Shipping policy

Shipping Policy
Live Water Aquariums & Ponds
Last updated: September 15, 2026

Thank you for shopping with Live Water Aquariums & Ponds. This policy explains how we process and ship orders of aquarium and pond equipment, UV sterilizers, filters, water treatments, and related supplies.

Where We Ship
We currently ship to all 50 United States and the District of Columbia.
We do not ship internationally at this time. If you need a quote for a U.S. territory or a special freight destination, contact us before placing your order.

Processing / Lead Time
Orders typically require 3–5 business days of processing time after payment is confirmed before they ship.
Processing time is the period we need to pick, pack, and hand the package to the carrier. It does not include transit time.
Orders placed on weekends or U.S. federal holidays begin processing on the next business day. We ship Monday through Friday.

Shipping Cost
Standard shipping is free to all addresses in the United States on eligible orders.
Oversized, extra-heavy, or freight items (for example large filters or UV units that require LTL freight) may carry a separate shipping charge. Any additional charge will be shown at checkout or confirmed with you before the order ships.
We do not add hidden handling fees after checkout.

Estimated Delivery Time
After an order ships, standard ground transit within the contiguous United States is typically 2–7 business days, depending on destination and carrier.
Alaska and Hawaii generally take longer.
Total time from order to door is therefore usually 5–12 business days for most lower-48 addresses (3–5 days processing + carrier transit). These are estimates, not guarantees. Weather, carrier delays, and remote addresses can extend delivery.

Carriers and Tracking
We ship via major U.S. carriers such as UPS, FedEx, and/or USPS, depending on size, weight, and destination.
A tracking number is emailed when the order ships. Please allow up to 24 hours after the first scan for tracking to update.

Order Changes and Cancellations
If you need to change the shipping address or cancel, contact us as soon as possible. Once an order has been packed or handed to the carrier, we may not be able to change it.

Lost, Delayed, or Damaged Packages
If tracking shows no movement for several days, or the package is marked delivered but not received, contact us and the carrier promptly. We will help file a claim.
Inspect shipments on arrival. If an item arrives damaged, photograph the box and product and contact us within 7 days of delivery so we can assist with a replacement or claim.
We are not responsible for delays caused by the carrier, incorrect customer addresses, weather, or events outside our control. Risk of loss passes to the customer when the carrier takes possession, except where required otherwise by law.

Undeliverable Packages
Packages returned to us because of an incorrect address, refused delivery, or unclaimed shipment may be reshipped at the customer’s expense or refunded minus original outbound shipping (if any was charged) and return fees.

Contact

Live Water Aquariums & Ponds
Valley Center / San Diego County, California

Questions about an order or this policy can be sent through our website contact form during business hours.

Changes to This Policy

We may update this shipping policy from time to time. The current version is always posted on this page. Continued use of the site after an update constitutes acceptance of the revised policy.