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As you can see, the level of the fluid is not at the top of the jar – it’s dropped due to evaporation over time. The specimen is maintained in an alcohol-based fluid, Industrial Methylated Spirit (IMS). Because alcohol evaporates more quickly than water, the IMS gradually becomes diluted. As a result, we need to check the fluid and make sure it remains at the right strength to keep the electric rays in good condition. We do this by carefully removing the bung, and testing the fluid with an alcohol density meter. If it measures between seventy and eighty percent alcohol, we can simply top it up with more of the same strength. If it measures less than seventy percent, we’d have to replace the fluid completely. We do this by increasing the percentage in stages. This helps to prevent the delicate specimens from cell damage, which can be caused by raising the percentage of alcohol too quickly.
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