85 Gallon Full Drain Cone Bottom Inductor Tank: Complete Buyer's Guide
The 85-gallon full-drain cone bottom inductor tank is a compact chemical mixing vessel — 49 inches tall on a 30-inch diameter, with a cone bottom that drains completely and geometry built for inductor (eductor) mixing. Rated to a 1.5 specific gravity, it dissolves dry chemical into solution and discharges a clean, complete batch through the apex.
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
This is the smaller of the inductor tanks — an 85-gallon working vessel for operations that mix modest batches of chemical solution at a time. Its job is specific: introduce dry chemical through the top, circulate liquid through an eductor that entrains and dissolves it, and produce a uniform working solution that then drains completely out the cone bottom. At 49 inches tall it sits comfortably at operator height on its stand, making hand-loading of chemical straightforward at a compact mixing station.
Norwesco rotomolds it as a single seamless piece of virgin linear polyethylene rated to a 1.5 specific gravity, handling solutions up to 12.5 pounds per gallon. As a mixing vessel the seamless wall matters: nothing for the circulating flow to abrade, no crevice to trap undissolved product between batches. The translucent natural-white wall lets the operator watch the chemical go into solution and confirm a clear, complete mix before discharging.
With its full-drain cone bottom, the tank cannot stand alone — it must sit in a stand rated for the full loaded weight, cradled around the sidewall with the load carried through the legs, never on the cone apex. Empty, the tank weighs 37 pounds; filled with a 1.5-SG solution it carries roughly 1,100 pounds, all of which a properly rated stand must support while also setting the working height for loading and operating the eductor.
The bottom outlet is a 2-inch NPT fitting at the apex, factory-installed and leak-tested, sized for batch discharge and the inductor's recirculation plumbing. The 16-inch lid is the working opening for introducing dry chemical and tying in the eductor and return. Maximum service temperature is 120°F. Norwesco's 3-year warranty applies. Light enough to ship economically, this tank goes out via UPS or FedEx ground — typically arriving within about a week, with no freight pallet to handle.
Technical Drawing
Official Norwesco technical drawing — 85 Gallon Full Drain Cone Bottom Inductor Tank
Key Features and Specifications
- 85-gallon capacity — sized for rainwater harvesting and collection
- Constructed from virgin linear polyethylene (HDPE) with 1.5 specific gravity rating — handles liquids up to 12.5 lbs/gal
- 49" tall x 30" diameter — compact vertical footprint
- 37 lbs empty, approximately 1,100 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
- 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
The 85-gallon installs like its larger sibling — stand plus eductor loop — but its small size and parcel shipping make it the easiest inductor tank to get up and running at a compact station.
Stand and Working Height
Support the tank in a stand rated for the full loaded weight — roughly 1,100 pounds at 1.5 SG — that cradles the sidewall and carries the load through its legs to a level, load-bearing surface. Never rest the cone on its apex. Set the stand height so an operator can load dry chemical through the 16-inch lid and run the eductor comfortably, with clearance below the apex for the discharge valve. The compact 49-inch tank height keeps the whole station at a convenient working level.
Eductor and Recirculation Plumbing
The inductor mix relies on circulation: a pump pulls liquid from the apex outlet, drives it through the eductor that entrains and dissolves the introduced chemical, and returns it to the tank. Plumb the 2-inch outlet to feed the pump cleanly and route the return for good mixing. Use flexible connections to absorb flex and vibration, and match every wetted component — pump, eductor, valve, hose — to your chemistry. A full-port discharge valve at the apex preserves complete drainage of finished batches.
Venting
Fit a vent in the lid sized to your fill and drain rate so the tank breathes during fast bottom-draining and filling. Since dry chemical is introduced through the lid, ensure good ventilation at the working opening for any dust or vapor, and use a chemical-rated vent suited to the products you mix.
Maintenance and Long-Term Care
A small inductor tank still cycles frequently, so maintenance covers the stand, the mixing and drain plumbing, and careful cleaning between chemistries — this is chemical-handling equipment.
Inspection Routine
- Stand: Inspect for corrosion, cracked welds, loose fasteners, or a settled leg, and confirm it's level for even cone drainage. The stand carries the entire load, so any weakness is the most serious finding.
- Cone, apex, and outlet: Check the cone and apex for stress or distortion and the 2-inch fitting for weeping or undissolved-product buildup that would impede the full drain.
- Eductor and pump loop: Verify the recirculation plumbing, eductor, and pump are clear of scale or chemical buildup that would weaken mixing.
- Vent and lid: Confirm the vent is clear and the working lid seals when required.
Cleaning and Changeover
Residue from one chemical can contaminate or react with the next batch, so clean thoroughly. After mixing, discharge completely through the apex — the cone's full-drain geometry empties cleanly — then flush both the tank and the entire eductor and recirculation loop per the outgoing chemical's procedure. Confirm through the 16-inch lid that the cone and outlet are clear, verify polyethylene compatibility with the incoming chemistry, and handle rinsate per the label.
UV and Heat
Compact inductor tanks usually work indoors at a mixing station; if outdoors, inspect the wall yearly for chalking. Indoors, ventilation for dust and vapor from dry-chemical introduction is the priority. Stay within the 120°F service limit, especially if dissolution generates heat.
Alternatives and Comparisons
Match the tool and the size to the job:
Inductor tank versus a plain mixing tank: if you're dissolving dry chemical into solution, the inductor tank's eductor geometry is purpose-built and far more effective than stirring a storage tank. For mixing pre-dissolved liquids or storing a finished solution, a plain cone or flat-bottom tank is simpler and cheaper.
85 versus the 110-gallon inductor: the 85-gallon is the lighter, lower, parcel-shippable choice for smaller batches and tighter stations — it arrives by ground without freight. Step up to the 110 if you need a larger working batch on a similar footprint.
Other 85-Gallon Options
Frequently Asked Questions
How long will the 85 Gallon Full Drain Cone Bottom Inductor Tank last?
Fifteen to twenty years is realistic with a properly rated, level stand and use within the 1.5-SG and 120°F limits. On a frequently used inductor tank, chemical aggressiveness and recirculation-loop upkeep usually decide the practical life rather than the wall aging. A sound stand and compatible chemistry carry the seamless tank to the upper range.
What chemicals can I store in this tank?
Rated to a 1.5 specific gravity, it mixes and holds agricultural and industrial chemicals and solutions up to 12.5 pounds per gallon — the chemistries an inductor tank is built to dissolve. Not for fuels, solvents, or flammables. Because many products cycle through it, verify polyethylene compatibility against a chart for each — poly is attacked by certain hydrocarbons and strong oxidizers.
Does this tank come with a warranty?
Yes — Norwesco's 3-year warranty covers factory material and workmanship defects. It excludes over-spec products, improper support (apex resting or an inadequate stand), incompatible-chemical attack, and impact damage. Document your rated stand and level setup for any claim.
Can I install this tank underground?
No — this is an above-ground mixing and process vessel that drains through a bottom cone while supported in a stand; it cannot be buried. For below-grade storage, use a purpose-built underground cistern engineered for soil load.
Buying Considerations
Buy it as a chemical mixing and induction vessel, not a storage tank. Confirm a stand rated for the full loaded weight that also sets a comfortable operator height; plan the eductor, pump, and recirculation loop with all wetted parts matched to your chemistry; verify your mixed solution stays at or under 1.5 SG; and ensure valve clearance under the stand for clean discharge. A real plus at this size: it ships small-parcel ground rather than freight, so there's no pallet or liftgate to coordinate — it arrives boxed at your door, typically within a week.
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