550 Gallon 20 Degree Cone Bottom Tank with Poly Stand: Complete Buyer's Guide
The 550-gallon 20-degree cone bottom tank with poly stand is a complete, ready-to-install process package — the tank and its matched polyethylene stand sold together, 73 inches across and 58 inches tall as a unit. Rated to a 1.5 specific gravity, it solves the cone tank's one hard requirement — a properly rated stand — right out of the box.
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
Every cone bottom tank needs a stand, and sourcing the right one — rated for the full loaded weight, matched to the tank's geometry — is the part buyers most often get wrong. This listing removes that risk by pairing the 550-gallon 20-degree cone tank with a polyethylene stand engineered specifically for it. You get the same full-drain process performance as the tank-only version, with the support structure already solved.
The tank itself is rotomolded by Norwesco as a single seamless piece of virgin linear polyethylene rated to a 1.5 specific gravity, handling process liquids up to 12.5 pounds per gallon. The 20-degree cone sheds settling and semi-viscous products cleanly to the apex, and the seamless wall resists agitator abrasion and traps no product between batches. The matched poly stand cradles the tank correctly around its sidewall and carries the load through its own legs — never letting the cone apex bear weight, exactly as cone-tank doctrine requires.
The poly stand brings a side benefit beyond convenience: it's the same chemically resistant polyethylene as the tank, so unlike a steel stand it won't corrode under chemical splash or in a wet process area. As a complete unit the package stands 58 inches tall on a 73-inch footprint. Empty, the tank-and-stand assembly weighs 274 pounds; filled with a 1.5-SG product the whole package carries roughly 7,154 pounds, all properly supported by the integrated stand.
The bottom outlet is a 2-inch NPT fitting at the cone apex, factory-installed and leak-tested, with the stand height already providing clearance for a valve and discharge below. The 16-inch lid serves filling, venting, mixer mounting, and inspection, and the translucent natural-white wall shows the level and mixing action. Maximum service temperature is 120°F. Norwesco's 3-year warranty applies, and the package ships LTL freight — allow a couple of weeks, with liftgate available.
Technical Drawing
Official Norwesco technical drawing — 550 Gallon 20 Degree Cone Bottom Tank with Poly Stand
Key Features and Specifications
- 550-gallon capacity — sized for full-drain mixing and batch processing
- Constructed from virgin linear polyethylene (HDPE) with 1.5 specific gravity rating — handles liquids up to 12.5 lbs/gal
- 58" tall x 73" diameter — compact vertical footprint
- 274 lbs empty, approximately 7,154 lbs when full at rated specific gravity
- 2" NPT outlet fitting — factory installed and leak-tested
- 16" 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
- Must be installed on the manufacturer-supplied or compatible stand rated for the full loaded weight. Never rest a cone bottom tank directly on its apex
- Ships via LTL freight — allow 2-3 weeks for delivery. Lift gate and residential delivery available at additional cost
Installation and Setup Guide
Because the stand comes matched and rated, this package is genuinely closer to plug-and-play than any tank-only cone setup — the install is mostly about leveling the assembled unit and plumbing the drain.
Setting the Unit
Place the assembled tank-and-stand on a level, load-bearing surface — a concrete slab is strongly preferred — sized for the stand's leg loads under the full roughly 7,154-pound weight. Confirm the unit sits level so the 20-degree cone drains evenly to the apex; shim the stand legs if needed on a slightly uneven floor. With the stand pre-matched to the tank, you skip the riskiest step of a cone install: you already know the support is rated and the tank is cradled correctly, with no load on the apex.
Placement and Connections
The 58-inch package height already provides clearance under the apex, so fit a full-port valve right at the 2-inch outlet and route your discharge below the stand. Use flexible connections to absorb the tank's flex and any mixer vibration, and match all wetted materials — valve, fittings, hose — to your process chemical. The corrosion-proof poly stand tolerates chemical splash that would attack steel, but your plumbing components still need to be chemically appropriate.
Venting and Mixing
Fit a vent in the 16-inch lid sized to your fastest fill or draw to prevent vacuum during a quick bottom-drain. For a top-entry mixer, verify the impeller geometry suits the tank's internal height and the 20-degree cone, and support the mixer on a bridge or framing rather than the lid. Use a chemical-rated pressure/vacuum vent for off-gassing products.
