When choosing a water tank to keep your horses watered, you have two basic options, the old standby that is the galvanized steel storage tank and the newer addition to the stock market, the poly plastic storage tank. Both plastic and steel water tanks come in all sizes, from 25 gallons to 800 gallons in capacity. They all come with a standard one-year manufacturer’s warranty against defects, regardless of manufacturer.

The question most riders ask is which is better and which will last longer. I’ve owned both styles of stock tanks, and they both have pros and cons. Really, it all comes down to a matter of personal preference when making this decision.

Poly plastic tanks typically offer a removable drain plug at the bottom of the tank; This allows for the use of drain plug storage tank heaters in the winter, which is perhaps one of the biggest benefits of a poly plastic tank. Drain Plug De-Icers screw into the drain plug at the bottom of the water tank, preventing curious and mean horses from pulling the storage tank heater out of the tank and playing with it. The other great benefit of a drain plug defroster in the winter is that they are less expensive than other traditional tank water heaters! Typically a drain plug de-icer will cost around $34.99 new compared to the standard sink tank de-icer which will cost $47.00.

Galvanized steel tanks are easier to clean of algae in the summer months with a brush compared to polyvinyl plastic, which requires a bit more scrubbing and effort. Steel tanks are sealed with a silicone product at the seams; this disintegrates over time and causes the steel tank to leak at the seams along the sides and bottom of the tank. This process will also speed up if you have horses that like to kick around steel tanks when the water starts to go down, I have the chain crew in our backyard constantly knocking over our steel tanks. To remedy this you can reseal the tank seams with a silicone sealant or JB Weld also works wonderfully for this type of application. The key is to really work the product into the seams when you have to reseal the tank and be sure to apply the product to a clean, dry surface, then allow it to dry per the manufacturer’s recommendations before refilling the tank. storage with water. .

Steel storage tanks should also come with a bottom drain plug, although you will find these difficult to remove and if you lose the plug it will be even more difficult to find a replacement. Polyethylene tanks, especially Rubbermaid water tanks, drain plugs are readily available in case you lose them. In general, a steel tank is easier to push around when you need to empty the storage tank for cleaning.

When comparing the initial cost of these livestock tanks, poly versus steel will be very similar and they are all different based on the gallon capacity of a tank. A 149 gallon polyethylene tank will cost around $150.00, a steel storage tank with the same capacity will cost between $140 and $160 depending on where you are in the US The cost fluctuates more with steel due to that steel prices change regularly.

Polyethylene tanks will degrade more at higher elevations to increase UV exposure. Tanks will lose color over time and become brittle. The main disadvantage of polyethylene tanks is that once they become brittle, the storage tank cannot be repaired. A steel tank can be bent back into shape, kicked, pounded and exposed to brutal cold and extreme heat and still be repairable after years of use. If you have a horse that likes to kick around storage tanks, you had better stay away from polyethylene tanks in general and be ready to reseal your steel tank every couple of years.

Both styles of livestock tanks should last for years with proper care and without abuse. My galvanized steel water tanks that I am using are over 15 years old. I’ve also seen polyethylene tanks this old. The bottom line is that the choice of your water tank is a personal preference, and anyone can get their money’s worth from any product for many years to come with proper care. What brand are you going with? The HW brand makes a great galvanized steel storage tank and Rubbermaid or Fortiflex make great quality poly plastic storage tanks.