6000 Gallon 15 Degree Cone Bottom Tank: Complete Buyer's Guide
A 6,000-gallon 15-degree cone-bottom tank from Norwesco — the largest cone here, a sixteen-foot industrial-process vessel in 1.5-specific-gravity polyethylene.
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 6,000-gallon 15-degree cone-bottom tank is the largest cone in this lineup and a true industrial-process vessel — 195 inches tall on a 102-inch diameter, holding six thousand gallons that drain completely to a central 3-inch outlet. The shallow 15-degree cone is the angle of choice at this scale: steep enough to fully drain free-flowing and thin-slurry liquids, shallow enough to hold the towering height in check on a vessel that is already over sixteen feet tall. The cone shell weighs 1,331 pounds.
Virgin linear polyethylene, rotomolded in one seamless piece and rated to 1.5 specific gravity, carries liquids as dense as 12.5 pounds per gallon. Translucent white walls let you read a six-thousand-gallon level through the side and reflect sun to moderate the contents' temperature, and the resin is FDA-compliant for food-grade liquids.
The entire weight — about 76,391 pounds full at the rated gravity, roughly thirty-eight tons — is carried by an engineered stand through the tank's flange and legs, never the cone apex. The 3-inch center outlet is factory-fitted and leak-tested for high-flow draw, and the 16-inch lid opens the top. Norwesco's 3-year warranty applies.
Technical Drawing
Official Norwesco technical drawing — 6000 Gallon 15 Degree Cone Bottom Tank
Key Features and Specifications
- 6,000-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
- 195" tall x 102" diameter — compact vertical footprint
- 1331 lbs empty, approximately 76,391 lbs when full at rated specific gravity
- 3" 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 dedicated freight carrier due to oversized dimensions — contact us for delivery timeline and site access requirements
Installation and Setup Guide
At thirty-eight tons and over sixteen feet of height, this is a major engineering and rigging project. The stand, the foundation, and the lift all require professional design — nothing about a 6,000-gallon cone is improvised.
Site Preparation and the Stand
The tank must sit on an engineered stand rated for the full 76,391-pound load, anchored to a reinforced concrete pad at least six inches thick that is designed for the load and the concentrated leg footprints and finished dead level. The cone apex must never bear weight. Given the volume and chemistry, integrate secondary containment sized to the tank into the foundation. Confirm overhead clearance for the towering shell before siting.
Placement and Connections
The stand raises the 3-inch outlet for a full-port valve and high-flow drain line beneath. Plumb straight down through a short, chemical-rated flexible connection to preserve the cone's complete-drain advantage, and match the valve and seals to the chemistry. Allow generous clearance for safe access to a tank this tall.
Venting
Venting is a critical safety system at this volume. A high-flow drain can pull a severe vacuum and a fast fill can build real pressure, so size the vent generously to peak flow and use a pressure/vacuum relief vent rated for the chemistry on off-gassing contents.
Maintenance and Long-Term Care
A 6,000-gallon cone earns a rigorous routine, with the stand and the towering shell both demanding careful, safe inspection.
Quarterly Inspection Checklist
- Engineered stand: inspect every leg, weld, and anchor for corrosion, cracking, or movement. On thirty-eight tons the stand is the critical structure — any finding stops the tank from service until resolved.
- Cone and shell: inspect the 15-degree cone and the cone-to-sidewall transition, and the lower wall, for stress whitening or bulging. Use safe access equipment for the upper shell.
- Outlet and seals: check the 3-inch center valve and gaskets for chemical attack and free operation.
- Vent: confirm the relief vent is open and functioning.
Cleaning and Chemical Changeover
The complete-draining cone rinses clean without a residual heel, a real advantage at this volume. Decontaminate per the chemical manufacturer's protocol, capturing and disposing of the substantial rinsate per label and regulation. Confirm the incoming chemical against the polyethylene and all seals before refilling. Treat any interior entry as confined-space work with full precautions — never enter alone.
UV and Weather Protection
The reflective white wall runs cooler but transmits light; the enormous wall area makes a shade structure worth serious consideration in strong sun, both for service life and for the stability of a large volume of contents.
Alternatives and Comparisons
At 6,000 gallons the 15-degree cone is the right angle — a steeper cone would push an already sixteen-foot tank to impractical heights, while 15 degrees still fully drains free-flowing liquids. If your process tolerates a residual heel, a flat-bottom vertical of similar volume stores the same liquid far lower and without a stand. For complete drainage at smaller scale, the 3,000-gallon 30-degree cone is the next step down.
Other 6000-Gallon Options
Frequently Asked Questions
How long will the 6000 Gallon 15 Degree Cone Bottom Tank last?
With compatible chemistry, an engineered stand and pad, and use within its 1.5 SG and 120 F limits, 15 to 20 years is realistic. At this scale the stand and foundation engineering dominate longevity — get them right and the seamless shell reaches the far end of that range.
What chemicals can I store in this tank?
Rated to 1.5 specific gravity, it handles agricultural chemicals, fertilizers, thin slurries, and industrial solutions within that density, with FDA-compliant resin for food-grade liquids. Keep fuels, solvents, and flammables out, and watch for oxidizers and hydrocarbons that degrade polyethylene. Confirm the chemical, its concentration, and the seal materials before filling.
What kind of foundation does a 6000-gallon tank need?
It requires an engineered stand rated for the full 76,391-pound load, anchored to a reinforced concrete pad at least six inches thick that is designed for the load and the concentrated leg footprints and finished dead level. The stand carries the tank through its flange and legs and never the cone apex. At thirty-eight tons and over sixteen feet tall, the stand, anchoring, and pad are professional engineering items, and containment should be built in.
Does this tank come with a warranty?
Norwesco warrants this tank for three years against molding voids, pinholes, and defective factory fittings. Excluded are overloading, an inadequate stand or pad, chemical attack, and impact. Keep all engineering and records given the investment.
Can I install this tank underground?
No. A cone-bottom vessel is mounted on a stand above grade and is never installed below ground. Below-grade chemical storage at this volume requires purpose-engineered underground tankage.
Buying Considerations
Three prerequisites for a 6,000-gallon cone. First, the support: an engineered stand and reinforced pad designed for thirty-eight tons, with containment. Second, compatibility: confirm your chemical and seals against the polyethylene at or under 1.5 SG. Third, the logistics — at over sixteen feet tall this tank ships by dedicated oversize carrier and requires crane rigging to set onto its stand, plus confirmed overhead clearance. Call us early to coordinate every piece.
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