50 Gallon Vertical Liquid Storage Tank: Complete Buyer's Guide
50-gallon white liquid storage tank built for agricultural chemical and fertilizer storage. Manufactured by Norwesco from virgin linear polyethylene (HDPE) rated to handle liquids up to 12.5 pounds per gallon. FDA approved for contact with potable water, ensuring safe storage for drinking water and food-grade liquids.
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 50 Gallon Vertical Liquid Storage Tank in translucent white is a small, slim chemical and fertilizer tank, holding 50 gallons in a 53-inch body on a narrow 18-inch base. Its tiny footprint makes it a natural fit for point-of-use chemical supply or a compact spot in a metering or batching setup.
The tank is a one-piece rotomolding of virgin linear polyethylene, rated 1.5 specific gravity, for dense agricultural and industrial liquids reaching 12.5 pounds per gallon. The translucent white wall lets operators read the level at a glance and reflects sunlight to keep the stored chemical cooler.
Empty, the tank weighs just 25 pounds; filled with a 1.5-SG liquid it puts roughly 650 pounds onto its very small 1.8-square-foot footprint. A factory 2-inch NPT outlet handles discharge and a 5-inch lid provides access. An inlet is not included, leaving you to install a bulkhead at your plumbing's required location.
Key Features and Specifications
- 50-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
- 53" tall x 18" diameter — compact vertical footprint
- 25 lbs empty, approximately 650 lbs when full at rated specific gravity
- 0.75 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 UPS or FedEx ground — typically arrives within 5-7 business days
Installation and Setup Guide
This 50-gallon tank is the slimmest column in the lineup — 53 inches tall on an 18-inch base — so even though its full 1.5-SG load is only about 650 pounds, that narrow footprint and tall profile make tipping the central concern. The install is less about supporting weight than about a dead-flat base and a firm restraint that keeps a top-heavy little tank upright.
Site Preparation
Set it on a small level surface sized past the 18-inch base and shimmed flat so the 53-inch column stands true; a slim tank that leans drives its load to one edge. Because the base is so narrow relative to the height, fasten or strap the upper body to a wall or frame as a matter of course, not just where impact is likely — this is the easiest tank here to knock over, and a chemical tip is a spill.
Placement and Connections
Connect the discharge at the factory 2-inch outlet with a chemically compatible flexible coupling so minor tank movement never strains the bulkhead. An inlet is not supplied; drill in a compatible bulkhead at the fill height that fits your system. Use chemical-rated plumbing and hand-tighten the poly threads only a quarter turn past snug, since small fittings strip easily.
Venting
Even 50 gallons of chemical must breathe, and the relief path here is the small 5-inch lid. Keep its vent open so air moves with the liquid, and for volatile chemistries fit a pressure/vacuum relief vent rated to the chemical. A sealed small tank can crimp under a brisk pump-out, so keep the vent clear and matched to the stored liquid.
Maintenance and Long-Term Care
A small, slim 50-gallon chemical tank is quick to inspect, with the translucent wall reading the level instantly, but its top-heavy shape means the mount deserves regular attention. Maintenance is chemical-tank work, not potable, focused on a secure base, compatible fittings, a clear vent, and decontamination between products.
Quarterly Inspection Checklist
- Plumb check: Sight the slim 53-inch column against vertical; on this narrow a base, any lean shows quickly and matters.
- Outlet and bulkhead check: Examine the 2-inch outlet and installed inlet for weeping, taking care the small fittings are not over-tightened.
- Restraint check: Confirm the strap or mount holding this top-heavy tank upright is sound and tight.
- Vent verification: Make sure the 5-inch lid's vent or pressure/vacuum relief is clear and rated for the chemistry in use.
Cleaning
Decontaminate to the chemical manufacturer's guidance whenever you change products; a rinse alone does not clear residue. The 2-inch outlet drains the tank, and the 5-inch lid gives access for inspection under chemical-handling precautions. This chemical-storage tank is not to be repurposed for potable water.
UV and Weather Protection
The translucent white wall reflects sunlight and carries UV stabilizer, and a 50-gallon tank is small enough to keep under cover or indoors, sparing it most UV exposure. If it lives outdoors, check the sun-facing side yearly for chalking and move it into shade if convenient.
Alternatives and Comparisons
This slim 50-gallon vertical suits point-of-use chemical supply where floor space is minimal, with the 40- and 25-gallon tanks for smaller needs and the 75- and 100-gallon tanks for more. Choose by the volume you cycle and the footprint you can spare.
Vertical vs. Horizontal: Vertical tanks use less floor space for the same capacity but require more overhead clearance. If you have height restrictions, consider a horizontal or low-profile tank. Vertical tanks also drain more completely due to gravity — the liquid column above the outlet creates positive pressure all the way to the last few gallons.
Other 50-Gallon Options
Frequently Asked Questions
How long will the 50 Gallon Vertical Liquid Storage Tank last?
On a flat, secure support, within its 1.5 SG rating, and properly decontaminated between products, this 50-gallon tank lasts well over a decade. Its one-piece wall has nothing to delaminate; an incompatible chemical or a tip from inadequate restraint, not age, is what shortens a small slim tank.
What chemicals can I store in this tank?
Its 1.5 SG rating means agricultural chemicals, liquid fertilizers, and most industrial solutions to 12.5 pounds per gallon are fair game, after you check the chemical against a polyethylene compatibility chart. Fuels, solvents, and flammables must stay out, and the tank should serve chemicals rather than potable water.
Does this tank come with a warranty?
Yes — Norwesco's 3-year warranty covers manufacturing defects under normal use: factory faults, not overloading past 1.5 SG, chemical attack, a tip, or other misuse. Retain your receipt in the event you need to make a claim.
Can I install this tank underground?
No. Even at 50 gallons this is an above-ground tank whose flat wall cannot resist soil pressure; burying it would collapse it and void the warranty. A small ribbed underground tank is the right pick for below-grade storage.
Buying Considerations
Confirm a small flat support and, above all, a solid means to restrain this top-heavy tank against tipping. Place it near the process it feeds, and verify the chemistry against polyethylene before dedicating the tank to it.
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