The Chem-Tainer 28 Gallon PE Cylindrical Open Top Tank (SKU TC2218AA) is a compact natural-white polyethylene tank built for water handling where you want easy top access. At 22 inches in diameter and 18 inches tall, it sits on a tight 22.0 x 22.0 inch footprint that fits on a bench, in a truck bed, or beside a wash station, while still holding a usable 28 gallons. This is the kind of cylindrical open top tank operators reach for when they want to dip, scoop, mix, or pour from the top instead of plumbing a closed vessel.
Will it work for your application?
This Chem-Tainer open top tank is molded from polyethylene in natural white and carries a 2.0 specific gravity rating, meaning the wall is built to handle contents weighing up to 2.0 times the density of water. Filled with plain water (specific gravity 1.0), the contents weigh about 234 pounds; at the full 2.0 SG rating, the tank is rated for up to roughly 467 pounds of contents. A practical middle case helps with planning: at 1.5 SG, typical of many concentrated solutions, a full 28 gallons runs about 350 pounds. Whatever you store, factor the loaded weight into your pad, shelf, or stand. The Tank Sizing Calculator and the Tank Sizing Guide walk you through capacity and footprint together.
Access, fittings, and specs
This is a true cylindrical open top design, so your access opening is the full 22-inch diameter — wide enough to drop in a pump, a mixer paddle, or a strainer basket without fighting a narrow port. It ships with no pre-installed fittings or outlet; it is a top-access vessel by design. If you need a bottom drain or a sidewall bulkhead, plan to add an aftermarket fitting with a proper gasket, and confirm both the fitting and gasket materials are chemically compatible with your contents before you put it into service. Capacity is 28 gallons, dimensions are 22 inches diameter by 18 inches high on a 22.0 x 22.0 inch footprint, the material is polyethylene, and the color is natural white. For a confirmed view of the tank profile and dimensions, see the technical drawing on this page.
The mistake to avoid
The trap with a small white open top tank is treating it like a sealed container. This is an open top vessel, so it is not pressure-rated and not meant to be capped and shipped full of fluid. Plan it as a stationary stand, mix, or transfer tank, support the full loaded weight from underneath, and keep it level. If your contents are heavier than water, stay at or below the 2.0 specific gravity rating and check the loaded weight against that 467-pound ceiling before you fill.
This tank ships LTL freight from the Chem-Tainer plant in Hummelstown, PA, with freight quoted live to your ZIP code. Because it is a small, light tank, run the numbers before you order — on compact tanks freight is often a meaningful share of total cost — using the Freight Cost Estimator, or call 866-418-1777 and we will quote it for you. Planning a permanent install? Our guide on concrete pad sizing for above-ground polyethylene tanks covers building the right base under the loaded weight.
