The Chem-Tainer 550 Gallon Open Top Batch Storage Tank (SKU TC4872AA) is a cylindrical open-top polyethylene tank built for batching, mixing, and bulk water storage where you need top access to add product, stir, or monitor levels. It stands 72 inches tall on a 48 x 48 inch footprint and holds 550 gallons in natural white polyethylene. The open top makes it the right pick when you are filling by hand, dosing dry additives, or running a paddle or mixer that a closed dome would block.
Will this open top tank work for your job
Capacity is 550 gallons at 72 inches high with a 48 x 48 inch square footprint, so it drops onto a standard pad without sprawling. What sets this shell apart is its 2.0 specific gravity rating - higher than the typical 1.5 to 1.9 you see on water-service open tops. That means it is engineered to hold contents up to twice the weight of water at rated volume, so if you cross-shop a lighter 1.5 SG tank and plan to batch a denser mix or concentrated solution, this one tolerates it without stepping up to a heavier-wall SKU. Filled with plain water, the tank and contents weigh roughly 4,587 pounds; at the maximum rated 2.0 SG, that figure climbs to about 9,174 pounds. Use the Tank Sizing Calculator and Tank Sizing Guide to confirm this 550-gallon white open top tank matches your throughput before you commit.
Fittings and what is in the box
This tank ships as an open-top shell. The product data shows no pre-installed fittings, so any drain, bulkhead outlet, and its gasket should be specified separately for your plumbing. Plan that into your install rather than assuming the tank arrives drilled. For empty (tare) weight to size your offload and rigging, see the technical drawing on this page - the dry weight is not in the spec data here, and we will not guess at it.
How it ships
This open top storage tank ships LTL freight, quoted live to your ZIP. Chem-Tainer fills it from two plants - Hanford, California and Hummelstown, Pennsylvania - and the quote routes from whichever plant is closer to your delivery ZIP, so West Coast and East Coast destinations both get a short freight leg. Do not assume a cross-country rate; run your actual ZIP through the Freight Cost Estimator for a real number, or call 866-418-1777 and we will quote it for you. Because an open top tank ships without a sealed lid, confirm your receiving plan and any cover you intend to add on site.
The mistake to avoid
The most common error on an open top batch tank is sizing the foundation for water and then running a heavier batch that overloads it. The 2.0 specific gravity rating protects the tank wall - it does not size your pad. Build the pad and any tie-downs for the heaviest contents at full volume (up to about 9,174 pounds here), not for water alone. If this lives outdoors or in a cold climate, account for freeze protection and a stable, full-contact base; our guide on concrete pad sizing for above-ground polyethylene tanks walks through the framework. For reuse trains, aggregated storage, or a fire reserve, our industrial water reuse tank topology and fire-water reservoir design guides cover the engineering.
See the technical drawing on this page for dimensions, tank profile, and tare weight. Ready to spec this 550-gallon storage tank? Get a live LTL freight quote with the Freight Cost Estimator or call 866-418-1777, and lean on the Tank Sizing Calculator to lock in the right size before you order.
