The Chem-Tainer 550 Gallon HDPE Vertical Liquid Storage Tank (SKU TC4594IA) is a white polyethylene vertical tank built for bulk liquid storage where you need real capacity without a metal tank's weight or corrosion. It stands 94 inches tall on a 45 x 45 inch footprint, holds 550 gallons, and carries a 1.9 specific gravity rating. That rating is the real reason to look hard at this SKU: many comparable 550-gallon HDPE verticals are validated only to 1.5 specific gravity, so this Chem-Tainer covers denser solutions other tanks in this size cannot hold. If you have been comparing vertical storage tank options across HDPE builds, this is the standard upright cylinder format, narrow enough at 45 inches wide to clear most gates and standard doorways.
Will it work for your liquid and your space
Plan the pad and the plumbing around the loaded weight, not the empty shell. Filled with water, this tank carries roughly 4,587 pounds; at its full 1.9 specific gravity rating the contents alone can reach about 8,715 pounds. That number drives your foundation: a 550-gallon vertical tank needs a level, continuously supported concrete pad sized to the 45 x 45 inch footprint, because polyethylene tanks transfer their entire load to the floor and will not bridge a soft or uneven spot. The 1.9 SG rating gives you headroom for denser liquids, but always match the specific gravity of YOUR liquid to the rating before filling - a tank sized for water weight only will be overstressed by a heavier solution. At 94 inches tall the tank will not stand upright through a standard doorway, so plan to tilt and walk it into position during placement, and confirm the 94-inch height clears your install location and any overhead obstructions before delivery.
Sizing it right
If you are still deciding between this 550-gallon size and a neighboring capacity, run your numbers through our Tank Sizing Calculator and read the Tank Sizing Guide so the footprint, height, and refill cadence match your draw rate. For a deeper look at how this exact size fits common storage jobs, the 550 Gallon Vertical Liquid Storage Tank Buyer's Guide walks through the trade-offs. Fitting and bulkhead-gasket positions for TC4594IA are not listed in this spec sheet, so confirm outlet size, location, and gasket type against the technical drawing on this page before sourcing your plumbing adapters.
The mistake to avoid
The most common error on a tank this size is undersizing the foundation and assuming the 94-inch column can lean against a wall for support - it cannot. A vertical polyethylene tank is self-supporting only on a full-contact level base; partial support cracks the wall over time. The second mistake is reading too much into wall thickness from the liquid side. Because failures on tall verticals like this 94-inch column tend to start dry, at the top, inspect the upper third and headspace, not just the wetted wall - our guide on HDPE wall thickness at the vapor-saturated headspace explains the ASTM D1998 sizing logic behind it.
This tank ships LTL freight from the nearest Chem-Tainer plant - Hanford, CA for the West, Marked Tree, AR for the central and eastern US - with the rate quoted live to your ZIP, so your freight cost depends on which plant is closer to you. Get your freight estimate instantly with the Freight Cost Estimator, or call 866-418-1777 and we will quote the freight and confirm lead time.
