The Chem-Tainer 180 Gallon PE Rectangular Open Top Tank is a polyethylene rectangular open-top tank built for water batching, mixing access, and bulk storage where you need to drop in a pump, agitator, or hose from the top instead of working through a closed bung. With 180 gallons of capacity in a rectangular footprint, it sits tight against walls and into corners that a round tank wastes, which is the main reason buyers reach for an open top rectangular tank over a vertical cylinder. This is a water-service tank: the open top makes it easy to fill, inspect, and clean.
Will it work for your job?
This is a 180-gallon open tank in polyethylene, so plan around the load when full. Water at 180 gallons puts roughly 1,501 lb on the floor or pad once the tank is filled, so the structure underneath has to carry that weight without flexing. Set it on a flat, fully supported, level surface that holds the entire base, not on point loads or unsupported edges. If you are sizing a pad for an above-ground polyethylene tank, the concrete pad sizing guide walks through the engineering framework. To confirm this rectangular tank matches your throughput and footprint before you commit, run the numbers in the Tank Sizing Calculator or read the Tank Sizing Guide. The open top also makes this a workable building block for grey-water, rainwater, or HVAC-condensate aggregation if you are assembling a reuse train, where the industrial water reuse tank topology guide shows how open-top storage fits into a quality-banded system. As an atmospheric, easy-to-fill reservoir, a tank like this can also serve as a building block for a rural fire-water supply; the fire-water reservoir design guide covers NFPA 22 sizing and cold-climate freeze protection.
Specs and what to check
Capacity is 180 gallons, the material is polyethylene, and the tank ships as a rectangular open top design. Refer to the technical drawing on this page for the exact outside dimensions and wall layout so you can confirm clearance and verify the footprint fits your space before it arrives. Because the top is open, this tank is suited to water and atmospheric storage with full top access; if your application calls for a sealed top, a different tank style is the right pick.
Fittings and the mistake to avoid
This open-top tank is supplied without factory outlet or bulkhead fittings, so plan to add any drain or bulkhead in the field and verify the wall thickness against the technical drawing before you drill. The most common error with an open top rectangular tank is treating it like a pressure or chemical vessel: it is an open, vented, atmospheric water tank, so do not seal it, pressurize it, or assume it carries a chemical rating that is not on this page. The second mistake is underestimating the full-water load. At about 1,501 lb full, an undersized or uneven base will rack a rectangular tank far faster than a round one, so support the entire footprint and confirm the drawing dimensions against your openings and overhead clearance before installing.
This tank ships LTL freight from our plant in West Babylon, NY, with the carrier cost quoted live to your ZIP code. Get an exact number for your address with the Freight Cost Estimator, or call us at 866-418-1777 and we will walk you through sizing, fittings, and the freight quote together.
