CACAdmin
Apr 18th 2009, 04:16 PM
With the arrival of Spring, the chance to sell livestock on the auction (http://www.canadianaquariumauction.com)increases without the worry about timing it 'just right' for the weather. Yes a heat pack is still required for many creatures as most are tropical. The most commonly used are 60+ hr and 72+ hr ones depending upon how far you are sending them.
http://www.canadianaquariumconnection.com/jb_images/heatpack.jpg
Heat packs activate once taken out of their packaging. There is a red stripe on them to indicate where oxygen is taken in to produce heat. Using these are easy. Once you have taken it out of it's original plastic wrapper, wrap it loosely in newspaper and add it to your shipping box (ensuring it does not come into direct contact with the fishbags... hence the newspaper).
Now to the topic of this thread: Constructing an insulated shipping fishbox.
You may find styro insulated boxes by asking at your local pharmacy but in the event you can't find one (or one of appropriate size), you can easily make one as follows:
All you need is a cardboard box, a styrofoam sheet, a ruler (or measuring tape) and an box cutter.
Styrofoam sheets can be located anywhere they sell insulation (ie. Home Depot or Rona). No need to buy large quantities. I buy a package of sheets like this:
Single Sheet
http://www.canadianaquariumconnection.com/jb_images/DIY-shipping-box-1.jpg
Here are the packages I buy (but any styro sheets will do)
http://www.canadianaquariumconnection.com/jb_images/DIY-shipping-box-2.jpg
All you need is shown here:
http://www.canadianaquariumconnection.com/jb_images/DIY-shipping-box-4.jpg
http://www.canadianaquariumconnection.com/jb_images/DIY-shipping-box-5.jpg
Take the inside measurements of the box ( in this case it was a 6x6x6 inch box and the inside measurements are 5.75x5.75.5.75). Cut two pieces of styro this size (left side of image) and 4 pieces (right side of the image) of styro that are the size of the first two minus the thickness the styro horizontally and minus twice the thickness of the styro vertically.
http://www.canadianaquariumconnection.com/jb_images/DIY-shipping-box-6.jpg
To understand the measurements, here is how you line the box.
Place one of the full size pieces on the bottom .
http://www.canadianaquariumconnection.com/jb_images/DIY-shipping-box-7.jpg
Then place the smaller pieces around the perimeter (sizing means they interleave to form the wall)
http://www.canadianaquariumconnection.com/jb_images/DIY-shipping-box-8.jpg
http://www.canadianaquariumconnection.com/jb_images/DIY-shipping-box-9.jpg
The final full size piece forms the lid.
http://www.canadianaquariumconnection.com/jb_images/DIY-shipping-box-10.jpg
Don't worry about it being perfect. Slight imperfections allow air to enter the box... needed by both the heatpack and the fish (if using breather bags).
Hint: To cut the styrofoam with a reasonably clean edge and to minimize those bits of Styrofoam that end up everywhere (but can easily be vacuumed up), heat the blade of your knife before each cut. This will slightly melt and seal the edges of the styro as you cut it.
Any questions you may have, feel free to PM me.::D:
http://www.canadianaquariumconnection.com/jb_images/heatpack.jpg
Heat packs activate once taken out of their packaging. There is a red stripe on them to indicate where oxygen is taken in to produce heat. Using these are easy. Once you have taken it out of it's original plastic wrapper, wrap it loosely in newspaper and add it to your shipping box (ensuring it does not come into direct contact with the fishbags... hence the newspaper).
Now to the topic of this thread: Constructing an insulated shipping fishbox.
You may find styro insulated boxes by asking at your local pharmacy but in the event you can't find one (or one of appropriate size), you can easily make one as follows:
All you need is a cardboard box, a styrofoam sheet, a ruler (or measuring tape) and an box cutter.
Styrofoam sheets can be located anywhere they sell insulation (ie. Home Depot or Rona). No need to buy large quantities. I buy a package of sheets like this:
Single Sheet
http://www.canadianaquariumconnection.com/jb_images/DIY-shipping-box-1.jpg
Here are the packages I buy (but any styro sheets will do)
http://www.canadianaquariumconnection.com/jb_images/DIY-shipping-box-2.jpg
All you need is shown here:
http://www.canadianaquariumconnection.com/jb_images/DIY-shipping-box-4.jpg
http://www.canadianaquariumconnection.com/jb_images/DIY-shipping-box-5.jpg
Take the inside measurements of the box ( in this case it was a 6x6x6 inch box and the inside measurements are 5.75x5.75.5.75). Cut two pieces of styro this size (left side of image) and 4 pieces (right side of the image) of styro that are the size of the first two minus the thickness the styro horizontally and minus twice the thickness of the styro vertically.
http://www.canadianaquariumconnection.com/jb_images/DIY-shipping-box-6.jpg
To understand the measurements, here is how you line the box.
Place one of the full size pieces on the bottom .
http://www.canadianaquariumconnection.com/jb_images/DIY-shipping-box-7.jpg
Then place the smaller pieces around the perimeter (sizing means they interleave to form the wall)
http://www.canadianaquariumconnection.com/jb_images/DIY-shipping-box-8.jpg
http://www.canadianaquariumconnection.com/jb_images/DIY-shipping-box-9.jpg
The final full size piece forms the lid.
http://www.canadianaquariumconnection.com/jb_images/DIY-shipping-box-10.jpg
Don't worry about it being perfect. Slight imperfections allow air to enter the box... needed by both the heatpack and the fish (if using breather bags).
Hint: To cut the styrofoam with a reasonably clean edge and to minimize those bits of Styrofoam that end up everywhere (but can easily be vacuumed up), heat the blade of your knife before each cut. This will slightly melt and seal the edges of the styro as you cut it.
Any questions you may have, feel free to PM me.::D: