The Chem-Tainer 550 Gallon PP Cylindrical Open Top Tank (SKU TC4872AB) is a natural white polypropylene open top tank built for straightforward bulk water and process holding where you need clear access to the top of the tank. It stands 72 inches tall on a 48-inch diameter cylindrical body, giving you a compact 48.0 x 48.0 inch footprint that fits tight pads and equipment rooms while still holding 550 gallons. Because the top is open, it drops into batching, rinse, and gravity-fill setups that a closed tank makes awkward.
Will this open top tank work for your setup?
The body is molded from polypropylene rather than the usual polyethylene. Polypropylene is the higher-temperature polyolefin, so this open-top holds up better to warmer rinse and process water than a standard PE tank of the same size. At 550 gallons of plain water, plan for roughly 4,587 pounds of full water weight bearing on the 48 x 48 inch footprint. That is the number that drives your pad: the load has to sit on a flat, fully supported, level surface rated to carry it. Run your volume against the Tank Sizing Calculator and the Tank Sizing Guide to confirm 550 gallons is the right band, and see the technical drawing on this page for exact dimensional detail.
Pad, placement, and geometry
An open top white tank of this size is easy to set, but the weight is real. Size the slab to the full-water load, not the empty shell — our guide on concrete pad sizing for above-ground polyethylene tanks walks through the ACI framework for getting the base right the first time. If you actually need bottom drainage instead of open-top access, compare drainable geometry in our Chem-Tainer cone-bottom 30° vs 45° comparison. For reservoir and holding duty — including rural fire-water storage — the fire-water reservoir tank design guide covers NFPA 22 sizing discipline and cold-climate freeze protection. And if this tank feeds a reuse or aggregation train, the industrial water reuse tank topology guide shows how open top storage sequences into treatment stages.
The mistake to avoid
This tank ships with zero pre-installed fittings or gaskets. Every bulkhead fitting, gasket, and seal is field-supplied, so anything you add to the sidewall is a field-installed penetration you must match to your fluid. Locate outlets and confirm seal materials before you drill. Because the top is open, build in freeboard and a level check rather than filling to the rim — an open top tank invites overfill and top-side splashing. This tank is specified for water service; confirm suitability before storing any other fluid.
This open top tank ships by LTL freight, quoted live to your ZIP from the fulfilling Chem-Tainer plant. Get a real number in seconds with the Freight Cost Estimator, or call 866-418-1777 to lock in placement, fittings, and delivery details before you order.
