Shipping policies

Domestic Shipping Rates and Estimates

All orders are processed within 1 to 2 business days (excluding weekends and holidays) after receiving your order confirmation email. Note that we refrain from shipping around major holidays (Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's, July 4th) due to increased shipping risks.

We use a combination of weight based shipping and flat rate for the majority of our products. 

For products in Equipment categories we calculate shipping and it will be displayed at checkout.

We also offer free shipping when you hit thresholds for items in the categories Livestock at $249, and Dry goods at $399

All live products will be shipped via UPS Next Day Air which operates from Monday to Thursday.  Delivery times typically range before 10:30 am, though rural areas may extend this to 12:30 or as late as 4:30 pm.  Please note that while Next Day Air shipments strive for punctuality, timely arrival is not guaranteed, and refunds or credits for shipping are not offered under any circumstances.  Currently, we do not ship any products (live or dry goods) beyond the 48 continental United States due to logistical complexities and regulatory requirements for live stony coral exports.  

Shipping Address and Packing

Shipping is exclusively to the billing address unless alternative arrangements are confirmed via email.  Our livestock are carefully packaged in heavy-duty bags to prevent leaks, housed in styrofoam boxes with cardboard shells, and equipped with appropriate heat or cold packs as per environmental requirements.  All corals listed on our site undergo a minimum quarantine or healing period of three weeks before shipping.

How do I check the status of my order?

When your order has shipped, you will receive an email notification from us which will include a tracking number you can use to check its status. Please allow up to 48 hours for the tracking information to become available.  Please be aware that we are not liable for shipping delays due to inclement weather or other shipping factors. We recommend opting for delivery at your local UPS facility ("hold at location" option available).

If you haven’t received your order within 3 days of receiving your shipping confirmation email, please contact us at dean@sanctuary-aquatics.com with your name and order number, and we will look into it for you.

Livestock Health and Returns

We ensure that our livestock are healthy and resilient during shipping.  In the rare event that an order or individual coral does not survive transit, you will receive credit toward a future purchase valid for 6 months. Refunds are not issued; please notify us via email of any deceased corals within 3 hours of delivery, and retain the corals and possible photos for evaluation.

 

 

Refunds, returns, and exchanges

We accept returns up to 7 days after delivery, if the item is unused and in its original condition, and we will refund the full order amount minus the shipping costs for the return.

In the event that your order arrives damaged in any way, please email us as soon as possible at dean@sanctuary-aquatics.com with your order number and a photo of the item’s condition. We address these on a case-by-case basis but will try our best to work towards a satisfactory solution.

We appreciate your patronage and hope you enjoy your purchase!

If you have any further questions, please don't hesitate to contact us at dean@sanctuary-aquatics.com.