Best Way to get SPS Home from MACNA?

[MechEng99]

We'll be attending MACNA this year, but we're leaving Monday instead of Sunday...and are flying home to Ohio. We've never been to MACNA before, so how do coral sales work? Is there a main sale day? Will vendors hold corals for non-locals until the last day? What do we do about Monday? We've flown corals twice, but does anyone have any suggestions for a smoother flight and safer corals?

 

[jimroth]

We'll be attending MACNA this year, but we're leaving Monday instead of Sunday...and are flying home to Ohio. We've never been to MACNA before, so how do coral sales work? Is there a main sale day? Will vendors hold corals for non-locals until the last day? What do we do about Monday? We've flown corals twice, but does anyone have any suggestions for a smoother flight and safer corals?

--Most decent vendors will hold your stuff untill midday on the last day.
--The best deals are, naturally, on the last day. But the sweetest pieces all sell before that.
--Try to hunt down an insulated box to put it in and take on the plane.
-- Last MACNA I brought stuff to set up a 10G holding tank in my room, and didn't need to set it up.
--If they ask you what's in the box at the airport, say "live plants." (well, it's half true, right?) They won't understand if you try to go into detail.

 

[Allmost]

lol depends who u are and what color u are in the airport transporting a box lol

they would NOT let me transport corals in a bag of water in a package lol I'm middle eastern and salt water is conductive, enough reason to not let me fly ...

 

[MechEng99]

JimRoth - thanks a ton. Great info. I'm assuming you checked the box with corals (not carry-on?) How did you heat/cool them? We just don't want to drop a ton of money and then not be able to get them home safely.

 

[MikeandNicole]

If you are leaving monday you can always ship the corals for overnight delivery on tuesday if you don't want to deal with the flying. I believe they have a UPS/Fedex station right there. The only thing will be to hold them over sunday night.

 

[jimroth]

JimRoth - thanks a ton. Great info. I'm assuming you checked the box with corals (not carry-on?) How did you heat/cool them? We just don't want to drop a ton of money and then not be able to get them home safely.

Honestly I didn't add anything, just used a styrofoam lined box. It was from Atlanta and everything made it, I'm still fragging them! Last year was NJ so just a car trip for me.

Almost: Sorry for your experience, maybe it's not because of your origins. With our party was a young waspy looking lady who tried to check her boxes and tell them it was live corals. There was a huge holdup, TSA doesn't know what live corals means.

 

[Darkstar22]

You can't take any liquid of more than 3oz. on board any airline. You will have to check the corals in with your baggage. I work for an airline, and go through security every day. We can't even take soup for lunch! Liquids of any kind are a big no!

 

[MechEng99]

Ok, thanks for all the help. Still nervous to do this, but I'm sure it'll be easier than I expect. Best to prepare for the worst and not need it.

 

[dvanacker]

lol depends who u are and what color u are in the airport transporting a box lol

they would NOT let me transport corals in a bag of water in a package lol I'm middle eastern and salt water is conductive, enough reason to not let me fly ...

If you are flying outside of Canada you need CITES permits. Were you flying inside our outside of Canada?

 

[sedor]

Its a little risky for my blood, but SPS can actually survive for 12 or possible more hours out of water, wrapped in a damp paper towel. I know it sounds crazy but there have been people do it and it works. Best option would be to buy the coral and then ship it to yourself though. I know it kinda sucks to have to pay the shipping costs, but that's just part of how it is these days with all the airline security risks.

 

[Allmost]

If you are flying outside of Canada you need CITES permits. Were you flying inside our outside of Canada?

that is what I figured just last night !!! I was planning to go with a couple friends, to MACNA, but my reason would be to buy corals and some equipments, but now I gotta figure out the permit and how much it costs and also if they want to charge me HST at the border ! have to call some ppl tonight to see how it is.

 

[myaerica]

Leagally no on line vender at MCNA should be selling coral. Unless they charge tax for every online purchace to all Flordia residents from that day foward. I know last MCNA I was at not all venders sell there corals DFS is the only one I can think off hand. As far as shipping they should do fine if you check the cooler with your bags.

 

[Whisperer]

I haven't read the entire thrad but there is a sponsor here at RC to ship corals... ShipYourAquatics.com
They say it's less expensive than FedEx.

 

[Softhammer]

The cheapest option is to buy a cooler and check it as luggage. Coleman makes a great one that is silver and hold ice (and corals) at temperature for 4 days. Cargo holds of airplanes can get cold but this cooler is built to handle it. (I'm an airline pilot so I know this works). I think its the Xtreme series, shouldn't cost you more than 30 bucks. I have moved corals using these across the country twice, each time packed for two days with never a loss. The best part is that they will be there with you when you get to baggage claim, no waiting for UPS and it will be much cheaper.

 

[MechEng99]

Confidence is gradually building! Thanks for all the inputs - this is great stuff, and I know I'm not the only one wondering how to do this. I think we're going to just ask vendors to hold corals until the last day, pick them up (in bags of course), get the cooler Softhammer suggested, and just keep them in there until we fly out on Monday afternoon. We'll arrive Monday evening, so it'll only be slightly over a day in the bags. Plus, then I can play with corals as soon as I get home...rather than waiting until Tuesday for overnight delivery and trying to arrange it so I can be home then.

Thanks again everyone! Can't wait for MACNA, and hopefully I'll see some of you there!