Tank Calculator

A companion to Water Storage by Art

Ludwig

Cylindrical tank with domed roof

Given tank dimensions, determine volume and surface area, and amount of material required (for ordering concrete).

Given density of tank material, determine load on ground under tank, and stress on reinforcement.

The table below is set up for ferrocement (See the Water Storage book for description of the construction),
steel, and plastic tanks. If you would prefer to specify your own materials and construction specs, use the
"Tank Calculator (generic)" worksheet.

Fill in numbers in blue under the in one or more columns. Read calculated values below.

Light duty Medium duty Heavy duty

ferrocement ferrocement ferrocement Steel
Tank volume 3000.00 gallons 3000.00 gallons 3000.00 gallons 3000.00
Height 6.00 feet 6.00 feet 6.00 feet 6.00
Wall thickness (av) 1.00 inches 1.25 inches 2.00 inches 0.13
Roof thickness 1.00 inches 1.00 inches 1.75 inches 0.13
Floor thickness 3.00 inches 4.00 inches 5.00 inches 0.13
Roof rise/tank diameter 0.10 ratio 0.10 ratio 0.10 ratio 0.10
Floor beyond walls 1.00 inches 3.00 inches 5.00 inches 0.00
Density of material 100.00 lbs/ft3 100.00 lbs/ft3 100.00 lbs/ft3 300.00
Hoop spacing 6.00 inches 18.00 inches 24.00 inches N/A
Major reinforcing diameter 0.13 inches 0.38 inches 0.38 inches N/A

Note that volume under roof below is in ADDITION TO to capacity above.

Diameter 9.23 feet 9.23 feet 9.23 feet 9.23

Diameter/ height 1.54 ratio 1.54 ratio 1.54 ratio 1.54
Volume 401.02 Cubic feet 401.02 Cubic feet 401.02 Cubic feet 401.02
Volume under roof 31.24 Cubic feet 31.24 Cubic feet 31.24 Cubic feet 31.24
Volume under roof 233.72 Gallons 233.72 Gallons 233.72 Gallons 233.72
Total volume 432.26 Cubic feet 432.26 Cubic feet 432.26 Cubic feet 432.26
Radius 4.61 Feet 4.61 Feet 4.61 Feet 4.61
Roof rise 0.92 0.92 Feet 0.92 0.92
Circumference 28.98 Feet 28.98 Feet 28.98 Feet 28.98
Roof area 66.84 Square feet 66.84 Square feet 66.84 Square feet 66.84
Wall area 173.87 Square feet 173.87 Square feet 173.87 Square feet 173.87
Total stucco area 240.70 Square feet 240.70 Square feet 240.70 Square feet 240.70
Floor area 69.27 Square feet 74.28 Square feet 79.46 Square feet 66.84
Total area 309.98 314.98 Square feet 320.16 307.54
(cylinder) 307.54 307.54 Square feet 307.54 307.54
Roof volume 5.57 Cubic feet 5.57 Cubic feet 9.75 Cubic feet 0.70
Wall volume 14.49 Cubic feet 18.11 Cubic feet 28.98 Cubic feet 1.81
Total stucco volume 20.06 Cubic feet 23.68 Cubic feet 38.72 Cubic feet 2.51
Total stucco volume 0.74 Cubic yards 0.88 Cubic yards 1.43 Cubic yards 0.09
Floor volume 17.32 Cubic feet 24.76 Cubic feet 33.11 Cubic feet 0.70
Floor volume 0.64 Cubic yards 0.92 Cubic yards 1.23 Cubic yards 0.03
Total volume 37.38 Cubic feet 48.44 Cubic feet 71.83 Cubic feet 3.20
Total volume 1.38 Cubic yard 1.79 Cubic yard 2.66 Cubic yard 0.12
Material vol/water vol 11.56 ratio 8.92 ratio 6.02 ratio 134.93
Weight of material 3,737.68 lbs 4,843.99 lbs 7,183.14 lbs 961.06
Weight of water 26,969.21 lbs 26,969.21 lbs 26,969.21 lbs 26,969.21
Total weight 30,706.90 lbs 31,813.20 lbs 34,152.36 lbs 27,930.28
Force on soil 3.08 psi 2.97 psi 2.98 psi 2.90
Force on soil 443.28 psf 428.31 psf 429.83 psf 417.89
Max hoop stress 144.40 psi 115.52 psi 72.20 psi 1,155.22
Rebar density 0.20% % 0.49% % 0.23% %
Max hoop stress rebar alone 70,615 psi 23,538 psi 31,385 psi
or ordering concrete).

