20 Gallon Vertical Liquid Storage Tank: Complete Buyer's Guide
The 20-gallon vertical doubles the small-tank capacity while staying easily portable — 28 inches tall on a 16-inch base, 15 pounds dry. It keeps the 1.5 specific-gravity rating and the 0.75-inch outlet, so it slots in wherever a 10-gallon day tank runs dry too fast but a full-size vessel is overkill.
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
Twenty gallons is the sweet spot for an operation that has outgrown carboys and small day tanks but isn't moving enough volume to justify a hundred-gallon vessel and the floor space that comes with it. Think small-scale chemical dosing, a single-zone treatment feed, a portable mix station, or a concentrate reservoir on a compact sprayer. Norwesco molds it the same way as every tank in the line: one rotomolded piece of virgin linear polyethylene, no seams, rated to a 1.5 specific gravity.
The form factor is what sells it for tight installs — 28 inches of height over a 16-inch diameter. That's a slightly wider, slightly taller stance than the 10-gallon, which makes it more stable when full while still fitting on a bench or a cart. Empty weight is just 15 pounds; filled with a 1.5-SG product it carries roughly 265 pounds total, so a hand truck moves it and a sturdy shelf holds it. The wider base versus the smallest tank means a lower, more forgiving center of gravity once it's full.
That 1.5-SG rating is the reason to choose this over a generic container: the wall is molded thick enough for liquids up to 12.5 pounds per gallon, covering the concentrated fertilizers, dosing chemicals, and treatment solutions a tank this size typically feeds. The translucent natural-white body shows the level continuously, which on a feed tank means you replenish before the pump loses suction rather than after. Service temperature is 120°F maximum, with UV stabilizers compounded into the resin for outdoor duty on trailers and skids.
The outlet is a 0.75-inch NPT bulkhead, factory-fitted and pressure-checked, paired with an 8-inch lid for filling, venting, and cleaning access. The 3-year Norwesco warranty covers it, and at 15 pounds it ships small-parcel via UPS or FedEx ground — no freight pallet, no liftgate, typically delivered within the week.
Technical Drawing
Official Norwesco technical drawing — 20 Gallon Vertical Liquid Storage Tank
Key Features and Specifications
- 20-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
- 28" tall x 16" diameter — compact vertical footprint
- 15 lbs empty, approximately 265 lbs when full at rated specific gravity
- 0.75" NPT outlet fitting — factory installed and leak-tested
- 8" 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 UPS or FedEx ground — typically arrives within 5-7 business days
Installation and Setup Guide
Setup is fast, but a feed tank earns its keep only if it's mounted somewhere stable and plumbed so the pump downstream never loses prime. Spend your time on placement, not on the tank itself.
Site Preparation
Set the 16-inch base on a flat, rigid surface that carries 265 pounds without flexing — a rated shelf, a bench, a cart, or a skid. Full contact under the base is the rule; a tank bridging a gap or sitting on its rim loads the floor unevenly and, on a small vessel, that shows up quickly. If it travels on a sprayer, anchor it; the taller 28-inch profile wants restraint against road motion even though the wider base helps.
Placement and Connections
Run the shortest practical line off the 0.75-inch outlet to your pump or applicator, and don't reduce the bore any more than necessary. A flexible coupling in the first foot off the bulkhead absorbs the tank's expansion and contraction — skip it and a rigid line eventually works the small fitting loose. If a metering pump draws from it, position the pump at or below the tank's low level so the supply stays flooded as the tank empties through its working range.
Venting
Pull product from a sealed tank and the wall caves; push it in against a closed lid and the dome bulges. The cure is a vent path in the 8-inch lid scaled to your fill and draw rate. Use a screened vent for benign solutions; for a concentrate that off-gasses, fit a chemical-rated pressure/vacuum vent so the tank breathes without releasing fumes into the workspace.
Maintenance and Long-Term Care
A 20-gallon feed tank is low-effort to maintain, but because it usually sits at the head of a dosing or treatment line, neglect here propagates downstream as off-spec output. Fold a quick check into your routine.
Inspection Routine
- Level and sediment: The clear wall lets you track the level and spot product settling near the floor — the usual reason a feed pump starves. Catch buildup before it reaches the outlet.
- Fitting check: Inspect the 0.75-inch outlet for weeping or dried residue. Hand-tighten only; a wrench overpowers the small poly threads and creates the leak it was meant to stop.
- Wall integrity: Look for inward dimpling (a vent issue) or any soft, glossy patch (heat or over-spec product). The translucent body makes both obvious.
- Vent: Keep the vent and screen clear; a plugged vent collapses a small tank fast.
Cleaning and Changeover
Feed tanks cycle and change product more than bulk tanks, so cleaning is the part of the routine you actually do most. Drain, then flush per the outgoing chemical's procedure before introducing the next product — carryover between concentrates can react or simply throw your dosing off. Reach in through the 8-inch lid to wipe the floor and lower wall, and verify the polyethylene is rated for the new chemistry before you refill.
UV and Heat
If the tank lives outdoors on a skid or sprayer, check the sun-facing wall yearly for chalking. The molded-in UV package lasts a long time, but a 15-pound tank has limited wall to give, so don't let an exposed unit weather indefinitely without a glance.
Alternatives and Comparisons
Twenty gallons sits between the truly portable and the semi-permanent, so the comparison cuts both ways:
Down to 10 gallons: if you rarely empty this between refills, the 10-gallon is lighter and cheaper and shares the same 0.75-inch outlet. If you're topping this off daily, you've already justified the larger size.
Up to 40 gallons: the next step in the family doubles run time again on the same footprint logic and outlet, which is the move if refill frequency, not floor space, is your constraint. Choose by how often you want to handle product, since the plumbing carries over unchanged.
Other 20-Gallon Options
Frequently Asked Questions
How long will the 20 Gallon Vertical Liquid Storage Tank last?
Expect the standard fifteen-to-twenty-year service life — the resin and seamless molding are the same regardless of the small capacity. On a 20-gallon feed tank the real determinant is chemical aggressiveness and cycle frequency, not the wall aging out. Keep it inside the 1.5-SG and 120°F ratings and it outlasts the equipment it feeds.
What chemicals can I store in this tank?
With the full 1.5-SG rating it takes concentrates, dosing chemicals, fertilizers, and treatment solutions up to 12.5 pounds per gallon — the same range as the big verticals in a small package. Excludes fuels, solvents, and flammables. Confirm compatibility for the exact product, especially since feed tanks often hold the most concentrated chemistry in the system.
Does this tank come with a warranty?
Yes — the 3-year Norwesco warranty applies, covering factory material and workmanship defects. It excludes over-spec products, incompatible chemicals, and damage from an unsecured tank in transit. Hold onto your receipt.
Can I install this tank underground?
No — it's an above-ground vertical and nobody buries a 20-gallon tank. For below-grade storage, use a purpose-built underground cistern designed to take soil pressure.
Buying Considerations
Three things to confirm. Match the 0.75-inch outlet to your pump or line so you're not adapting fittings on day one. Check that your concentrate is at or below 1.5 SG. And remember it ships small-parcel ground — boxed to your door, no pallet or liftgate — which makes it the easiest size in the line to add to an existing feed setup without scheduling freight.
Related Products You May Need
Questions? Call (866) 418-1777 — our team knows these products inside and out and can help you select the right tank for your application.
Recommended Tanks for This Guide
Live pricing, updated automatically · estimate freight to your ZIP.
