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Hi Tischi;
	I've used similar setups where I put a layer of light mineral oil over the top of the media in the wells. This prevents evaporation (I've gone up to 48 hours), and the pH seemed to be stable. Some cells may not tolerate this, but it's a simple thing to try.
	Kathy Spencer
	The Scripps Research Institute



-----Original Message-----
From: Confocal Microscopy List [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Christian Tischer
Sent: Tuesday, February 21, 2012 1:43 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: avoid condensation??

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Hello,

we are using an inverted microscope and need to do long term transmission 
imaging in a 24-well dish. the whole central part of microscope is surrounded by 
a box keeping it at 37 degrees and providing CO2. 

so far, we fail to avoid condensation at the plastik cover of wells. the even 
more annoying thing is that the condensation pattern changes from very fine to 
bigger droplets within ca. 10 hours. while the small droplets are actually not so 
bad, the bigger droplets cause severe problems for the transmission imaging 
(introducing some lensing effects).

taking the lid off seems no option, because the wells may dry out over 10-24 
hours.

we tried putting some oil on the cover (from the inside of course), hoping that 
it would be more hydrophobic and thus prevent condensation, but 
unfortunately that only helped for a few hours...

Anyone any ideas?

Thanks already!!!

Tischi (ALMF@EMBL Heidelberg)