Steel Plastic Comments

gallons 3000.00 gallons Volume excluding space under domed roof
feet 6.00 feet Height of tank walls (not roof height)
inches 0.25 inches
inches 0.25 inches
inches 0.25 inches
ratio 0.10 ratio Ratio of roof rise to tank diameter. 0 for flat roof, 1/2 diameter for hemisphere
inches 0.00 inches Distance that floor extends beyond walls. Used only to calculate amount of material.
lbs/ft3 60.00 lbs/ft3 Used to calculate load on ground under tank.
N/A Vertical space between rebar hoops on ferrocement tank. For calculating hoop stress only
N/A Diameter of reinforcing members (rebar hoops for ferrocement tank). For calculating hoop stress only

feet 9.23 feet

ratio 1.54 ratio
Cubic feet 401.02 Cubic feet
Cubic feet 31.24 Cubic feet
Gallons 233.72 Gallons
Cubic feet 432.26 Cubic feet
Feet 4.61 Feet
0.92
Feet 28.98 Feet
Square feet 66.84 Square feet
Square feet 173.87 Square feet
Square feet 240.70 Square feet
Square feet 66.84 Square feet
307.54
307.54
Cubic feet 1.39 Cubic feet
Cubic feet 3.62 Cubic feet
Cubic feet 5.01 Cubic feet
Cubic yards 0.19 Cubic yards
Cubic feet 1.39 Cubic feet
Cubic yards 0.05 Cubic yards
Cubic feet 6.41 Cubic feet
Cubic yard 0.24 Cubic yards
ratio 67.47 ratio
lbs 384.43 lbs
lbs 26,969.21 lbs
lbs 27,353.64 lbs
psi 2.84 psi
psf 409.27 psf
psi 577.61 psi
amount of material.

culating hoop stress only

nk). For calculating hoop stress only
Tank Calculator (Generic)
A companion to Water Storage by Art Ludwig

Cylindrical tank with domed roof

This sheet performs the same calculations as the previous worksheet, but allows you to define and compare your own
materials. Try setting up each column with different parameters, and watch how volume of water contained, and the
amount of material required changes.

Given tank dimensions, determine volume and surface area, and amount of material required (for ordering concrete).

Given density of tank material, determine load on ground under tank, and stress on reinforcement.

Fill in numbers under the in one or more columns. Read calculated values below.

Your label here Your label here Your label here Your label here
Tank volume gallons gallons gallons
Height feet feet feet
Wall thickness (av) inches inches inches
Roof thickness inches inches inches
Floor thickness inches inches inches
Roof rise/tank diameter ratio ratio ratio
Floor beyond walls inches inches inches
Density of material lbs/ft3 lbs/ft3 lbs/ft3
Hoop spacing inches inches inches
Major reinforcing diameter inches inches inches

Note that volume under roof below is in ADDITION TO to capacity above.

Diameter #DIV/0! feet #DIV/0! feet #DIV/0! feet #DIV/0!

