Sps life support? 72hrs

[nashorn]

What would I need to keep sps alive for 3 days?
I'm thinking of picking up some sps in San Diego but stopping at Disneyland.
Think I need to keep them up to 72 hrs before they get into my tank. Hopefully not as white skeletons since I have lots of those already.
I will be driving and staying in hotels. Only time without AC power will be the drive home so I think that might be ok.

So what will I need ? Thinking a 2-3 gal cooler with heater and small pump? Maybe 5 gal of extra reef water?
Only problem with cooler is water splashing out? Would would you guys suggestions?

 

[DivingTheWorld]

Wow, 3 days, that's daring! I recently brought some back from LA when we went to Disneyland and I just used a DD shipping container. I was planning to use a heat pack as well, but the heat never dropped. To play it safe, I added a bag of tank water with a remote thermometer inside the box so I always knew the water temp the frags were in.

That said, I only needed to keep them alive for about 6-7 hours!

 

[jda]

I have seen people at MACNA take a small cube with them. Flow, heater and some spare water is a good idea. I have seen folks just carry the cube to the car with plastic wrap over the top. The cube could have some activated carbon that could help with a bit of ammonia or other junk that comes off of the frags.

 

[nashorn]

Remote thermometer - need to get one
Hmm..... small cube but be hard to carry but active carbon is a good idea.
I wonder if I can get it all into a standard 5 gall water container ?
The opening is too small for a pump and how would I keep all the coral separated ?

 

[biggles]

I use a plastic insulated esky to transport frags. It has a lid that is locked shut when you fold the handle. It's for keeping stuff cool at bbq's etc when you take stuff to a mates place. I use a small dob of super glue gel on the bottom of each frag base and glue them to the bottom of the esky, They hold on well but come away easily with a gentle pull or pry with a knife.
The real beauty in using this method if you can is you also glue frags sideways on the lower sides of the esky and you can fit in twice as many as you normally can. Works great on foam fish boxes too. Just cut a hole in the esky lid to allow a power lead through, you can get them in many different sizes.

Sustainable Reefs send every acro with carbon in the bag.......... i would use a small bag of carbon the entire trip.

 

[nashorn]

I like the cooler idea.
But how about this as a plan?
Keep fresh water in cooler heated to 76
Keep frags in bags reef water but float them in the fresh water.
Have a 5 gal of reef water and change the water in Frag bag every day.
That way if one rtn it won't contaminate the rest of the water.