3 questions to ask before you buy molasses tanks
Whether you are just looking to store molasses, other high density liquids, or use it for multi purpose storage depending on the season and farming cycle, molasses tanks are a staple of the Australian rural landscape and farms across the country. Known for generally having a high build quality, tough materials to withstand the Australian climate and large capacities, molasses tanks can be put to work in a huge manner of ways across your property.
Unfortunately however, they also tend to come with a hefty price tag, making them a serious investment for your property, and therefore requiring a lot of consideration before you buy. With so many brands and variations on the market, making a decision should be easy, however the opposite is generally true. While you may know you need to invest in molasses tanks, you may not know where to start identifying the right one for your needs.
Here are three considerations to help you begin to understand the specifications you need.
Am I just going to be storing molasses?
While it may seem like the clue is in the name, many molasses tanks can actually be used for storing many different types of high density liquids. If you run a smaller property, you may need to justify the investment in the property by examining how else you can put the tank to work when you do not need molasses in that particular location. Make sure you invest in molasses tanks which will enable you to store and drain many different types of liquid, and that the material you select is able to store the weight of the densest of these liquids.
Should I go for multiple molasses tanks, or bigger capacities?
While you may know how much capacity you need on your site, whether that is molasses or other sorts of liquids, that is not quite the whole story. You need to consider how this capacity will be split up between different tanks, and whether it is more efficient for you to chose several smaller tanks which can be spread across the site, or one large tank which is likely to be the more cost effective option. Factors which could influence this decision could include whether you have access to trucks to move liquids, and whether you may want to move your molasses tanks regularly.
Should they stand alone, or do I need to connect them to other systems?
If you are planning on using molasses tanks simply for storage of liquids, then the two questions above are your primary considerations. However, if you are planning to use your tanks as part of an animal feeding system, or to collect and pump rainwater, you will need to ensure that the molasses tanks you buy can be easily connected to these different systems. Be sure to ask potential suppliers whether this will be a problem.