Spray and nurse tanks from totes
A tote makes a spray or nurse tank for a grower who mixes in volume. The rule is short: a tote used for spray mix should have a known last-contents history, because a residue from the last contents can show up in the mix.
01Why history matters more than rinse
A rinse removes most of a tote’s last contents but not all of it, and a plastic bottle can hold traces. A tote that held a food ingredient or only water is a fair match for a spray tank. A tote that held an industrial chemical needs a record of what it was and a cleaning that suits it. The desk asks the seller for the last contents and the SDS, and passes the answer on.
Spray mixes have their own labels and rules. The product label decides what a tote may be used for, and so does the grower’s own program. The desk does not give application advice.
02Setting up a spray tote
- A stand or a trailer bed that holds 2,294 pounds of water for a 275, plus the tote.
- A top lid you can open for filling and cleaning, and a vent.
- A bottom valve with a thread that matches your pump or hose.
- A way to agitate: a return line from the pump or a paddle through the lid.
- A rinse routine between products.
03Which grade
Rinsed or reconditioned totes with a documented food-safe or water-only past suit this use. A tote marked used, as-is still has residue on its walls, which is the wrong start for a spray mix. Dirty and damaged totes are out. A current retest date is not needed for water use, though it helps show the tote is sound.
04Size choice
A 275 gallon tote is 46 inches high and a 330 is 53. A spray rig with a low bed may take only the 275. Both share one 48 by 40 inch footprint.
?Questions on this page
Can I mix spray in a used tote?
With a known last-contents history and a suitable cleaning, yes. The product label and your own program decide the rest.
Is a rinsed tote enough?
Not on its own. Rinsing removes most of the last contents; the history says what it was.