Sprayer Depot Blog

Polyethylene tanks, or as they are more often referred – poly tanks, are widely used in the sprayer industry. Our customers often store many types of liquid chemicals such as fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides in these durable tanks. Based on the intended use and customer needs, there’s a tank style appropriate for anyone. We offer tanks for both stationary and transportable applications – PCO tanks, horizontal tanks, and inductor tanks, to name a few. Don’t worry, there won’t be a quiz after this. 

On top of that, the tank sizes range in capacity from 2.5 to 12,500 gallons. It may come as no surprise, if you’ve ever visited the Sprayer Depot retail showroom in Orlando, Florida, that we have one of the largest in-stock inventories in the U.S. Seriously, tanks for days. Plus, all orders placed by 3:30 p.m. EST ship the same day. So you can have your brand new tank ready to use in no time.  

These tanks have varied lifespans based on use. If you’re using chemicals frequently, like those referenced above, your poly tank will eventually weaken over time. We see a lot of dry rot, where the tank loses its ability to expand and becomes brittle. If you have that issue, consider replacing your tank before the season heats up, or just use water in it. Another issue given the elements is UV damage, which is often determined when your tank shows parallel lines. Here are some ways to catch these issues when you regularly inspect your tank, which you should do as often as calibration. And we all know how much we like to remind you to calibrate your sprayers.

Let’s take a look at three inspection methods:

• Candling: This requires two people. Here you’ll use light to visually inspect you tank. Place a floodlight inside the tank and check the outside for any cracks. Next, shine the floodlight on the outside of the tank while person #2 inspects the inside by looking through the fill opening. Oh, and it goes without saying for safety reasons that you shouldn’t stick your head in a used poly tank. If you must, consider dangling a camera inside for inspection.
• Water-soluble marker: Take a look at the areas of the tank that get the most UV-rays. Rub a water-soluble marker in a 6”x6” area, wipe off and if there’s any ink left you that’s penetrated the tank surface you have an issue with deterioration. Repeat.
• Bat method: The best name and our personal favorite of these three methods, the bat method involves testing the brittleness of an empty tank by hitting it with a baseball bat. Sounds fun, right? A good poly tank moves in and out as it’s filled and emptied. If your tank is brittle you’ll notice it won’t be able to move when hit.

Whether you use PCO tanks, horizontal tanks or inductor tanks, when it’s time for a replacement poly tank we have what you need.