[NHCOLL-L:3954] Re: Vats for storing large specimens in alcohol

[John E Simmons]

You got some good advice from Andy and Tom.  It is the nature of all
compressible gaskets that eventually they will fail from repeated
compression, aging, contact with the preservative, or a combination of all
of the above.  No compressible material retains its regain for long.  You
might look to a non-adhesive backed gasket for a replacement if there is a
channel you can fit the gaskets into (non-adhesive means less chemicals to
contaminate the preservative), and should consider a closed-cell silicon
type of gasket.  But be prepared to replace the replacement gasket as well.

Do you know what the big box containers are made of?  High density
polypropylene (HDPE) is good, but it does allow a certain amount of oxygen
to permeate (oxidation is a major cause of deterioration of specimens).  Do
these containers have to be shielded from UV exposure (polyethylene rarely
has UV absorbers in it).  You might also consider the polycarbonate
containers that were written up a year or so ago in the SPNHC newsletter by
Amy Estep (sorry I don't have the reference handy, but I am in Chicago at
present, not at my office).

--John

John E. Simmons
Museologica
128 E. Burnside Street
Bellefonte, Pennsylvania 16823-2010
simmons.johne at gmail.com
303-681-5708
and
Adjunct Curator of Collections
Earth and Mineral Science Museum & Art Gallery
Penn State University
19 Deike Building
University Park, Pennsylvania 16802-2709
jes67 at psu.edu

On Wed, Aug 27, 2008 at 5:03 PM, Thomas Labedz <tlabedz1 at unl.edu> wrote:

> Moretta,
>
> We too use the stainless steel tanks Andy Bentley described, and it should
> be mentioned that those tanks have positive closure latch system for
> sealing.  In addition to tanks I've begun using open-head polyethylene drums
> for specimens too large for gallon jars.  These are available in 8, 15, 30,
> and 55 gallon sizes.  I've only used the 8-gallon size as we don't get that
> many big fish in the continental interior.  The 8-gallon barrels are
> relatively easy to handle even when full, and each  costs us about $40.00
> US.  There may be some issues with the life span of the gaskets on those
> barrels but they seem to be doing okay for me with the oldest having been in
> use for about 10 years.  We got our from Consolidated Plastics (
> consolidatedplastics.com, item # 30249L2).  You might consider a custom
> made steel box if you have a seriously long fish that won't go into a barrel
> and is too long for the tanks Andy mentioned.
>
> I suggest contacting a conservator and gasket manufacturer to find out what
> might be a more appropriate material to retrofit your big boxes with, and
> how to install the gasket.  I've seen your big box collection and it is
> impressive.  Good luck with your search.
>
> Thomas E. Labedz, Collections Manager
> Division of Zoology and Division of Botany
> University of Nebraska State Museum
> W-436 Nebraska Hall
> Lincoln, NE  68588-0514
> 402/472-8366    fax 402/472-8949
> tlabedz1 at unl.edu    www.museum.unl.edu
>
>
> On Aug 27, 2008, at 11:43 AM, Frederick, Moretta RBCM:EX wrote:
>
>  We have a significant number of our specimens stored in large plastic vats
>> made by Schoeller Arca Systems (their 'big box' line).
>>
>> The lid has a gasket inside the rim that forms a seal with the upper lip
>> of the box.  However, these gaskets become stuck to the box over time,
>> ultimately coming dislodged from the lid and falling into the alcohol.
>> Obviously, these seals aren't working, so we would like to improve upon our
>> current system, both in terms of the material used for the gasket, and the
>> method used to secure the lid to the box (currently it's just gravity).
>>
>> My question is threefold:
>>         - does anyone else use this product (Schoeller Arca Systems 'Big
>> Box') to store specimens in alcohol?
>>         - has anyone experienced this problem with the gasket and what
>> have they done to fix the seal?
>>         - what types of containers are other collections using to store
>> fish and inverts too large for a gallon jar?
>>
>> Thanks
>>
>> Moretta Frederick
>> Collections Manager, Invertebrates, Fish,
>> Reptiles, and Amphibians
>> Royal British Columbia Museum
>> mfrederick at royalbcmuseum.bc.ca
>> (250) 387-2932
>>
>>


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