Ill be in Florida, how to buy LR and bring it home?

slipknottin · 02/21/2006, 12:16 PM

Ill be in orlando for ~4 days, march 5-9.

I want 20-30 pounds of atlantic LR.

Shipping LR to my house would be awfully expensive, so Im wondering if there is someway I can pick up the rock in orlando, and simply bring it back with me on the plane. I believe you are allowed 50 pounds of luggage before they charge you extra, which would be fine for me.

Any ideas? Anyone in the area willing to help me out?

IslandCrow · 02/21/2006, 01:32 PM

Wet newspaper and big ziplock bags (if they make them big enough for the rocks you want)? Perhaps you could buy a cheap cooler, duct tape it closed and check it at the airport. I think that may be the easiest way to do it as long as you aren't already maxed out on your checked baggage.

Agu · 02/21/2006, 01:34 PM

The only LR that's legal to collect in florida is aquacultured rock, and only with a permit.

You could pick some up in Tampa at Tampa Bay Saltwater. It's about a two hour drive each way from Orlando.

TBS

Mr James · 02/21/2006, 01:43 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Agu
The only LR that's legal to collect in Florida is aquacultured rock, and only with a permit.

You could pick some up in Tampa at Tampa Bay Saltwater. It's about a two hour drive each way from Orlando.

TBS

But I have been reading that TBS hasn't been able to dive their site since like November, thus no live rock. I am sure it is weighing heavily on them and their business as the rock is their mainstay. I live in Florida and I find it difficult to find any vendor nearby that has liverock. I have been considering ordering rock from the west coast, preferably Walt Smith live rock. There is a place east of Orlando near New Smyrna Beach that sells aquacultured rock, but that doesn't answer your question on how to get it home. I wouldn't think the airlines would allow any livestock, rock or plants on the plane. The link for that place is: http://www.reeferrocks.com./

gobygoby · 02/21/2006, 01:48 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Agu
The only LR that's legal to collect in florida is aquacultured rock, and only with a permit.

You could pick some up in Tampa at Tampa Bay Saltwater. It's about a two hour drive each way from Orlando.

TBS

in the title he asks " how to BUY LR and bring it home"

I dont think he plans on collecting it wild

slipknottin · 02/21/2006, 01:49 PM

Yea, I read that on their site too. Anyone know where gulf-view is?

My biggest issue is that I will have no car, so I probably have to get the rock shipped to my hotel.

Mr James · 02/21/2006, 02:46 PM

No car?? That stinks. You can't even go visit the LFS's. I hear their are a few good ones. I lived nearby, but never went to any of them. Check the ORCA (RC member board) and ask where to go and what to see.

lusenut2 · 02/21/2006, 02:58 PM

There is a good LFS in Kissimmee and a real good store in Apopka. Nothing that I really know of in Orlando though. You might not feel safe cause you dont know me, but if you want you can have it shipped to me and I will bring it to your hotel if you want. I live in a town just outside of Orlando. About 5 mins. If its on a weekend that your here I wouldnt even mind bringing you to a few stores so you can check them out. The 2 that I go to normally have around 50 to 100 pounds of rock instock.

lusenut2 · 02/21/2006, 03:00 PM

I believe gulf view is south of tampa. it would be like a 3 hour drive or so from orlando.

21Reefman · 02/22/2006, 12:01 AM

I wanted to send some things back to Chicago. I bought a few ricordea and things at a pet store in Naples, as well as some collected, hermits and mangrove pods. The UPS office told me they could not ship it unless I was an approved "live" shipper. After further research that's not the case. Anyway, I called TSA and the airport(FtMeyers), and the airline.... TSA says that "they are not the DNR and it is up to the airline" The airline said(ATA) as long as they were packed "leak proof" they could be checked. Altough when it came down to it, I packed them extremely well, checked them and was off to my gate. After getting to my gate and taking "the BIG sigh" thinking that all had went well. I was sharing a solemn moment of silent respect with the other travelers as we huddled around a live tv broadcast; Pres. Ronald Reagan's Funeral... And in this silence, I hear my name being announced over the PA... PLEASE RETURN TO THE TICKETING BOOTH.... MMMmmmm so the calm is over and I had to hussle back to the front. When I arrive I see some TSA lady with a bag above her head inspecting the contents. They confront me with; "Honey, this is illegal, you can't just pick live stuff up off the beach. (she saw the blue crab I had).. So I explained that I had called all of the authorities, and gave them the namesof the people that I spoke to(That turned out to be important). Showed them the reciept from the LFS for the items that had been purchased(luckily the reciept only said "live coral" and had no itemized list, or I might have been in trouble). After much convincing that, what was legal to buy in FL, is legal to take with me to IL, they allowed it to fly. Although they had been so hasty in opening the items, that it was impossable to repack with the same water proof feature. The only feature I really needed!! I picked-up a DRIP, Dripping.,,. soggy box, off the wet carousel, and had a wet salty mess in the trunk on the way home. All corals/crabs/mangroves survived and are doing fine

Good Luck, and be ready to defend your legal rights(with names to add credibility)

The_Nexis_One · 02/22/2006, 12:37 AM

IMHO, I wouldn't waste time/effort on trying to bring the stuff back - unless you were driving. If you buy it from a LFS, they should be willing to ship it for you, but you should call ahead to confirm. Unfortunatly, the only benefit would be to hand pick the items you wanted - and with live rock, it's a crap shoot anyway as to what will grow from the rock.

Best of luck
John.

Mr James · 02/22/2006, 03:39 PM

That's good of you lusenut2!! I visited Boston and several of the RC members up there picked me up at my hotel, twice, and showed me around town. Believe it or not, I was not the least bit nervous because I felt these people were like my family. Slipknottin, you ought to take him up on that offer. I would!!

