Question on Handling Coral Shipment

[RobertLN]

Hi Folks--
I just got a box of a few corals delivered to my work address this morning. I'm here at work until 8:30 tonight. I have a space heater on in my office and the door is being kept closed, so the temperature in the room is mildly/moderately warm....probably close to 80 degrees.
My question is, is it better to leave them in the box in their plastic bags and not open anything up until I get home and am ready to put them into my tank or is it better to open up the box and the plastic bags and let them get some air....I even have a turkey baster here in my office that I keep here to use for fish I've purchased from an LFS on the way to work. I could use the turkey baster and occasionally blow some air bubbles into each bag.
What's the opinion of those with experience about this? Thanks much in advance!
Robert

 

[FullBoreReefer]

IMO leave the bags sealed until you’re ready to do your acclimation, keeping them warm is the best bet until then

 

[nereefpat]

Leave them in the sealed bags. They should be in a Styrofoam cooler, so temp shouldn't be an issue for another few hours.

 

[RobertLN]

Ok, thanks for the input! Seems the consensus is to leave them alone as they are.

 

[homer1475]

Corals don't need oxygen like fish do. I've had coral frags in 4oz of water(those little plastic portion cups) for way past 48 hours with 0 loss. Just keep them warm, they will be fine.

 

[FaithKlim]

I had Fedex lose an overnight coral shipment from NY to Vegas last week. I was here in Vegas somewhere for 2 days, 90 degree temps. When it arrived all survived...

 

[Anemone]

Yep, leave them in the sealed bags until you are ready to acclimate to the final destination. Once you open the bags, you run the risk of an ammonia spike, which can be damaging fairly quickly.

Kevin

 

[homer1475]

Yep, leave them in the sealed bags until you are ready to acclimate to the final destination. Once you open the bags, you run the risk of an ammonia spike, which can be damaging fairly quickly.

Kevin

Wouldn't this only apply to fish? Corals don't breathe or excrete ammonia(0 bioload in the tank). So how would there be a buildup of ammonia in the bag?

Unless your speaking of organics decomposing in the water? I would think that would be very minimal.

 

[EMeyer]

Corals don't breath? Might want to check some of your assumptions there...

 

[homer1475]

You learn something new everyday! Corals do breathe. lol I was always under the assumption they didn't. Kind of why I posted it as a question, I wasn't sure.