Diameter/ height #DIV/0! ratio #DIV/0! ratio #DIV/0! ratio #DIV/0!
Volume 0.00 Cubic feet 0.00 Cubic feet 0.00 Cubic feet 0.00
Volume under roof #DIV/0! Cubic feet #DIV/0! Cubic feet #DIV/0! Cubic feet #DIV/0!
Volume under roof #DIV/0! Gallons #DIV/0! Gallons #DIV/0! Gallons #DIV/0!
Total volume #DIV/0! Cubic feet #DIV/0! Cubic feet #DIV/0! Cubic feet #DIV/0!
Radius #DIV/0! Feet #DIV/0! Feet #DIV/0! Feet #DIV/0!
Roof rise #DIV/0! #DIV/0! Feet #DIV/0! #DIV/0!
Circumference #DIV/0! Feet #DIV/0! Feet #DIV/0! Feet #DIV/0!
Roof area #DIV/0! Square feet #DIV/0! Square feet #DIV/0! Square feet #DIV/0!
Wall area #DIV/0! Square feet #DIV/0! Square feet #DIV/0! Square feet #DIV/0!
Total stucco area #DIV/0! Square feet #DIV/0! Square feet #DIV/0! Square feet #DIV/0!
Floor area #DIV/0! Square feet #DIV/0! Square feet #DIV/0! Square feet #DIV/0!
Total area #DIV/0! #DIV/0! Square feet #DIV/0! #DIV/0!
(cylinder) #DIV/0! #DIV/0! Square feet #DIV/0! #DIV/0!
Roof volume #DIV/0! Cubic feet #DIV/0! Cubic feet #DIV/0! Cubic feet #DIV/0!
Wall volume #DIV/0! Cubic feet #DIV/0! Cubic feet #DIV/0! Cubic feet #DIV/0!
Total stucco volume #DIV/0! Cubic feet #DIV/0! Cubic feet #DIV/0! Cubic feet #DIV/0!
Total stucco volume #DIV/0! Cubic yards #DIV/0! Cubic yards #DIV/0! Cubic yards #DIV/0!
Floor volume #DIV/0! Cubic feet #DIV/0! Cubic feet #DIV/0! Cubic feet #DIV/0!
Floor volume #DIV/0! Cubic yards #DIV/0! Cubic yards #DIV/0! Cubic yards #DIV/0!
Total volume #DIV/0! Cubic feet #DIV/0! Cubic feet #DIV/0! Cubic feet #DIV/0!
Total volume #DIV/0! Cubic yard #DIV/0! Cubic yard #DIV/0! Cubic yard #DIV/0!
Material vol/water vol #DIV/0! ratio #DIV/0! ratio #DIV/0! ratio #DIV/0!
Weight of material #DIV/0! lbs #DIV/0! lbs #DIV/0! lbs #DIV/0!
Weight of water #DIV/0! lbs #DIV/0! lbs #DIV/0! lbs #DIV/0!
Total weight #DIV/0! lbs #DIV/0! lbs #DIV/0! lbs #DIV/0!
Force on soil #DIV/0! psi #DIV/0! psi #DIV/0! psi #DIV/0!
Force on soil #DIV/0! psf #DIV/0! psf #DIV/0! psf #DIV/0!
Max hoop stress #DIV/0! psi #DIV/0! psi #DIV/0! psi #DIV/0!
Rebar density #DIV/0! % #DIV/0! % #DIV/0! %
Max hoop stress rebar alone #DIV/0! psi #DIV/0! psi #DIV/0! psi
nd compare your own
er contained, and the

or ordering concrete).

Your label here Your label here Comments

gallons gallons Volume excluding space under domed roof
feet feet Height of tank walls (not roof height)
inches inches
inches inches
inches inches
ratio ratio Ratio of roof rise to tank diameter. 0 for flat roof, 1/2 diameter for hemisphere
inches inches Distance that floor extends beyond walls. Used only to calculate amount of material.
lbs/ft3 lbs/ft3 Used to calculate load on ground under tank.
Vertical space between rebar hoops on ferrocement tank. For calculating hoop stress only
Diameter of reinforcing members (rebar hoops for ferrocement tank). For calculating hoop stress only

feet #DIV/0! feet

ratio #DIV/0! ratio
Cubic feet 0.00 Cubic feet
Cubic feet #DIV/0! Cubic feet
Gallons #DIV/0! Gallons
Cubic feet #DIV/0! Cubic feet
Feet #DIV/0! Feet
#DIV/0!
Feet #DIV/0! Feet
Square feet #DIV/0! Square feet
Square feet #DIV/0! Square feet
Square feet #DIV/0! Square feet
Square feet #DIV/0! Square feet
#DIV/0!
#DIV/0!
Cubic feet #DIV/0! Cubic feet
Cubic feet #DIV/0! Cubic feet
Cubic feet #DIV/0! Cubic feet
Cubic yards #DIV/0! Cubic yards
Cubic feet #DIV/0! Cubic feet
Cubic yards #DIV/0! Cubic yards
Cubic feet #DIV/0! Cubic feet
Cubic yard #DIV/0! Cubic yards
ratio #DIV/0! ratio
lbs #DIV/0! lbs
lbs #DIV/0! lbs
lbs #DIV/0! lbs
psi #DIV/0! psi
psf #DIV/0! psf
psi #DIV/0! psi
amount of material.

culating hoop stress only

nk). For calculating hoop stress only
Tank Calculator Examples
This sheet gives examples of using the tank calculator to compare different tanks.

