The Chem-Tainer 56 Gallon Polypropylene Open Top Batch Storage Tank (SKU R182430B) is a rectangular open top tank molded in polypropylene with a natural white finish. It holds 56 gallons in a body that stands 31 in. tall over a 20 x 26 in. footprint, giving you full top access for filling, mixing, or drawing a batch by hand. Polypropylene is the reason to reach for this one over standard poly: PP handles higher continuous service temperatures than HDPE or XLPE, which is the practical edge when you are batching hot water or running wash-down duty.
Will this rectangular open top tank work for your job?
Here are the numbers you need to decide. The tank is 31 in. high, 20 in. wide, and 26 in. long, sitting on a 20.0 x 26.0 in. footprint. Filled to the brim with water it carries roughly 467 lb, so size your pad, shelf, or stand for the loaded weight, not the empty shell. That 467 lb figure is at the specific gravity of water; if your batch is denser than water, multiply 467 by your fluid's specific gravity to get the real loaded weight before you pick a base. If you are not sure 56 gallons matches your batch or storage volume, run it through our Tank Sizing Calculator or read the Tank Sizing Guide first. For grey-water, rainwater, or HVAC condensate collection where an open top batch vessel is part of a larger reuse train, our industrial water reuse tank topology guide covers how these aggregation tanks fit together.
Open top design and how it plumbs
This is a true open top vessel: there are no factory bulkhead fittings or drain. Fill and draw happen over the top, or through a fitting you add yourself, which keeps the tank flexible for batch, dip, and manual transfer work. Check the technical drawing on this page for exact dimensions and wall detail before you plan any custom outlet.
Mounting and stability
An open top tank carries its full load on the floor or pad beneath it, so a flat, fully supported, level base matters. At roughly 467 lb full of water on a 20 in. width and a 31 in. height, this is a taller-than-wide rectangular column rather than a low tub, so keep it on a level, fully supported surface and secure it against bumps to protect against tip-over. A rigid base also keeps the rectangular walls from flexing under load. If the tank is going on a poured slab, our guide on concrete pad sizing for above-ground tanks walks through getting the base right.
This rectangular open top tank ships LTL freight from the Chem-Tainer plant in West Babylon, NY, with freight quoted live to your ZIP code rather than bundled into the listed price. Get an exact number for your delivery address with our Freight Cost Estimator, or call 866-418-1777 and we will quote it for you and confirm the right tank for your application. Run the estimate before you buy so there are no surprises at delivery, and reach out if you want help comparing this open top tank against other sizes in the line.
