The Chem-Tainer 16 Gallon Open Top Batch Storage Tank is a compact cylindrical polyethylene vessel built for small-batch mixing, staging, and short-term storage where you reach in from the top. It stands 28 inches tall on a tight 16 x 16 inch footprint, so it drops onto a bench, a cart, or a corner of the floor without eating up space. If you are searching for a black open top tank or a small open storage tank you can dip, scoop, or hand-fill, this is the size that fits the job.
Will it work for your job?
This is an open-top cylindrical tank, meaning there is no sealed lid, which casts it as a batch vessel rather than a closed transport or pressurized tank. The 16 gallon capacity lives inside a 28 inch height on a 16 inch diameter, and it is molded from polyethylene in black, which blocks light and slows algae growth compared to translucent tanks. Filled to the brim with water, plan for roughly 133 pounds of water plus the tank shell sitting on that 16 x 16 inch footprint, so make sure your bench, stand, or shelf is rated to carry the loaded weight. A concentrated load like this on a raised stand is a real support question worth checking against our concrete pad sizing guide if the tank sits on a slab. If you are unsure whether this capacity matches your fill-and-draw cycle, run the numbers with our Tank Sizing Calculator or read the Tank Sizing Guide before you buy.
The mistake to avoid
The most common misstep with a small open-top tank is treating it like a sealed or plumbed vessel. This unit has no molded fittings and no lid in its base configuration, so if your process needs a bottom drain or a bulkhead outlet, that is a fabrication step, not a stock feature. The upside of that bare configuration is clarity: with no bulkhead fittings, there are no gaskets or fitting seals to check for compatibility, so what you store is governed solely by the polyethylene wall against your contents. Confirm those contents are compatible with standard polyethylene before filling; this listing is set up for water and general open-top storage service, and heavier or aggressive contents can change both the resin and the support requirements. Because the top is open, keep it where dust, rain, or debris will not contaminate what you are storing.
Freight and next steps
This tank ships LTL freight, quoted live to your ZIP code, from whichever of our Chem-Tainer plants — Hummelstown, PA or West Babylon, NY — is closest to you. Get a real number in seconds with our Freight Cost Estimator, or call us at 866-418-1777 and we will help you size the order and route the shipment. Confirm the 28 inch height and 16 x 16 inch footprint above before you finalize your stand or shelf layout.
