Let’s Install a Stock Tank Pool!

Have you seen where people are using stock tanks (livestock water tanks) as pools? I was browsing Pinterest recently and saw some pins from people who had created a pool from a stock tank. Interesting! After some research, I discovered that this is not a new trend. There were pins from 5 years ago! So, I’m a little tardy to the party hearing about this fun idea! Once I saw the pins, it was just a brief moment before I decided I just had to have one!

Metal or Poly?

Now that I had decided to get a stock tank to use as a small pool, the next decisions were what kind and size. I LOVE the look of the metal tanks!!!! But, after reading about others’ experiences owning a metal one, I wasn’t certain that it was the way to go for me. There were lots of people who have owned them for years with no issues, but there were enough stories of the metal rusting due to chlorine accidentally falling into the water that I decided to get a poly (plastic) tank instead.

Where to buy one?

How to get it home?

Where should it go?

Before picking up the tank, I had selected an area in the backyard where I thought it should go. The space gets partial shade from a maple tree and is protected a bit from the wind by our deck. Using our garden hose, I outlined the area that would be the ‘pool’ space. When we got home with the tank, the son and I carried it to the backyard. It isn’t too heavy. When we got to the gate, we turned it on its side and rolled it. The tank/pool looks great in the section of the yard where I thought it would go.

Do I just leave it on the grass?

Adding bricks

Now that I had a master plan for the new pool space, I got started on the process to make it happen. We bought 12 x 12 x 2 bricks. I laid them out on the grass in a square with about an inch between each brick and then set the pool on top. I checked the level of the bricks and then the level of the pool once it was in place. After the pool was in place, I decided to make the brick area larger, so we bought more bricks. When the new bricks were here, I decided to remove the space between them to help prevent the grass from growing. I really should have removed the grass altogether.

Do we love the blue?

I didn’t really love the blue on the outside of the tank. It looks like a large kiddie pool. They do sell poly stock tanks in black or grey but North 40 didn’t have those options besides, I love the blue on the interior. In my research, I saw several tanks that had been painted so I decided to paint mine. I chose flat black, hoping it would bring more heat to the water. I bought several cans of Rustoleum for plastic and ended up using less than 2. I could have done a 2nd coat but the first one covered well. So, if I need to recoat next Summer, I’ll have paint on hand. I used a piece of cardboard to protect the brick. When I painted the inside of the rim, I held a smaller piece of cardboard underneath the rim to prevent overspray on the inside of the tank. There was a bit of overspray on the brick and interior anyway. To remove it from the inside, I just used a wet cloth to rub it off. I LOVE the black!!!

Removing sod

If you’ve been around here for very long, you know that I have removed yards and yards of sod over the years. In fact, when I was finished with the Secret Garden last year, I swore that I was DONE removing sod! I totally believed that I was! Then I decided to create a little oasis so that conviction dissolved.

I have many posts explaining in detail how I remove sod (check out the Secret Garden one for details). It would most likely be easier if I rented a sod remover but since that seems scary, I just do it by hand. When I’m finished removing the sod, it goes to a friend’s property where she and I ‘plant’ it for her to enjoy. When all the sod had been removed, I lined the area with the edging bricks that had outlined the bark bed.

Adding bark

The last step to this little pool area was to fill the space with bark. To help prevent weeds, I laid down newspaper first. I’ve used newspaper as weed abatement for years and have found that it works as well or better than the landscape cloth I’ve previously used. I thought I’d have to buy new bark but was able to gather enough from the surrounding bark beds to fill the area – bonus!

Time to enjoy!

Now that my little oasis was complete, it was time to enjoy the new pool! I found a fun float at Walmart and added a couple of solar fountains to help circulate the water. I placed them inside little donut floats to prevent them from floating too close to the edge of the pool and spilling water over the side. I also picked up a skimmer to remove debris & a pool vacuum that attaches to the garden hose.

Benefits of a stock tank pool

Before, During, After

What a great addition to the backyard!

For your convenience

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