At The Tank Depot, plastic rectangular water tanks are available in two types of plastic: polyethylene and polypropylene. Polyethylene is a high-quality thermoplastic with outstanding durability. The ability of polyethylene to withstand a wide range of wet and dry industrial chemicals and food products makes it a popular choice for storage tanks and containers. The plastic is translucent, and the natural color can range from an off-white to creamy yellow depending on the thickness of the walls and the type of polyethylene used. No matter the color, plastic rectangular polyethylene tanks have UV stabilizers so that they’re all safe to use outdoors.
Polypropylene (PP) is a more rigid plastic with a higher operating temperature limit than polyethylene. This plastic has good chemical resistance, is relatively resistant to stress cracks and has the benefit of being autoclavable. PP can handle higher temperatures, but it’s not suited for sub-freezing temperatures or situations where impact resistance is necessary.
The polyethylene rectangular plastic water tanks are available in sizes from 1 to 1,800-gallon capacities and from two well-established brands, Chem-Tainer and Ronco. These tanks feature heavy walls which allow them to work long-term, even under severe conditions, and the translucent body allows you to see content levels without needing a meter. They’re impact and chemical-resistant, and the resin used complies with USDA regulations 177.1520 (c) 3.1 and 3.2. The operating temperature of these tanks is a bit lower than the polypropylene tanks at 140ºF.
The PP plastic rectangular water tank listings range from 2 to 254-gallon capacities. There are many similarities to rectangular polyethylene tanks: they are one-piece molded, offer excellent impact and chemical resistance, are transparent to allow for easy viewing of the contents and comply with USDA regulations 177.1520 (c) 3.1 and 3.2. While PP rectangular plastic water tanks have a safe operating temperature of up to 190ºF, they are not recommended for high-impact or low-temperature applications.
Accessories include covers and stainless steel frames for tanks ranging from 138 to 270 gallons.