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Fiberglass vs. Concrete: Grease and Water Storage Tank Design

September 10, 2025 | Posted in Blog

Fiberglass Tank
When it comes to grease and water storage tank design, two of the most widely used materials are fiberglass and concrete. Fiberglass has several distinct advantages over concrete cisterns. Tanks Direct uses and recommends Xerxes fiberglass storage tanks for many applications.

Resistance to Corrosion
Concrete is vulnerable to corrosion because its interior wall is porous and allows bacteria to accumulate. Over time, these bacteria degrade the concrete. Fiberglass is non-porous; bacteria have nowhere to accumulate and won’t corrode the tank. Fiberglass can even handle more volatile contents such as sulfide and sulfuric acid, which will erode concrete over time.

Durability
Unlike concrete, fiberglass will not expand or contract due to climate change. Expansion and contraction can cause a material to crack and leak, which can happen in concrete tanks. Fiberglass tanks are also easier to maintain than concrete tanks and last much longer while requiring less maintenance.

Water Storage Tank Prior To Installation

Lightweight
Not only are fiberglass tanks lighter than concrete tanks, but the tanks come as a whole unit, which reduces transportation and installation costs. Concrete tanks are delivered in multiple sections because of their weight. This weight can slow down transportation and make installation difficult. Also, it can take up to a month to install a concrete tank. The curing time that is required when using the cast-in-place method slows the process. Fiberglass tank installation takes only one day.

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