The Norwesco 5500 Gallon 30 Degree Cone Bottom Tank (SKU N-40549) is a 5,500-gallon polyethylene cone bottom tank built for full-drain chemical handling. It stands 148 inches tall on a 119 x 119 inch footprint and carries a 1.5 specific gravity rating, the number that should drive your chemical selection. The 30-degree cone keeps solids moving toward the outlet so you empty completely between batches instead of leaving sediment behind. This is a true process tank for dosing, mixing, and bulk storage where you want the contents to evacuate cleanly.
Will it work for your application?
Size your load by weight, not just gallons. Filled with water this tank weighs about 45,870 pounds, and at its full 1.5 SG rating the contents can reach 68,805 pounds. That number sets your foundation and cone-support stand requirements. A cone bottom tank cannot stand on its own base the way a flat-bottom vertical can, so confirm your steel or poly support structure is engineered for the loaded weight before delivery. Run your ZIP through the Freight Cost Estimator before you budget, since this ships LTL from Shawnee, OK; St. Bonifacius, MN; or Washington Court House, OH. If you are still working out which capacity and cone angle fit your process, the Tank Sizing Calculator and Tank Sizing Guide walk through the math, and the Norwesco cone bottom buyer's guide compares 15, 30, and 45 degree options. The complete 5500 gallon buyer's guide covers this specific model in depth. For drawn dimensions and fitting locations, see the technical drawing on this page.
Chemical compatibility
This polyethylene tank is rated to 1.5 specific gravity. We will confirm the exact resin grade (crosslinked XLPE versus linear HDPE) in writing before chemical service, because the grade, not just the 1.5 SG rating, determines compatibility for aggressive chemicals. Compatibility always depends on concentration and temperature, so check the OEM chemical-resistance chart for your exact conditions against the OneSource Chemical Compatibility Database before ordering. This tank's fitting package is configured per order, so confirm bulkhead fittings and gaskets in your chemical's material when you call, since the right gasket is as critical as the tank wall.
At the 1.5 SG rating, this tank suits the following chemicals at the concentrations and fitting/gasket pairings shown: Acetic Acid (60%, PP/PVC fittings, EPDM gaskets), Aluminum Sulfate (50%, PVC, EPDM), Calcium Chloride (40%, PVC, EPDM), DEF (32.5%, 316SS, EPDM), Ferrous Sulfate (20%, PVC, EPDM), Magnesium Chloride (30%, PVC, EPDM), Sodium Carbonate (30%, PVC, EPDM), Urea Solution (50%, PP/PVC, EPDM), and Ozonated Water (up to 10 PPM, PVC, EPDM). Match your fitting and gasket materials to the chemical, not just the tank.
Nineteen common chemicals are NOT a fit for this 1.5 SG build and need the heavier 1.9 specific gravity version, including sodium hypochlorite, sulfuric acid, and hydrochloric acid. The full list: Ethylene Glycol, Ferric Chloride, Ferric Sulfate, Hydrochloric Acid, Hydrofluoric Acid, Hydrofluosilicic Acid, Hydrogen Peroxide, Peracetic Acid, Phosphoric Acid, Polyaluminum Chloride, Potassium Carbonate, Potassium Hydroxide, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Bisulfate, Sodium Bisulfite, Sodium Hypochlorite, Sodium Thiosulfate, Sulfuric Acid, and Zinc Orthophosphate. Note that the 1.9 SG chemicals frequently also demand Viton or Aflas gaskets and CPVC or 316SS fittings rather than the EPDM and PVC used on the 1.5 SG list, so the material stack changes with the chemical, not just the tank wall. If you are storing any of these, ask us about the Norwesco 1.9 SG cone bottom rather than forcing it into this tank.
The mistake to avoid
The most expensive error on a cone bottom of this size is spec'ing the tank to gallons and ignoring specific gravity. A chemical heavier than 1.5 SG will overstress this build, and sodium hypochlorite in particular pairs with Viton gaskets, not EPDM, on a 1.9 SG tank. Confirm your chemical, concentration, and SG against the OEM chart and our database before you commit, and verify the exact resin grade with us if the chemical is aggressive.
This tank ships LTL freight from the nearest Norwesco plant to you, with options in Shawnee, OK; St. Bonifacius, MN; and Washington Court House, OH. Freight is quoted live to your ZIP code, so run your address through the Freight Cost Estimator or call 866-418-1777 for a quote and to confirm your support stand and fittings before you order.
3 Year Warranty
