We are wanting to replace our 23 year old aluminum water tank. Thinking of having one custom made of stainless. Is that overkill? Is it even ever done or necessary?
stainless water tank?
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yes but
I have seen quite a few stainless steel tanks, but I really think plastic is better and much more cost effective.
I have seen quite a few stainless steel tanks, but I really think plastic is better and much more cost effective.
because
Captain Dave? Why do you say plastic is better? I have seen Ronco recommended and think that's the way to go but my husband is concerned that they won't have the size needed, what if it doesn't fit, etc. He feels stainless and having it made locally is the way to go. I wonder about the weight difference between plastic and stainless?
Captain Dave? Why do you say plastic is better? I have seen Ronco recommended and think that's the way to go but my husband is concerned that they won't have the size needed, what if it doesn't fit, etc. He feels stainless and having it made locally is the way to go. I wonder about the weight difference between plastic and stainless?
I don't think that I have ever seen stainless
steel used for storing drinking water. There is no need for that degree of corrosion resistance and custom made will always cost more than stock. You can buy water at the grocery store only in plastic. I would search for a stock tank that fits.
steel used for storing drinking water. There is no need for that degree of corrosion resistance and custom made will always cost more than stock. You can buy water at the grocery store only in plastic. I would search for a stock tank that fits.
Ross, mine are stainless
The original tanks on my '85 E35 are stainless. I opened them up for cleaning and inspection and they were spotless and like new inside. They are also very light and I would guess as light as a plastic counterpart considering the increased wall thickness needed for support. Tim R.
The original tanks on my '85 E35 are stainless. I opened them up for cleaning and inspection and they were spotless and like new inside. They are also very light and I would guess as light as a plastic counterpart considering the increased wall thickness needed for support. Tim R.
tell him to look,
Ann: Tell him to look. He will never know until he looks. You can also have a poly tank custom welded to your specs too.
Ann: Tell him to look. He will never know until he looks. You can also have a poly tank custom welded to your specs too.
Consider to rebuild then epoxy line your aluminum
tank. Lining epoxies are available from most "commercial marine' coating (paint, epoxy, etc.) divisions of such as Interlux, etc.; These epoxies are also FDA/NSF rated for 'potable' water. Dont use 'common' epoxies to line tanks as the leachables of chemicals would be harmful. Stainless is a good material for water storage with the caveat that all the welds *must* be full penetration welds and then ground flush with the base metal and then polished to prevent crevice corrosion. So, a properly welded (with ground and polished welds) Stainless tank would be prohibitively expensive. A simple stainless tank welded by someone not experienced in tank building will be relatively cheap ... BUT the tank will probably not last very long because of the corrosion at the weld seams. An aluminum is inexpensive and easy to repair .... and then coated with a 'lining' epoxy. Small quantities can be obtained from www.epoxyproducts.com/nsp120.html All metal water tanks should probably have replaceable magnesium (rod) anodes !!!!!!!!!! Poly tanks are OK but dont usuallly have internal baffles .... and eventually tear themselves apart due to the impact of the water due to the absense of internal baffles.
tank. Lining epoxies are available from most "commercial marine' coating (paint, epoxy, etc.) divisions of such as Interlux, etc.; These epoxies are also FDA/NSF rated for 'potable' water. Dont use 'common' epoxies to line tanks as the leachables of chemicals would be harmful. Stainless is a good material for water storage with the caveat that all the welds *must* be full penetration welds and then ground flush with the base metal and then polished to prevent crevice corrosion. So, a properly welded (with ground and polished welds) Stainless tank would be prohibitively expensive. A simple stainless tank welded by someone not experienced in tank building will be relatively cheap ... BUT the tank will probably not last very long because of the corrosion at the weld seams. An aluminum is inexpensive and easy to repair .... and then coated with a 'lining' epoxy. Small quantities can be obtained from www.epoxyproducts.com/nsp120.html All metal water tanks should probably have replaceable magnesium (rod) anodes !!!!!!!!!! Poly tanks are OK but dont usuallly have internal baffles .... and eventually tear themselves apart due to the impact of the water due to the absense of internal baffles.
replacing it because...
it's 23 years old, it's huge (145 gallons), we want a smaller one, the inside is very gross and don't see how to clean it with the small access we have.
it's 23 years old, it's huge (145 gallons), we want a smaller one, the inside is very gross and don't see how to clean it with the small access we have.
solutions
Problem: you want a smaller tank Ssolution: don't fill it all the way up Problem: tank is yucky Solution: clean it Pproblem: tank is old Solution: if it ain't broke, don't fix it! Seriously, though, if you feel you have to change it out, go with a stock plastic tank. SS will be very $$
Problem: you want a smaller tank Ssolution: don't fill it all the way up Problem: tank is yucky Solution: clean it Pproblem: tank is old Solution: if it ain't broke, don't fix it! Seriously, though, if you feel you have to change it out, go with a stock plastic tank. SS will be very $$
One more option;
get rid of it and go with a watermaker. They do for your fresh-water needs what a LectraSan does for your pump-out requirements.
get rid of it and go with a watermaker. They do for your fresh-water needs what a LectraSan does for your pump-out requirements.
watermaker
Yes, that's one reason we want a smaller tank is to make room for a watermaker. Right now the water tank we want to replace is 8'2" long! and holds 145 gallons. We are going to replace it with a 75 gallon tank and free up some space. We have a second water tank also which is maybe 100 gallons. It's all about trade-offs I'm finding with everyone on a boat!
Yes, that's one reason we want a smaller tank is to make room for a watermaker. Right now the water tank we want to replace is 8'2" long! and holds 145 gallons. We are going to replace it with a 75 gallon tank and free up some space. We have a second water tank also which is maybe 100 gallons. It's all about trade-offs I'm finding with everyone on a boat!
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