Shipping & Handling - Live Coral Delivery

Shipping & Handling - Safe Delivery of Your Live Corals

At Empire Corals, we understand that ordering live corals online requires trust. We've perfected our packing and shipping process to ensure your corals arrive healthy, vibrant, and ready to thrive in your reef tank.

Our Packing Process

Professional Packaging Standards

Every order receives our premium packing treatment:

  • Individual bagging: Each coral is carefully placed in its own bag with appropriate water volume.
  • Oxygen infusion: Pure oxygen is added to each bag to ensure corals have plenty of air during transit.
  • Secure cushioning: Bags are wrapped in newspaper or bubble wrap to prevent shifting and maintain temperature
  • Insulated boxes: Heavy-duty styrofoam-lined boxes protect against temperature fluctuations. We take pride in recycling insulated boxes. it's more important than ever that we " reduce, reuse, and recycle."! some insulated boxes may show wear but rest assured, they are protecting your shipment while also reducing impact AND savings which is passed on to you!
  • Heat/cold packs: Seasonal temperature control packs are included as needed but not always needed dependent on weather at and to final location.
  • Fragile labeling: All boxes are clearly marked as live animals and fragile.

Quality Control

Before shipping, every coral is:

  • Visually inspected for health and vitality
  • Properly acclimated to shipping conditions
  • Photographed for our records
  • Securely attached to its frag plug or mounting
  • we reserve the right to cancel any order due to the health of any specimen should we find it not optimal for shipping. In each case, the customer will always be informed prior to shipment.

Shipping Schedule & Transit Times

When We Ship

  • Ship days: Monday through Thursday ONLY ( unless specified on order. anything outside of these terms customer is informed and accepts the possibility of shipment delays in which EMPIRE CORALS is not liable but we will do our best to make every situation right even if it is not our fault ) BUT MAINLY (to avoid weekend delays)
  • Cutoff time: Orders must be placed by 12 PM CST for in stock ONLY same-day shipping
  • Weather holds: We monitor weather conditions and may delay shipments if extreme temperatures are forecasted at origin or destination

Shipping Methods

We use UPS Overnight for all live coral shipments to ensure the fastest, most reliable delivery.

  • Transit time: Overnight delivery (1 business day)
  • Delivery window: Typically by 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM
  • Tracking: You'll receive tracking information as soon as your order ships
  • Signature: Signature may be required for delivery

Shipping Rates

Live coral shipping: $45 flat rate (FedEx Priority Overnight)

Free shipping on orders over $300!

Delivery Day - What to Expect

Be Ready to Receive

  • Track your package: Monitor tracking closely on delivery day
  • Be available: Someone should be home to receive the package immediately
  • Inspect upon arrival: Open the box as soon as it arrives and check the contents
  • Acclimate properly: Follow our acclimation guidelines (see below)

If You Can't Be Home

We recommend shipping to a location where someone will be available. Options include:

  • Your workplace (with permission)
  • A trusted neighbor or family member
  • UPS Hold at Location (contact us to arrange)

Acclimation Instructions

  1. Float the bags: Float sealed bags in your tank for 15-20 minutes to temperature acclimate
  2. Drip acclimate: Use the drip method for 30-45 minutes to slowly adjust corals to your water parameters
  3. Inspect corals: Check each coral for health and vitality
  4. Placement: Place corals in low-to-moderate flow areas initially
  5. Lighting: Start with reduced lighting (50-60%) for the first few days
  6. Monitor closely: Watch corals for the first 24-48 hours and adjust placement as needed

Our Live Arrival Guarantee

We stand behind the quality of our corals and our shipping process.

DOA (Dead on Arrival) Policy

  • Coverage: We guarantee live arrival of all corals when shipped via our standard overnight method
  • Notification: You must notify us within 2 hours of the first delivery attempt with clear photos
  • Resolution: We'll provide a replacement or store credit for any DOA corals ( DOES NOT INCLUDE SHIPPING. )
  • Requirements: Package must be opened immediately upon delivery and photos taken before removing corals from bags

What's NOT Covered

  • Delays caused by incorrect shipping address provided by customer
  • Packages refused or not accepted during first delivery attempt
  • Delays due to weather or carrier issues beyond our control (we'll work with you on these cases)
  • Corals that decline after successful acclimation

Shipping Restrictions

Weather-Related Holds

We monitor weather conditions at both origin and destination. We may delay shipments when:

  • Temperatures below 25°F or above 95°F are forecasted
  • Severe weather events are predicted
  • Extended carrier delays are expected

Your safety and the health of our corals are our top priorities. We'll notify you immediately if your order needs to be held.

Geographic Restrictions

We currently ship to lower 48 states. International shipping is not available at this time.

Order Tracking & Communication

Stay informed every step of the way:

  • Order confirmation: Immediate email when order is placed
  • Shipping notification: Email with tracking number when package ships
  • Delivery updates: UPS tracking updates throughout transit
  • We're here to help: Contact us anytime with questions or concerns

Questions About Shipping?

We're here to help! If you have any questions about our shipping process, packaging methods, or delivery timeline, please don't hesitate to contact us. We want you to feel completely confident ordering live corals from Empire Corals.

Ready to order? Browse our collections and start building your dream reef!