How To Make A Stock Tank Pool! DIY
This video will give you the supplies and a tutorial on how to make your own Stock Tank Pool for your backyard! Once you have your ground leveled and ready, you can knock out this project in an afternoon. Due to popularity, I recommend that you start to find all of the supplies ahead of time.
Check out the video tutorial above or read below to see how I did it.
Also, scroll to the bottom to see my instructions for spring and winter preparation, as well as FAQs!
And check out my update to this pool - the Stock Tank Pool Deck! Build plans available for the deck HERE!
click this link below for the deck build plans!
Materials and Tools I Used:
Stock Tank - you can find them at livestock supply stores (Tractor Supply, etc). Alternatively, there are lots of companies now selling them as pools. We got our tank from our friends at Stock Tank Love.
Pool Filter Pump (this one is slightly bigger and better than the one I used in the video)
Even better filter/pump (that I now use): Waterway TWM 30-s sand filter pump
Inlet: you need this part https://bit.ly/3lztenG and this part https://bit.ly/3nN87QK
Fun Add-Ons:
Thanks so much to Stock Tank Love for the guidance! Find them here: https://bit.ly/3jQiEIl.
Again, you can usually find these tanks at local livestock supply feed stores. But due to the recent popularity of turning these tanks into pools, they can sometimes be hard to find. We were able to buy an extra one our friends Stock Tank Love were selling on Facebook Marketplace. This one is 6’ wide and 2’ deep.
*UPDATE - we have since upgraded to an 8’ pool! You can see it HERE. The steps are all the same no matter what size you choose.
We got lucky and already had a level concrete slab in place. Otherwise, ground prep with sand would have been necessary to level and prepare a spot in the yard.
I’m using a sand filter because it requires much less maintenance than a cartridge filter. You only need to replace the sand every few years and the overall cost is lower. The box contains the pump, filter, hoses and the outlet valve.
In addition, I needed to buy an inlet valve…
two plunger valves….
For the filter media, I’m using filter glass instead of sand because it filters better and lasts longer.
I also purchased this reusable water filter when filling the pool to help filter out things like calcium, VOC’s and hard water.
I started by drilling a hole for the outlet with the hole saw. When you pick your spot for your hole, make sure the larger part of the valve clears the lip on your pool.
And then I did the same thing for the Inlet valve, making sure to clear the lip on the side of the tank.
I filed down any sharp edges with a metal file and then cleaned up all the tiny metal shavings before moving on.
For a little extra security against leaking, I added plumbing tape to the threads of the inlet and outlet valves. And then I loaded up my marine grade sealant and applied it around the inside of the outlet valve fitting.
I placed it into the higher hole, letting the adhesive squish out and fill in to make it water tight.
I screwed on the nut nice and tight, making sure to keep the air hole facing up. And then I screwed on this extra piece that comes with with outlet called the air jet valve.
I then repeated the steps for the inlet valve and place it in the lower hole.
Any squeeze out of adhesive can be smoothed out by dipping your finger in water and running it around the edge.
Here you see me installing the two plunger valves. These will allow you to close off the water to the hoses so you can change out the filters or hoses in the future without letting all of the water out of your pool.
As I mentioned earlier, I’m using glass media in place of sand in this filter. I placed a cup over the inner hole of the tank to keep the glass pieces from falling in the center and then poured in the glass up to the fill lines marked. And again, I’m using glass media because it lasts longer than sand and filters even better.
Then I attached the hoses to the plunge valves and the pump and secured the collar on the tank. Your pump’s instructions will show you the correct placement for all of your lines. Another option is to watch some YouTube videos specifically on setting up your pump and filter.
Update: I have since upgraded to a larger pool and larger pump/filter, but the setup is pretty much the same.
And with everything set up, it was time to fill the pool!
The last thing to do is to add something to maintain a clean sparkling pool and to keep bacteria in check. Instead of chlorine, my friends at Stock Tank Love suggested a natural alternative of 35% food grade hydrogen peroxide. Chlorine has some side effects that I’d rather do without and this option really works great. Chlorine can also lead to rust in the tank (but not with peroxide!). I’ll leave links to this peroxide as well as some test strips above.
Another benefit of using this food grade hydrogen peroxide as a treatment method is that the pool water can actually be used to water your plants! It's actually known to aerate the soil, and it feels great recycling the pool water when it is time to drain.
And that’s it!
