Stainless steel tank

Quick Answer: The Stainless steel tank is an open, rectangular metal tank used as the bath vessel over a multi-position magnetic stirrer: filled with water and heated by a separate thermostat, it lets several flasks stir at once at one steady temperature.

From Multi-Position Stirrer to Stirred Bath

A multi-position magnetic stirrer turns several stir bars side by side, yet on its own it offers no temperature control. Standing a stainless steel tank over the stirring positions and filling it with water changes that. Each flask sits in the water above its own magnet, the stir bars keep turning through the tank floor, and an immersion thermostat or an external circulator placed in the water sets the temperature for every flask together.

The photo shows an open rectangular tank with a formed top edge and short feet at the corners. Stainless steel is the choice when a bath runs warm for long periods, is scrubbed often or holds salt solutions and disinfectants that would cloud a plastic tank. It is opaque, so flasks are watched from above; the clear Polycarbonate Tank is the see-through alternative for demonstrations.

Stirring through a metal floor depends on the metal being non-magnetic. The austenitic stainless steels normally used for bath tanks are essentially non-magnetic, but coupling still weakens with distance, so the tank must sit close over the magnets it is meant for. Which stirrer model, and how many positions, the tank is sized for should be settled before ordering.

Work Suited to a Stirred Steel Bath

• Dissolution or extraction runs in which several identical flasks must be stirred at the same temperature
• Enzyme activity series at 37 °C, with one flask per substrate concentration
• Solubility-against-temperature practicals, stepping the bath up while every flask keeps stirring
• Warm incubation of stirred culture flasks in microbiology or biotechnology classes

Specifications

Care & Handling

• Fill with deionised or softened water to keep scale off the steel and the heater.
• Drain and dry the tank after a run; standing water leaves marks and encourages algae.
• Avoid bleach and hydrochloric acid cleaners, whose chlorides can pit stainless steel.
• Top up during long runs so the water stays above the liquid level inside the flasks.

Why Choose LabEquip

This tank is bought by labs that already run a multi-position stirrer and now need its flasks held at a set temperature. LabEquip also lists immersion heaters such as the TI-05 immersion thermostat in General Lab Products; send the stirrer model through the contact page so the tank size can be matched.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the stainless steel tank heat the water itself?

No. The tank is a passive vessel. Heat comes from a separate unit placed in or connected to the water, normally an immersion thermostat or a circulator, while the stirrer underneath only turns the stir bars.

Will magnetic stirring work through a steel floor?

Generally yes, because the stainless steels used for bath tanks are essentially non-magnetic. Coupling does weaken with distance, so use stir bars suited to the flask, start at a low speed and make sure the tank is made for your stirrer.

When is steel a better choice than the polycarbonate tank?

Pick steel for warmer baths, long runs, frequent scrubbing and salty or disinfectant-treated water. Pick polycarbonate when students need to see the flasks from the side or when a lighter tank is easier to lift and empty.

What water should go into the tank?

Deionised or softened water limits scale on the steel and on the heater. Change it regularly, and if it must stand for several days add an algicide that is suitable for stainless steel.

How can rust-coloured spots on the tank be avoided?

Stainless steel resists corrosion but can stain when left wet or exposed to chlorides or loose iron particles. Dry the tank after use, keep bleach away from it and never scour it with ordinary steel wool.

How deep should the bath water be?

Deep enough to rise above the liquid inside the flasks so the whole sample reaches bath temperature, but not so deep that the flasks float. Flask weights or a raised grid help keep light flasks upright.

Last Updated: September 2026