Steel Tank

Overview

The Steel Tank is the upgraded version of the Iron Tank in Railcraft. It provides doubled capacity per block and higher explosion resistance.

Structure

The tank consists of:

  • Wall blocks (TANK_STEEL_WALL) - structural walls (stronger than iron)
  • Valve blocks (TANK_STEEL_VALVE) - fluid input/output with redstone control
  • Glass blocks (GLASS) - transparent viewing panels

Available Sizes

Steel tanks support the same four base dimensions as Iron Tanks:

3×3 Tank

Height Capacity (Steel)
4 72 blocks
5 90 blocks
6 108 blocks
7 126 blocks
8 144 blocks

5×5 Tank

Height Capacity (Steel)
4 200 blocks
5 250 blocks
6 300 blocks
7 350 blocks
8 400 blocks

7×7 Tank

Height Capacity (Steel)
4 392 blocks
5 490 blocks
6 588 blocks
7 686 blocks
8 784 blocks

9×9 Tank

Height Capacity (Steel)
4 648 blocks
5 810 blocks
6 972 blocks
7 1134 blocks
8 1296 blocks

Capacity Calculation

Total Blocks = Base Area × Height
Capacity = Total Blocks × Capacity Per Block

Where Capacity Per Block = 2 × RailcraftConfig.tankPerBlockCapacity() × FluidTools.BUCKET_VOLUME

This is exactly 2× the Iron Tank capacity.

Tank Definitions

The TankDefinition.STEEL defines:

  • Resistance: 25.0 explosion resistance
  • Capacity Per Block: 2 × Config.tankPerBlockCapacity() × BUCKET_VOLUME
  • Valid Wall Block: TANK_STEEL_WALL
  • Valid Valve Block: TANK_STEEL_VALVE

Structure Pattern

Steel tanks use the same structural patterns as Iron Tanks:

  • Bottom layer: Solid wall with center access
  • Middle layers: Hollow with glass panels for viewing
  • Top layer: Solid wall with optional valve position

Valves

Steel tank valves (TANK_STEEL_VALVE) provide:

  • Fluid input/output connections
  • Redstone-controlled on/off
  • Fluid level comparison output
  • Higher flow rates than iron valves

Comparison: Iron vs Steel

Property Iron Tank Steel Tank
Resistance 20.0 25.0
Capacity/Block 1× 2×
Max Flow Rate Standard Higher
Recipe Cost Cheaper More expensive

Usage

  1. Place the steel valve block first (will be master)
  2. Build steel walls outward in square formation
  3. Add glass panels at desired viewing positions
  4. Stack to desired height
  5. Complete top layer
  6. Connect fluid pipes to valve

See Also