Out in San Diego

[Spongie]

Greetings from sunny San Diego!

I am bringing back a couple of nice pieces from a local store called Aqua SD. I purchased a Reverse Sunset nice size, and a red with blue center blasto (both for around $200). I am going to pick them up tomorrow night and we are leaving around 10:00 Saturday morning. Will (ther owner) is going to pack them in extra water and I am going to put the box in with my luggage (carry on if I can). If anyone wants me to try and get something for them they need to let me know ASAP. The have really great quality pieces. Their Cynarinas are some of the biggest I have ever seen. Ditto on their lobos. Like I said I will have to know pretty soon if anyone else wants anything. Laters

 

[Spongie]

Also I spoke with Will and he said that the prices might be a little bit less than what is on the site, mostly because I will be picking up locally not shipping. If you see a piece on their site that you want me to check on the price let me know. Thanks

 

[cee]

You better check. Delta told me no livestock checked until mid-September and no carry-on.

Dave

 

[ct_vol]

Why mid-september??? Airline or FAA guideline???

 

[cee]

Too hot, they say. They don't want to be liable, even if I were to sign a waiver. That's even though their partner airline sent me a box yesterday ???

Dave

 

[Spongie]

Thanks for the heads up. I will check with SouthWest and let everyone know what they say. Dave or Randy see anything you wanted me to check on price wise?

 

[goreefer]

I have just put them in a Thermos and put them in my luggage.
I've never had a problem or a loss. San Diego to Knoxville is about 7 hours total travel time, if you have them pack the frags late in the afternoon it would be less than 24 hours of time from when they pack them to the time that you release them into fresh water, not a problem.
Nice way to pick up different frags!

 

[Fishboy42]

Dad and I checked 6 boxes from LA to TYS a couple of weeks ago on Delta/SW. He probably gets a bit of preference (we didn't have to pay luggage fees, which would have been a few hundred $$ if I were traveling alone), but I'm sure they wouldn't break the rules. The baggage screeners did suggest that we put huge stickers on the (already marked) boxes to make sure they handled them extra-carefully

Funny that they say that about temps. We've been going sans heat/cool packs for the last two weeks.

For small stuff I usually put it in my carry-on, but post 9/11 it gets wrapped in clothes in luggage (brought a spawning pair back from PR that way )

Good luck getting your new finds home; we'll be anxious to see pics!

 

[fishdoc11]

IMO the temperature logging data in this article is interesting:

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-11/eb/index.php

I have never been a fan of heat or cool packs. The only time I think they are absolutely necessary is in the dead of winter and I really don't like shipping then anyway.

Chris

 

[cee]

Yeah, I thought it was weird too so just thought I'd give Spongie a heads-up so he could check ahead of time. Nothing worse than finding out at the airport and not having a back-up plan.

Dave

 

[Spongie]

Spoke with SouthWest and they said that as long as it was going into the checked luggage it wasn't a problem. No carry on coral unfortunately. But with only the 2 smaller corals there shouldn't be any problems getting them into the luggage. I will stick a couple of shots up here when I get back. I may take a couple of shots of the facility as well.

 

[Spongie]

So everything went fine getting the corals back form San Diego and they are now acclimated to their new home. Thought I would post some pics and let everyone see the goods.

The first 2 pics are of the red Blasto with a translucent blue center...yummy:eek2:

The next 3 shots are of my new personal favorite...the Reverse Sunset Montipora!!!