The Chem-Tainer 23 Gallon PE Rectangular Open Top Tank is a compact polyethylene container built for water-side handling jobs where a wide, accessible opening matters more than a sealed top. Its rectangular footprint fits the tight bench, floor, and cabinet spaces a round tank wastes, and the open top makes it straightforward to fill, dip, mix, rinse, or scoop from. If you have been searching for an open top tank, a rectangular open top tank, or simply an open tank that uses your space efficiently, this 23-gallon size handles small-batch water work without overcommitting on volume.
Will it work for your job?
This tank is molded from polyethylene and holds 23 gallons in a rectangular open-top form. Filled with water, plan for roughly 192 pounds of static load on whatever surface or stand supports it, so set it on a level, continuous bearing surface rated for that weight. Because it is an open-top rectangular tank rather than a closed cylindrical one, it suits gravity fill, manual transfer, rinse stations, and staging applications rather than pressurized or fully sealed service. The single most important pre-purchase check is footprint: review the technical drawing on this page for the exact outside dimensions and wall profile before you commit to a shelf, secondary containment tray, or cabinet opening. If you are weighing this against other sizes, the Tank Sizing Calculator and our Tank Sizing Guide walk you through matching volume to your actual draw and refill cycle.
How you fill and empty it
This is an open-top tank, so it ships with no pre-installed outlets or bulkhead fittings and no drain. Transfer is by gravity dip, pump, or scoop over the rim - which is exactly what the open design is built for. If your process needs a bottom outlet or a sealed lid, this is not the right body style; an open-top rectangular tank is meant for accessible, top-side handling.
The mistake to avoid
The most common error with an open-top tank this size is treating it as a structural reservoir. It is not designed to be lifted by its rim when full, nor to sit on point supports or an uneven frame - 192 pounds of water concentrated on a flexed corner will distort the walls over time. Support the full base on a continuous bearing surface. The second thing to confirm: this is a water-service tank as listed, so verify the contents you intend to store are compatible with polyethylene before use, and keep it within the open-top, non-pressurized role it was molded for.
Freight and ordering
This tank ships LTL freight from the Chem-Tainer plant in Delano, MN, and freight is quoted live to your ZIP code rather than baked into the list price. Get an exact number for your delivery address with the Freight Cost Estimator, or call our team at 866-418-1777 if you want help confirming the right size, lead time, or delivery method for your site. If your project involves above-ground placement on a pad or stand, our guide on concrete pad sizing for above-ground polyethylene tanks covers building a base that carries the load correctly.