I’m thrilled with how this Stock Tank Pool turned out! It’s amazing how much it feels like a real pool and how well it cools us down in the warmer months. It’s inexpensive, easy to fit in most any yard and easy to take care of.
Don’t forget to check out how I built this deck for the pool!
We’ve also now added a cantilevered pool umbrella and it is amazing and keeps our pool so cool! Here is a link: https://bit.ly/3T6MFql
And that’s it!
For detailed instructions on this Stock Tank Pool, be sure and watch the video. I'd love to see pics of yours if you decide to make your own.
SPRING SETUP: See what I do to open up our pool for the spring/summer season here: https://www.instagram.com/p/CsG14qnvWOX/
WINTER PREP: If you’d like to see how I winterize our pool in the winter months, check out the video here: https://www.instagram.com/p/Cz9a4uvAaEA/
FAQs
Q: Where can I buy the stock tanks?
A: You can find the stock tanks at livestock supply or farm supply stores. They come in several different sizes. There are also many companies now that specifically sell these tanks as pools. Our local company that we know and love is Stock Tank Love. They will come and set the whole system up for you!
Q: How is the maintenance?
A: I find it easy! I have the pump/filter on a timer so it turns itself on and off based on the schedule I set. Every morning I do a little skim of the pool. Once a week I check the chemical levels and adjust accordingly. And that’s really it!
Q: Doesn’t the metal get too hot?
A: The cool water in the pool actually keeps the metal cool! The edges can get hot in the sun, but one splash of water instantly cools it off. Some people cut a long slit in pool noodles and place them around the edge of the pool. But we personally haven’t found this necessary. The big key in keeping everything cool is shade. In 2022 we added a cantilevered umbrella and that has been a huge improvement. The water stays so cool!
Q: Do pool chemicals hurt the metal of the pool?
A: Pool chemicals are necessary in keeping your water crystal clear and clean, but there are options. Chlorine works fine but you must be very careful to make sure your chlorine tablets do not get out of their container and touch the metal. In doing so, it can quickly damage the metal. In our pool, we alternatively use a pool grade Hydrogen Peroxide, which has many benefits over chlorine. The H202 does not need a container, it can be poured right into the water, it will not damage the metal and it is also a much safer, healthier option for human skin contact. We’ve had our pool since 2020 and have always used the hydrogen peroxide with great success!
Here is more info on using Hydrogen Peroxide from my pro friends at Stock Tank Love: “We recommend researching hydrogen peroxide as a possible alternative to chlorine. We decided to try H2O2 and have enjoyed it for over 5 years. It is healthy for people and pets as well as grass, plants, and trees when you drain. It can be maintained between 50-70 ppm with test strips but does need some sunlight to be most effective.”
Q: How much hydrogen peroxide do you add?
A: I add about a 1/2 cup to 1 cup at a time, depending on use. I add it while the pump is running, let it circulate about 15 minutes or so and then test with my test strips. I try to keep mine above 50 ppm at all times and try not to go over 100 ppm. Ideally it will stay at 70-80 ppm. If we use the pool more, I’ll test and add more often. Just depends on use, rain. etc.
Q: Do you worry about rust?
A: We really don’t. Again, it helps that we use the hydrogen peroxide instead of chlorine. Regardless of what chemical is used, it’s important to not over treat the water. We haven’t seen any rust (4 years in so far).
Q: How often do you run your pump/filter?
A: I added a super basic pool pump timer and have mine set to run twice a day - during the morning and during the afternoon, for about 3 hours each. That amount of time seems to work great, but you can easily adjust your time for less or more. It’s not necessary to run the pump continuously all day. Warmer months need more filtration, but I’ve found that 6 hours is plenty for this above ground pool in our hot Texas climate.
Q: How big is your Stock Tank Pool?
A: We started off with a 6’ wide x 2’ deep pool, but have since upgraded to an 8’ wide x 2’ deep pool. You can see our 8 footer in my post about the Stock Tank Pool deck I built HERE!
Q: How do you winterize the pool and how do you set it up for summer?
A: Winterization is easy. I have a short video showing you how I winterize our pool HERE and a video showing you how I get the pool ready for summer HERE!
Q: How do you drain the pool?
A: There is a drain hole on the bottom side! Any remaining water I get out with my shopvac.
Do you have a question not covered? Leave a comment below and I’ll get it answered for you!
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