[Nhcoll-l] Recommendations for large specimen containers in wet collections

Thu Apr 4 09:03:05 EDT 2024

An alternative to Delta might be Great Lakes Stainless Steel. We had 1000
tanks made for our collections facility. They have been performing very
well for over a decade. This is from a previous post:

[image: Description: New Lighthouse]Michael DeBruyn

*Great Lakes Stainless, Inc.** - 2010 Business of the Year
<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kX4z4G_0I70>- 2011 Top 50 Companies to
Watch <http://www.theticker.tc/story/local-companies-nab-state-honors>*

1305 Stepke Ct▪Traverse City, MI 49685▪Ph. 231-943-7648 x109▪Fax
231-943-5058

*Custom Design - Professional Service - Outstanding Quality*

*www.greatlakesstainless.com <http://www.greatlakesstainless.com/>*

This was the basic design.

We had 18 gallon and 35 gallon tanks made. We also had tank stands made as
these sit on compact shelving units and are retrieved by forklift:
[image: image.png]

[image: image.png]

The quality of construction was excellent including welding and spot
welding.  The seals are airtight to the point of creating an internal
vacuum seal. The latches are heavy duty. The customer service was
excellent. (They were happy to address any issues that arose - polishing
rough spots, etc.).

Greg Schneider
Division of Reptiles and Amphibians
Museum of Zoology
Research Museums Center
3600 Varsity Drive
University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, Michigan 48108

734 647 1927

ges at umich.edu

[image: Description: Description: logocolor]

www.ummz.lsa.umich.edu/rep_amph/index.html

On Wed, Apr 3, 2024 at 9:36 AM Bentley, Andrew Charles <abentley at ku.edu>
wrote:

> Hi Amy
>
>
>
> Here in the US a large number of collections use stainless steel tanks
> constructed and sold by Delta Designs.  See attached. There are two main
> sizes of tank but they will also make custom tanks to any dimensions.  The
> tanks come with an alcohol resistant gasket that forms a very effective
> seal and prevents evaporation.  The seal does break down over time (many,
> many years) but replacement material is easy to source and install.  A
> metal wheeled dolly is sold separately that allows for effective movement
> of tanks if necessary.  Delta also sells a custom tank rack that will allow
> stacking of tanks in confined spaces.  The tanks slide out for easy access
> and removal if necessary.
>
>
>
> We have been using these in our collections (in many different iterations
> and styles) over more than 25 years and have been very happy with them.
> With the price of steel ever increasing, these tanks are now fairly
> expensive but worth it in my view given the great storage environment they
> provide for large wet specimens.  The pricing attached is from 2015 so not
> reliable but will give you an idea.  I have no idea how much shipping would
> cost you but maybe you can find someone in Ireland to make similar.
>
>
>
> The only alternative we have used is polycarbonate pails sold by
> University Products, but have moved away from them as they were found to
> crack and leak over time and did not seal very well as they did not have a
> gasket.  University Products has since removed them from their catalog
> while they re-evaluate their effectiveness with the supplier.
>
>
>
> Hope that helps
>
>
>
> Andy
>
>     A  :             A  :             A  :
>  }<(((_°>.,.,.,.}<(((_°>.,.,.,.}<)))_°>
>     V                V                V
> Andy Bentley
> Ichthyology Collection Manager
> University of Kansas
> Biodiversity Institute
>
> Dyche Hall
> 1345 Jayhawk Boulevard
> Lawrence, KS, 66045-7561
> USA
>
> Tel: (785) 864-3863
> Fax: (785) 864-5335
> Email: abentley at ku.edu
>
> ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3093-1258
>
> http://ichthyology.biodiversity.ku.edu
>
>     A  :             A  :             A  :
>  }<(((_°>.,.,.,.}<(((_°>.,.,.,.}<)))_°>
>     V                V                V
>
>
>
> *From:* Nhcoll-l <nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu> *On Behalf Of *
> naturalhistory
> *Sent:* Wednesday, April 3, 2024 7:02 AM
> *To:* nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu
> *Subject:* [Nhcoll-l] Recommendations for large specimen containers in
> wet collections
>
>
>
> Dear all,
>
>
>
> I’m looking into optimising large specimen storage in the wet collection
> of my institution.  At present, large specimens are stored in a variety of
> stainless-steel tanks ranging in volume from 100-650L. About half of the
> tanks were purchased from and purpose built by an Irish Steel supplier in
> the mid-1990s. To date, the tanks are holding up well, but their lack of
> seal means their topping up regime is ongoing and tiring!
>
>
>
> Could I ask the collective Natural History group for their recommendations
> for large specimens’ containers or cautionary advice? It would be very
> helpful if you could share your experience with sealants. For context, I’ve
> consulted the books Fluid Preservation: A Comprehensive Reference and Best
> Practices in the Preservation and Management of Fluid-Preserved Biological
> Collections. If I’ve missed something within them feel free to point it out.
>
>
>
> Please reply off list to ageraghty at museum.ie and tanks in advance for any
> help,
>
> * Dr Amy Geraghty*,
> Assistant Keeper – Natural History Division,
> *National Museum of Ireland **–** Natural History,*
> Merrion St. Dublin 2, Ireland.
> D02 F627
> T: + 353-1-6307-310
> Ext: 610
> *www.museum.ie <http://www.museum.ie/>*
>
>
>
> [image: Museum Opening Hours]
> <https://www.museum.ie/en-IE/Museums/Decorative-Arts-History/Exhibitions/we-make-our-own-histories>
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