Maintenance and Long-Term Care
The integrated poly stand simplifies maintenance — no steel to rust — but the cone-tank fundamentals still apply: confirm the support stays sound and level, keep the drain clear, and clean thoroughly between chemical batches.
Quarterly Inspection Checklist
- Poly stand: Inspect the polyethylene stand for cracks, stress whitening, or a settled leg, and confirm it remains level. The poly stand won't corrode, but it still carries the full load, so check it for structural soundness and proper cradling of the tank.
- Cone and apex: Check the 20-degree cone and apex area for stress or distortion, confirming the tank rests in the stand's cradle with no weight on the apex.
- Outlet valve: Inspect the 2-inch apex fitting and valve for weeping or buildup that would compromise the full drain.
- Vent and mixer: Confirm the vent is clear and any mixer mount is secure.
Cleaning and Changeover
The 20-degree cone drains completely — open the apex valve and the batch, solids included, runs out cleanly. Between products, drain fully, then flush per the outgoing chemical's procedure, verifying through the 16-inch lid that the cone and outlet are clear. Confirm polyethylene compatibility with the incoming chemistry before refilling, and manage rinsate per the label. The chemically resistant poly stand tolerates the inevitable splash during cleaning that would degrade a steel frame over time.
UV and Heat
If the unit is outdoors, inspect both the tank wall and the poly stand yearly for chalking, since both are polyethylene. Indoors, prioritize ventilation for off-gassing chemistry. Stay within the 120°F service limit, especially when mixing or reaction adds heat.
Alternatives and Comparisons
The package format is the whole pitch, so compare on convenience and stand material:
Package versus tank-only: buying the tank with its matched poly stand removes the single biggest risk in a cone-tank purchase — selecting an adequately rated, correctly fitting stand. The tank-only version costs less up front but leaves you to source and verify a compatible stand. For most buyers, the matched package is the safer, faster route to a working process tank.
Poly stand versus a steel stand: the polyethylene stand won't corrode under chemical splash or in a wet area, an advantage in many process environments. A steel stand can carry more load for very large tanks but needs corrosion protection; at this 550-gallon size, the poly stand is well matched and maintenance-light.
Other 550-Gallon Options
Frequently Asked Questions
How long will the 550 Gallon 20 Degree Cone Bottom Tank with Poly Stand last?
Fifteen to twenty years is realistic with the unit kept level and used within the 1.5-SG and 120°F limits. Because the stand is matched and rated, you avoid the main cone-tank failure mode — an inadequate stand — from the start. The seamless tank wall and the corrosion-proof poly stand both reach the upper range when run with compatible chemistry.
What chemicals can I store in this tank?
Rated to a 1.5 specific gravity, it handles process chemicals, blends, slurries, and treatment solutions up to 12.5 pounds per gallon, with the 20-degree cone suiting settling products. Not for fuels, solvents, or flammables. Verify polyethylene compatibility for each chemical against a chart — poly is attacked by certain hydrocarbons and strong oxidizers.
What kind of foundation does a 550-gallon tank need?
The support is already handled: this package includes a matched polyethylene stand rated for the full loaded weight (roughly 7,154 pounds), so you simply set the assembled unit on a level, load-bearing surface, ideally concrete. No separate stand sourcing required — just confirm the floor carries the leg loads and the unit sits level.
Does this tank come with a warranty?
Yes — Norwesco's 3-year warranty covers factory material and workmanship defects. It excludes over-spec products, an unlevel or overloaded setup, incompatible-chemical attack, and impact damage. Document your level installation for any claim.
Can I install this tank underground?
No — this is an above-ground process unit that drains through a bottom cone while supported in its stand; it cannot be buried. For below-grade storage, use a purpose-built underground cistern engineered for soil load.
Buying Considerations
This package is the easy button for a cone tank — the stand sourcing and rating are already solved, which is why it's worth a look over the tank-only option. Before ordering, confirm your process liquid is at or under 1.5 SG, that the 58-inch unit height plus any mixer fits your space with valve clearance below, and that your floor (ideally concrete) carries the full roughly 7,154-pound load on the stand's legs. Match your valve and plumbing to your chemical. 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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