1720 Gallon 15 Degree Cone Bottom Tank: Complete Buyer's Guide
The 1,720-gallon 15-degree cone bottom tank is a substantial full-drain process vessel from Norwesco, built so its gently sloped 15-degree cone empties completely through the bottom apex outlet. Rated to a 1.5 specific gravity, it's a mid-large mixing and batch tank for chemical work that demands clean, complete drainage every cycle.
Technical Drawing
Official Norwesco technical drawing — 1720 Gallon 15 Degree Cone Bottom Tank
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.
Installation and Setup Guide
A cone bottom tank's install is defined by its stand — there is no flat base to set on the ground, so the support structure is the whole game. At seventeen hundred twenty gallons the loaded weight is considerable, making a properly rated stand essential rather than optional.
Stand and Foundation
Support the tank in a stand rated for its full loaded weight, cradling the sidewall and transferring the load through the stand's legs to a level, load-bearing surface — a concrete slab is strongly preferred. Use the manufacturer's matching stand or an engineered compatible structure; never improvise a support and never rest the tank on the cone apex or the bottom outlet. Confirm the stand is level so the 15-degree cone drains evenly to the apex, and verify the slab carries the concentrated leg loads without settling.
Placement and Connections
The purpose of the cone is the bottom drain, so plumb the apex outlet for a clean, unobstructed run with a full-port valve right at the cone to preserve complete drainage. The stand raises the tank, giving you room to fit the valve and route discharge below — plan that clearance. Use flexible connections at the outlet to absorb the tank's flex and any mixer-induced vibration, and match all wetted materials to the process chemical you're running.
Venting and Mixing
Provide a vent in the lid sized to your fastest fill or draw, since a bottom-drain can pull vacuum quickly as the cone empties. If you mount a top-entry mixer, support it on a bridge or the stand structure rather than the lid, and verify the impeller geometry sweeps the 15-degree cone effectively without striking it. For off-gassing chemistry, fit a chemical-rated pressure/vacuum vent rather than a plain screen.
Maintenance and Long-Term Care
This is chemical-process equipment, so maintenance centers on the stand's integrity, the drain path, and thorough between-batch cleaning — not the potable-water routine of a storage tank.
Quarterly Inspection Checklist
- Stand: Inspect for corrosion, cracked welds, loosened fasteners, or any settled leg, and confirm it remains level. The stand carries the entire load, so any weakening of it is the most serious finding on a cone tank.
- Cone and apex: Check the cone wall and the apex outlet area for stress or distortion, and verify the tank is cradled correctly with no weight ever bearing on the apex.
- Outlet valve: Inspect the apex fitting and valve for weeping or product buildup that would compromise the complete drain.
- Vent and mixer mount: Confirm the vent is clear and any mixer mount is secure and not loading the lid.
Cleaning and Changeover
The cone's complete drainage is its cleaning advantage — open the apex valve and the batch, including any settled solids, runs out fully rather than leaving a residual pool. Between products, drain completely, then flush per the outgoing chemical's procedure, verifying through the lid that the cone and outlet are clear. Confirm the polyethylene is compatible with the incoming chemistry before refilling, and manage rinsate per the chemical's label.
UV and Heat
If the tank is outdoors, inspect the wall yearly for chalking; many process cone tanks live indoors, where ventilation for off-gassing chemistry matters more than UV. Stay within the standard service temperature limit, particularly if your process adds heat through mixing or reaction.
Alternatives and Comparisons
Choosing a cone tank comes down to cone angle and whether you need full drainage at all:
15-degree versus a steeper cone: the shallow 15-degree cone drains free-flowing liquids well while keeping the overall height down — ideal for thin process liquids and favorable mixing geometry. For thick slurries or clinging products, a steeper cone sheds material more aggressively at the cost of added height and a taller stand.
Cone bottom versus flat-bottom vertical: the cone is worth its stand and height only if complete drainage and clean changeovers matter to your process. For static storage of a single product, a flat-bottom vertical is cheaper, self-supporting, and lower — the cone's advantage pays off when you cycle product.
Other -Gallon Options
Frequently Asked Questions
How long will the 1720 Gallon 15 Degree Cone Bottom Tank last?
Fifteen to twenty years is realistic with a properly rated, level stand and use within the rated specific gravity and temperature limits. On a cone tank the stand is as important as the tank itself — a failing or unlevel stand is the main risk — while the seamless rotomolded wall, with no seams to abrade under mixing, reaches the upper end when supported correctly.
What chemicals can I store in this tank?
Rated to a 1.5 specific gravity, this tank handles process chemicals, blends, and treatment solutions up to 12.5 pounds per gallon. It is not for fuels, solvents, or flammables. Because cone tanks cycle and often mix product, verify the polyethylene against a compatibility chart for each chemical — poly resists most acids and bases but is attacked by certain hydrocarbons and strong oxidizers.
Does this tank come with a warranty?
A cone bottom tank does not sit on a foundation directly — it requires a stand rated for the full loaded weight that cradles the tank and carries the load through its legs, never resting on the cone apex. The stand's legs then sit on a level, load-bearing surface, ideally a concrete slab. The stand, not a pad, is the critical support element.
Can I install this tank underground?
Yes — Norwesco's 3-year warranty covers factory material and workmanship defects. It excludes over-spec products, improper support (including resting on the apex or using an inadequate stand), incompatible-chemical attack, and impact damage. Document your rated stand and level setup for any claim.
Buying Considerations
The most important purchase decision is the stand: confirm you're getting or providing a stand rated for the full loaded weight and matched to this tank, because the cone tank is unusable and unsafe without one. Then verify your process liquid is at or under 1.5 SG, plan the bottom-outlet plumbing and valve clearance under the stand, and confirm the tank-plus-stand height fits your space and any mixer. It ships LTL on a pallet — allow a couple of weeks, and request a liftgate if you lack a dock or forklift.
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