[NHCOLL-L:5527] Re: Display tank for fluid-preserved fish specimens?

[Couteaufin at aol.com]

Hi Laura,
 
Have you considered using a PFP instead?  (Post fixation  preservative)  
This would involve the use of propylene glycol and propylene  phenoxetol - no 
evaporation problems, no toxicity and no flammability.  If  the specimen is 
to be preserved for only 8 weeks this might be an easier option  - if so, 
then the specimen would need to be hydrated down a ladder to water  before 
preservation and then reversed back up to preserving alcohol strength  again 
before storage.
 
If this might work for you, let me know and I can supply a formula for the  
preservative.
 
Alternatively you would have to find a tank with a well-fitting lid and  
seal with silicone-based sealant.  This can be reversed with Silstrip or  
similar silicone reversing agent but these can be expensive.
 
With all good  wishes, Simon

Simon Moore MIScT, FLS, ACR,
Conservator of Natural  Sciences,

_www.natural-history-conservation.com_ 
(http://www.natural-history-conservation.com/)  
_www.pocket-fruit-knives.info_ (http://www.pocket-fruit-knives.info/)  

_http://uk.linkedin.com/in/naturalsciencespecimenconserve_ 
(http://uk.linkedin.com/in/naturalsciencespecimenconserve)   


In a message dated 27/06/2011 22:38:27 GMT Daylight Time, abraczi1 at msu.edu  
writes:

 
Greetings, 
I am looking for information on a sealable glass tank that  would be safe 
for exhibiting a fluid-preserved fish specimen.    We are looking into  
displaying one of our fish (in 70% Ethanol) for about 8 weeks in a public  
gallery.  The exhibit group  desires a clear container that is 10 gallon size or 
smaller with flat  sides.  One that resembles a  rectangular-fronted tropical 
fish tank would be great. 
We are restricted to this maximum amount of flammable  liquid in an exhibit 
by our campus safety office and the fire marshal.  The exhibit group does 
not want to use  a fluid-preserved specimen jar (i.e. large glass jar with 
screw top  polyethylene lid) for this.    
Any information on suppliers, products, retrofits, or  ”lessons learned” 
pertaining to this type of display would be  appreciated.  Feel free to reply 
 to me directly and not to the entire list.  
Many thanks! 
Laura 
Laura  Abraczinskas, Collections Manager 
Vertebrate  Collections 
Michigan  State University Museum 
West  Circle Drive 
East  Lansing, Michigan   48824-1045 
517/355-1290  Office Phone 
517/432-2846  FAX 


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