part of the night and then is spent by the time they go on the truck (when the temps begin to warm up any way).

A well insulated and packed box goes a long way toward the frags arriving in good condition. I always urge people to let me have the pack held at their local FedEx facility for pickup during extreme weather. I think the ride on the local delivery truck is where almost all the problems occur.

Maybe I've got something confused (I was confused a couple of times before).