This table compares different ferrocement tanks of the same size, but with different rebar spacing and width/height ratio

Heavy duty ferrocement Closer rebar Taller tank Comments

Tank volum 100000.00 gallons 100000.00 gallons 100000.00 gallons Volume excluding space under d
Height 8.00 feet 12.00 feet 16.00 feet Height of tank walls (not roof he
Wall thickne 2.25 inches 2.25 inches 2.25 inches
Roof thickne 1.75 inches 1.75 inches 1.75 inches
Floor thickn 8.00 inches 8.00 inches 8.00 inches
Roof rise/ta 0.10 ratio 0.10 ratio 0.10 ratio Ratio of roof rise to tank diamet
Floor beyond 6.00 inches 6.00 inches 6.00 inches Distance that floor extends beyo
Density of m 100.00 lbs/ft3 100.00 lbs/ft3 100.00 lbs/ft3 Used to calculate load on ground
Hoop spacin 12.00 inches 6.00 inches 6.00 inches Vertical space between rebar ho
Major reinfo 0.50 inches 0.50 inches 0.50 inches Diameter of reinforcing member

Note that volume under roof below is in ADDITION TO to capacity above.

Diameter 46.13 feet 37.66 feet 32.62 feet

Diameter/ he 5.77 ratio 3.14 ratio 2.04 ratio
Volume 13367.20 Cubic feet 13367.20 Cubic feet 13367.20 Cubic feet
Volume under 3905.21 Cubic feet 2125.72 Cubic feet 1380.70 Cubic feet
Volume under 29214.84 Gallons 15902.55 Gallons 10329.01 Gallons
Total volum 17272.40 Cubic feet 15492.92 Cubic feet 14747.90 Cubic feet
Radius 23.06 Feet 18.83 Feet 16.31 Feet
Roof rise 4.61 3.77 Feet 3.26
Circumferenc 144.89 Feet 118.30 Feet 102.45 Feet
Roof area 1670.90 Square feet 1113.93 Square feet 835.45 Square feet
Wall area 1159.12 Square feet 1419.63 Square feet 1639.25 Square feet
Total stucco 2830.02 Square feet 2533.56 Square feet 2474.70 Square feet
Floor area 1744.13 Square feet 1173.87 Square feet 887.46 Square feet
Total area 4574.15 3707.43 Square feet 3362.16
(cylinder) 4500.92 3647.49 Square feet 3310.15
Roof volume 243.67 Cubic feet 162.45 Cubic feet 121.84 Cubic feet
Wall volume 217.34 Cubic feet 266.18 Cubic feet 307.36 Cubic feet
Total stucco 461.01 Cubic feet 428.63 Cubic feet 429.20 Cubic feet
Total stucco 17.07 Cubic yards 15.88 Cubic yards 15.90 Cubic yards
Floor volum 1162.75 Cubic feet 782.58 Cubic feet 591.64 Cubic feet
Floor volume 43.06 Cubic yards 28.98 Cubic yards 21.91 Cubic yards
Total volume 1623.76 Cubic feet 1211.21 Cubic feet 1020.84 Cubic feet
Total volum 60.14 Cubic yards 44.86 Cubic yards 37.81 Cubic yards
Material vol 10.64 ratio 12.79 ratio 14.45 ratio
Weight of mat 162,376.15 lbs 121,120.86 lbs 102,083.60 lbs
Weight of wa 1,077,651.79 lbs 966,627.23 lbs 920,143.92 lbs
Total weight 1,240,027.94 lbs 1,087,748.10 lbs 1,022,227.52 lbs
Force on soil 4.94 psi 6.43 psi 8.00 psi
Force on soil 710.97 psf 926.63 psf 1,151.86 psf
Max hoop str 427.86 psi 524.02 psi 605.09 psi
Rebar density 0.73% % 1.45% % 1.45% %
Max hoop stre 58,846 psi 36,036 psi 41,610 psi

This table compares ferrocement tanks of various sizes and parameters.

