120 Gallon Vertical Liquid Storage Tank - Natural White (38" x 31"): Complete Buyer's Guide
The smallest tank in this lineup: a squat 120-gallon Norwesco upright, just 31 inches tall on a 38-inch base, with a 5-inch lid and a 1.25-inch outlet sized for low-flow chemical metering. At only 42 pounds empty it is a true bench-and-corner tank, and its 1.5-specific-gravity wall handles chemicals up to 12.5 pounds per gallon.
Specifications at a Glance
Every figure below is pulled straight from the live product record for this exact tank — the same data on the product page, so what you read here and what you buy never disagree.
Standards & Materials
- ASTM D1998 — Standard Specification for Polyethylene Upright Storage Tanks. Governs wall-thickness and hydrostatic design for vertical rotomolded poly tanks of this class.
- FDA 21 CFR 177.1520 — Olefin polymers. The food-contact regulation the FDA-grade resin in this tank is compounded to meet.
- Specific gravity rating 1.5 — the tank is engineered for liquids up to 1.5× the density of water (water is about 8.34 lb/gal). Confirm your fluid’s SG before storage.
Product Overview
The 120 Gallon Vertical Liquid Storage Tank is the compact day tank for small chemical jobs. Standing barely two and a half feet tall on a 38-inch base, it sits low and stable on a bench, a skid, or a containment tray, holding a useful 120-gallon buffer right at the point of use. Its small 5-inch lid and 1.25-inch outlet are matched to the modest volume and the lower flows this size serves.
Compactness and stability define it. A hundred and twenty gallons over 7.9 square feet, in a body wider than it is tall, makes a tank that will not tip and needs no special handling. Translucent white walls show the chemical line at a glance, and the white pigment reflects sun if it sits outdoors. The 1.25-inch outlet pairs naturally with small metering and transfer pumps rather than high-flow plumbing.
Empty it is a one-hand 42 pounds. Filled with a 1.5-SG liquid it reaches about 1,543 pounds — three-quarters of a ton over the small base, still a firm load on the surface beneath. The 5-inch lid handles filling and a small fill line; the factory does not install an inlet fitting.
There is no seam to fail thanks to one-piece molding, UV protection is compounded into the resin, and a 3-year Norwesco warranty applies. We inspect every tank prior to shipment.
Technical Drawing
Official Norwesco technical drawing — 120 Gallon Vertical Liquid Storage Tank - Natural White (38" x 31")
Key Features and Specifications
- 120-gallon capacity — sized for agricultural chemical and fertilizer storage
- Constructed from virgin linear polyethylene (HDPE) with 1.5 specific gravity rating — handles liquids up to 12.5 lbs/gal
- 31" tall x 38" diameter — compact vertical footprint
- 42 lbs empty, approximately 1,543 lbs when full at rated specific gravity
- 1.25 NPT outlet fitting — factory installed and leak-tested
- 5" lid opening for fill, venting, and interior access
- FDA approved for potable water and food-grade liquid contact
- 3 Year Warranty from Norwesco against manufacturing defects
- Translucent white walls allow visual level monitoring without opening the tank and reflect sunlight to keep contents cooler
- Rated for continuous service up to 120 F / 48 C
- Seamless one-piece rotational molding — no seams, no welds, no leak points
- Manufactured by Norwesco — a leading name in rotomolded polyethylene tanks
- Place on a firm, level surface free of rocks or sharp objects that could damage the tank bottom. Ensure adequate ventilation if stored chemicals produce vapors
- Ships via LTL freight on a pallet — residential delivery with lift gate available
Installation and Setup Guide
The 120 is trivial to handle, but its small lid and outlet shape how you plumb and service it, and even three-quarters of a ton wants a flat, supportive base.
Site Preparation
Stand it on a firm, flat surface that supports the 38-inch base — a bench, a slab, or a containment tray. Keep it level so the squat body loads its base evenly, and clear any grit from beneath. Outdoors and empty, the light shell is easily knocked, so secure it if wind or traffic is a factor.
Placement and Connections
Match plumbing to the 1.25-inch outlet — this tank is built for low-flow metering, not high-volume transfer. Thread schedule-80 PVC or stainless into the fitting, hand-tighten and finish gently with a strap wrench, and add a short flex section before rigid pipe. Keep the run short to the metering pump.
Venting
The small 5-inch lid limits vent area, so be deliberate: ensure the lid vent admits air at least as fast as your pump draws, since a small tank collapses just as readily as a large one. For chemical service, fit a small pressure-vacuum relief vent matched to the product.
Maintenance and Long-Term Care
This is the lowest-maintenance tank here; a quick quarterly glance is the whole program.
Quarterly Inspection Checklist
- Shell: Check for any bulge or a flat spot at the base indicating overload or uneven support.
- Outlet: Feel the 1.25-inch fitting for weeping and snug by hand.
- Base: Confirm the bench or pad stays level under the tank.
- Vent: Keep the small lid vent clear so the tank breathes freely.
Cleaning
Drain through the 1.25-inch outlet, then rinse with a solution that neutralizes the previous chemical before switching products. The 5-inch lid is small, so use a slim spray wand from above. Capture the discharge and handle disposal according to the safety data sheet.
UV and Weather Protection
The in-resin UV package handles outdoor use; check the south wall annually for chalking. Many 120-gallon day tanks live indoors, where UV is not a concern at all.
Alternatives and Comparisons
The 120-gallon size is for small, point-of-use chemical supply with low-flow plumbing. This squat tank is stable and bench-friendly. If you need a larger buffer or a bigger outlet for more flow, step up to a 165 or 220 with a 2-inch outlet. For tiny batch work needing a clean drain, a small cone-bottom tank is the better tool. And if you are storing water, a water-grade tank is cheaper since it forgoes the heavier 1.5-SG wall built into this chemical model.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long will the 120 Gallon Vertical Liquid Storage Tank - Natural White (38" x 31") last?
Figure on fifteen to twenty years so long as the tank is held within its 1.5-SG rating, sits flat, and holds compatible chemistry. The seamless shell and in-resin UV package make it durable; the usual early-failure causes are an overloaded wall, a vent that pulled a vacuum through the small lid, or chemical attack on incompatible plastic.
What chemicals can I store in this tank?
At 1.5 SG it handles most treatment chemicals and many acids and bases up to 12.5 pounds per gallon, and its size suits metered day-tank feed. Polyethylene is resistant to those but vulnerable to strong oxidizers and many solvents, and never holds fuels. Before filling, check your product against a polyethylene compatibility chart and confirm its specific gravity.
What kind of foundation does a 120-gallon tank need?
A full load is about 1,543 pounds over the small 38-inch base. A firm, level bench, slab, or tray that supports the full diameter is sufficient. Keep the surface flat and free of grit under the bottom.
Does this tank come with a warranty?
Yes. The tank carries a three-year Norwesco warranty against manufacturing defects including fitting and molding faults. Overloading past the 1.5-SG rating, chemical attack, an inadequate base, and impact are outside the warranty. Keep the bill of sale and installation images filed for any warranty question.
Can I install this tank underground?
No. This is an above-ground tank; its flat walls cannot resist burial pressure and would collapse. For burial, choose a purpose-built underground cistern whose ribbed, reinforced walls take soil loads.
Buying Considerations
Three quick checks before ordering this compact tank. First, the plumbing — the 1.25-inch outlet and 5-inch lid are sized for low-flow metering, so confirm that suits your system. Second, weigh the liquid: it should sit at or below 1.5 specific gravity, so verify its density. Third, freight — it ships easily on a pallet or even small-parcel terms in some cases. Call us to arrange delivery.
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