Heat Packs- And traveling with coral

[BeanMachine]

Hey Guys,

Going to FL this weekend for some Coral R & R and realized I should have looked for some heat packs. Hoping Chad can get me some but throwing this up here to for some leads... I won't have a ton of time today too so hoping something in OC.

Also anyone have experience putting corals in their luggage and checking them into the belly of the plane? I've talked with a couple and said it was fine, but forgot to ask about the heat packs and how to bag or package the corals properly. I am not even sure what I'll buy, probably just a handful of corals so I don't need anything to crazy.

Someone also asked me to bring a zoa with me... not sure on that either should I try going there also?

 

[BeanMachine]

And no I'm not going FSM

 

[BeanMachine]

I was thinking hand warmers from Big 5 if I can't find anything but not sure that is appropriate.

 

[solitude127]

Those will work. Whatever you do, don't put the handwarmer right next to the coral. Ideally, you should bring the largest suitcase so that you can fit a small cooler on there.

 

[BeanMachine]

Those will work. Whatever you do, don't put the handwarmer right next to the coral. Ideally, you should bring the largest suitcase so that you can fit a small cooler on there.

Thanks Mike yeah I planned to bring a small cooler and a large suit case... should I wrap the warmer in something to create a buffer between the containers? I don't want a $300 coral mush... I want a gnarly St. Thomas mushroom or Rock Anemone.

 

[magik626]

I remember seeing the hand warmers at Target in that $1 section. Last week but not sure if all targets are the same..just a heads up

 

[lurking]

get a Styrofoam container or cooler. tape the heat pack to the lid of the container. the bagged coral will not be in contact with the heat pack.

 

[socal619]

Uline 40 hour heat packs are the best. I don't know any place locally that sells them. I buy off amazon

 

[$$$PIT]

I brought back fish, zoas, mushrooms, from MACNA in Florida for Scott and Phil. We just put them in a Styrofoam box and then into a cardboard box. No heat packs. I checked it in as luggage. Did not say anything about what was in the box. Everything made it fine. They did open the box after I checked it in but taped it all back up good.

 

[BeanMachine]

I brought back fish, zoas, mushrooms, from MACNA in Florida for Scott and Phil. We just put them in a Styrofoam box and then into a cardboard box. No heat packs. I checked it in as luggage. Did not say anything about what was in the box. Everything made it fine. They did open the box after I checked it in but taped it all back up good.

Thanks Rob I remember you telling me that. Chad has some heat packs for me so I will just take a couple to be safe. But thanks for the tip on taping it to the side or lid something. I just want to be prepared is all.

 

[solitude127]

Bring your own specimen containers for your coral too

 

[solitude127]

So how did you get your mushroom back?

 

[BeanMachine]

Small cooler and triple bagged all the corals. I had the heat packs but didn't use them. We double or triple bagged everything. Cooler in my luggage and checked it in. Crossed my fingers.

Only one bag popped, but it honestly looks like TSA put a razor through the bag getting the tape off the cooler... it wasn't a slow leak, it was a 3 inch slit in the bag. Anyways at about 12am in the airport parking lot I dumped the rock nem that wasn't in any water into a thermos with the other rock nem and its water.

Next day everybody is happy.

I brought back 3 insane scolys for a buddy, 2 wwc bounce shrooms, an aussie finger neon leather, 2 rock nems, and a rbta.

 

[solitude127]

Where are the pics?

 

[BeanMachine]

Here you go Mike. http://www.socalireefs.com/forums/showthread.php?52191-iPhone-pics-tonight/page6

I'll take some of the leather I got later.