Heavy duty ferrocement Heavy duty ferrocement Heavy duty ferrocement Heavy duty ferrocement
Tank volum 10000.00 gallons 10000.00 gallons 26104.00 gallons 27058.00
Height 8.00 feet 7.52 feet 8.00 feet 10.00
Wall thickne 2.00 inches 2.00 inches 2.25 inches 2.25
Roof thickne 1.75 inches 1.75 inches 2.00 inches 1.75
Floor thickn 6.00 inches 6.00 inches 6.00 inches 5.00
Roof rise/ta 0.10 ratio 0.10 ratio 0.10 ratio 0.10
Floor beyond 6.00 inches 6.00 inches 6.00 inches 6.00
Density of m 100.00 lbs/ft3 100.00 lbs/ft3 100.00 lbs/ft3 100.00
Hoop spacin 12.00 inches 24.00 inches 12.00 inches 6.00
Major reinfo 0.38 inches 0.38 inches 0.50 inches 0.50

Note that volume under roof below is in ADDITION TO to capacity above.

Diameter 14.59 feet 15.05 feet 23.57 feet 21.46

Diameter/ he 1.82 ratio 2.00 ratio 2.95 ratio 2.15
Volume 1336.72 Cubic feet 1336.72 Cubic feet 3489.37 Cubic feet 3616.90
Volume under 123.49 Cubic feet 135.50 Cubic feet 520.84 Cubic feet 393.30
Volume under 923.85 Gallons 1013.71 Gallons 3896.41 Gallons 2942.27
Total volum 1460.21 Cubic feet 1472.22 Cubic feet 4010.21 Cubic feet 4010.19
Radius 7.29 Feet 7.52 Feet 11.78 Feet 10.73
Roof rise 1.46 1.50 Feet 2.36 2.15
Circumferenc 45.82 Feet 47.26 Feet 74.03 Feet 67.41
Roof area 167.09 Square feet 177.76 Square feet 436.17 Square feet 361.69
Wall area 366.55 Square feet 355.38 Square feet 592.22 Square feet 674.11
Total stucco 533.64 Square feet 533.14 Square feet 1028.39 Square feet 1035.80
Floor area 190.78 Square feet 202.17 Square feet 473.97 Square feet 396.18
Total area 724.42 735.30 Square feet 1502.36 1431.98
(cylinder) 700.73 710.89 Square feet 1464.56 1397.49
Roof volume 24.37 Cubic feet 25.92 Cubic feet 72.70 Cubic feet 52.75
Wall volume 61.09 Cubic feet 59.23 Cubic feet 111.04 Cubic feet 126.40
Total stucco 85.46 Cubic feet 85.15 Cubic feet 183.74 Cubic feet 179.14
Total stucco 3.17 Cubic yards 3.15 Cubic yards 6.81 Cubic yards 6.63
Floor volum 95.39 Cubic feet 101.08 Cubic feet 236.99 Cubic feet 165.08
Floor volume 3.53 Cubic yards 3.74 Cubic yards 8.78 Cubic yards 6.11
Total volume 180.85 Cubic feet 186.24 Cubic feet 420.72 Cubic feet 344.22
Total volum 6.70 Cubic yards 6.90 Cubic yards 15.58 Cubic yards 12.75
Material vol 8.07 ratio 7.91 ratio 9.53 ratio 11.65
Weight of mat 18,085.06 lbs 18,623.74 lbs 42,072.17 lbs 34,421.76
Weight of wa 91,104.95 lbs 91,854.30 lbs 250,203.38 lbs 250,202.23
Total weight 109,190.00 lbs 110,478.04 lbs 292,275.55 lbs 284,623.98
Force on soil 3.97 psi 3.79 psi 4.28 psi 4.99
Force on soil 572.32 psf 546.46 psf 616.65 psf 718.42
Max hoop str 152.21 psi 147.58 psi 218.60 psi 248.83
Rebar density 0.47% % 0.24% % 0.73% %
Max hoop stre 32,217 psi 62,472 psi 30,066 psi
nd width/height ratio