02/21/2006, 12:16 PM	#1
slipknottin Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: New Britain, CT, USA Posts: 2,445	Ill be in Florida, how to buy LR and bring it home? Ill be in orlando for ~4 days, march 5-9. I want 20-30 pounds of atlantic LR. Shipping LR to my house would be awfully expensive, so Im wondering if there is someway I can pick up the rock in orlando, and simply bring it back with me on the plane. I believe you are allowed 50 pounds of luggage before they charge you extra, which would be fine for me. Any ideas? Anyone in the area willing to help me out?

02/21/2006, 01:32 PM	#2
IslandCrow Reef Monkey Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Rockledge, Fl Posts: 5,759	Wet newspaper and big ziplock bags (if they make them big enough for the rocks you want)? Perhaps you could buy a cheap cooler, duct tape it closed and check it at the airport. I think that may be the easiest way to do it as long as you aren't already maxed out on your checked baggage. __________________ All opinions in the above message should be taken with 35 ppt salt. -Mike C. Current Tank Info: I have a reef screen saver on my phone, does that count?

02/21/2006, 01:34 PM	#3
Agu Registered Member Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: Sarasota, Florida Posts: 30,279	The only LR that's legal to collect in florida is aquacultured rock, and only with a permit. You could pick some up in Tampa at Tampa Bay Saltwater. It's about a two hour drive each way from Orlando. TBS __________________ Less technology , more biology . Current Tank Info: 30 gallon half cube and 5.5, both reef tanks

02/22/2006, 12:01 AM	#10
21Reefman Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Chicago/NW IN Posts: 403	I wanted to send some things back to Chicago. I bought a few ricordea and things at a pet store in Naples, as well as some collected, hermits and mangrove pods. The UPS office told me they could not ship it unless I was an approved "live" shipper. After further research that's not the case. Anyway, I called TSA and the airport(FtMeyers), and the airline.... TSA says that "they are not the DNR and it is up to the airline" The airline said(ATA) as long as they were packed "leak proof" they could be checked. Altough when it came down to it, I packed them extremely well, checked them and was off to my gate. After getting to my gate and taking "the BIG sigh" thinking that all had went well. I was sharing a solemn moment of silent respect with the other travelers as we huddled around a live tv broadcast; Pres. Ronald Reagan's Funeral... And in this silence, I hear my name being announced over the PA... PLEASE RETURN TO THE TICKETING BOOTH.... MMMmmmm so the calm is over and I had to hussle back to the front. When I arrive I see some TSA lady with a bag above her head inspecting the contents. They confront me with; "Honey, this is illegal, you can't just pick live stuff up off the beach. (she saw the blue crab I had).. So I explained that I had called all of the authorities, and gave them the namesof the people that I spoke to(That turned out to be important). Showed them the reciept from the LFS for the items that had been purchased(luckily the reciept only said "live coral" and had no itemized list, or I might have been in trouble). After much convincing that, what was legal to buy in FL, is legal to take with me to IL, they allowed it to fly. Although they had been so hasty in opening the items, that it was impossable to repack with the same water proof feature. The only feature I really needed!! I picked-up a DRIP, Dripping.,,. soggy box, off the wet carousel, and had a wet salty mess in the trunk on the way home. All corals/crabs/mangroves survived and are doing fine Good Luck, and be ready to defend your legal rights(with names to add credibility) __________________ "The significant problems that we face cannot be solved at the same level of thinking we were at when we created them." Albert Einstein

02/22/2006, 12:37 AM	#11
The_Nexis_One Registered Member Join Date: May 2001 Location: Fayetteville, AR Posts: 416	IMHO, I wouldn't waste time/effort on trying to bring the stuff back - unless you were driving. If you buy it from a LFS, they should be willing to ship it for you, but you should call ahead to confirm. Unfortunatly, the only benefit would be to hand pick the items you wanted - and with live rock, it's a crap shoot anyway as to what will grow from the rock. Best of luck John. __________________ Killing is easy, Keeping things alive is a Challenge Current Tank Info: 40B Display, 27g Lagoon, 12g Rock Box....

02/21/2006, 01:49 PM	#6
slipknottin Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: New Britain, CT, USA Posts: 2,445	Yea, I read that on their site too. Anyone know where gulf-view is? My biggest issue is that I will have no car, so I probably have to get the rock shipped to my hotel.

02/21/2006, 02:46 PM	#7
Mr James Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Kernersville, NC Posts: 6,192	No car?? That stinks. You can't even go visit the LFS's. I hear their are a few good ones. I lived nearby, but never went to any of them. Check the ORCA (RC member board) and ask where to go and what to see.

02/21/2006, 02:58 PM	#8
lusenut2 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Ocoee, Fl Posts: 1,580	There is a good LFS in Kissimmee and a real good store in Apopka. Nothing that I really know of in Orlando though. You might not feel safe cause you dont know me, but if you want you can have it shipped to me and I will bring it to your hotel if you want. I live in a town just outside of Orlando. About 5 mins. If its on a weekend that your here I wouldnt even mind bringing you to a few stores so you can check them out. The 2 that I go to normally have around 50 to 100 pounds of rock instock.

02/21/2006, 03:00 PM	#9
lusenut2 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Ocoee, Fl Posts: 1,580	I believe gulf view is south of tampa. it would be like a 3 hour drive or so from orlando.

02/22/2006, 03:39 PM	#12
Mr James Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Kernersville, NC Posts: 6,192	That's good of you lusenut2!! I visited Boston and several of the RC members up there picked me up at my hotel, twice, and showed me around town. Believe it or not, I was not the least bit nervous because I felt these people were like my family. Slipknottin, you ought to take him up on that offer. I would!!