Comments
Volume excluding space under domed roof
Height of tank walls (not roof height)

Ratio of roof rise to tank diameter. 0 for flat roof, 1/2 diameter for hemisphere
Distance that floor extends beyond walls. Used only to calculate amount of material.
Used to calculate load on ground under tank.
Vertical space between rebar hoops on ferrocement tank
Diameter of reinforcing members (rebar hoops for ferrocement tank)
Heavy duty ferrocement Heavy duty ferrocement Comments
gallons 27684.00 gallons Volume excluding space under domed roof
feet 12.00 feet Height of tank walls (not roof height)
inches 2.25 inches
inches 1.75 inches
inches 5.00 inches
ratio 0.10 ratio Ratio of roof rise to tank diameter. 0 for flat roof, 1/2 diameter for hemisphere
inches 6.00 inches Distance that floor extends beyond walls. Used only to calculate amount of material.
lbs/ft3 100.00 lbs/ft3 Used to calculate load on ground under tank.
inches 12 inches Vertical space between rebar hoops on ferrocement tank
inches 0.5 inches Diameter of reinforcing members (rebar hoops for ferrocement tank)

feet 19.82 feet

ratio 1.65 ratio
Cubic feet 3700.57 Cubic feet
Cubic feet 309.64 Cubic feet
Gallons 2316.38 Gallons
Cubic feet 4010.21 Cubic feet
Feet 9.91 Feet
1.98
Feet 62.25 Feet
Square feet 308.38 Square feet
Square feet 746.95 Square feet
Square feet 1055.33 Square feet
Square feet 340.29 Square feet
1395.62
1363.71
Cubic feet 44.97 Cubic feet
Cubic feet 140.05 Cubic feet
Cubic feet 185.02 Cubic feet
Cubic yards 6.85 Cubic yards
Cubic feet 141.79 Cubic feet
Cubic yards 5.25 Cubic yards
Cubic feet 326.81 Cubic feet
Cubic yards 12.10 Cubic yards
ratio 12.27 ratio
lbs 32,681.18 lbs
lbs 250,203.17 lbs
lbs 282,884.36 lbs
psi 5.77 psi
psf 831.31 psf
psi 275.72 psi
ount of material.
 Material Unit co 5000 gal 10,000 gal 15,000 gal 20,000 gal 30,000 gal
3/8” rebar (20’ pieces) $3.11 30 $93.30 50 ### 60 ### 70 ### 50 ###
1/2” rebar (20’ pieces) $4.98 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 50 ###
Lath (27”x8’ pieces) $5.36 27 ### 40 ### 50 ### 65 ### 80 ###
ded Wire Mesh (7’x200’ rolls) ### 1 ### 1.25 ### 1.5 ### 2 ### 2 ###
Hardware cloth (4’x100’ rolls) $39.94 1 $39.94 1.75 $69.90 2 $79.88 3 ### 3 ###
Tie wire (big looped bundles) $2.60 2 $5.20 2 $5.20 3 $7.80 3 $7.80 3 $7.80
Cement (94 lb bags) $5.65 18 ### 25 ### 32 ### 35 ### 50 ###
Plaster sand (yd3) $29.50 4 ### 4.5 ### 5.5 ### 7 ### 9 ###
Water (gal) $0.01 500 $5.00 750 $7.50 1000 $10.00 ### $12.50 1500 $15.00
/Bonsal Sure Coat (50 lb bags) $19.20 7 ### 10 ### 15 ### 17 ### 20 ###
Color (lbs) $2.88 5 $14.40 7 $20.16 10 $28.80 12 $34.56 15 $43.20
Hog rings (25 lb boxes)37 $38.40 $0.00 $0.00 1 $38.40 1 $38.40 2 $76.80
ring staples (boxes of 10,000) $10.00 1 $10.00 2 $20.00 2 $20.00 2 $20.00 3 $30.00
Dobies $0.50 30 $15.00 50 $25.00 65 $32.50 80 $40.00 100 $50.00
Poles $16.50 6 $99.00 10 ### 15 ### 20 ### 40 ###
Concrete (yd3) $91.50 2 ### 3.5 ### 4.5 ### 6 ### 8 ###
Approx. cost ($) 1,102 1,641 2,169 2,725 3,776