DIY Small Backyard Stock Tank Pool Reveal
You guys!!! We jumped on the stock tank pool craze and setup small galvanized tank pool! If you follow me on Instagram or Facebook you already know we have been hard at work over here the last month getting our new summer vacation set up. It almost felt like we were participating in the One Room Challenge and making over the backyard again since we were pushing ourselves to finish this simple DIY pool just in time for summer. That time has finally come! The pool is setup, the deck is built, and the drinks are cold. Now all we need is a little Jimmy Buffet and we will feel like we are on the islands 🙂 Are you ready to see it?
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- Size: 8 ft diameter, 718 gallons
What is a Stock Tank Pool?
So what is a stock tank pool? Stock tanks are traditionally used to water livestock but folks have been turning them into pools for decades. They are also often referred to as a hillbilly pool or cowboy pool, but we took ours to a whole new level with a sleek black exterior and a custom deck.
Why a Stock Tank Pool?
For those of you wondering why we decided on a stock tank pool rather than just buying an above ground pool, the answer is simple. We liked the idea of being able to customize our stock tank more than you can with plastic pools. And an in-ground pool was never on the wish list. Also, we really didn’t want something large that would takeover our whole outdoor space. The stock tank itself is only 8 feet in diameter and fit nicely where our fire pit area used to be. But don’t worry, the fire pit has been relocated to the patio by the sofas.
The stock tank is a great hack for small pools without extensive home installations or the eyesore of a blue vinyl pool.
While we love living in Colorado and enjoy the mountains and skiing, we absolutely love the beach as well. We usually vacation to tropical places in the Caribbean or Mexico but with the cerveza sickness, we don’t see ourselves getting on a plane any time soon. So we brought the vacation to us!
I know many people think it doesn’t get hot in Colorado, but it definitely does! Many times we have thought it would be so nice to have a small compact pool to cool off in and just hang out. But we don’t have room for a traditional pool nor do we want one with limited seasons to use it. So when I stumbled upon this above-ground pool it didn’t take long for us to both get on board.
In fact, this may be the very first DIY project in history I didn’t have to sell Barry on!
Literally within 24 hours of deciding, thanks to some amazing friends, we had our stock tank sitting in our backyard!
I am sure many of you are also wondering about sitting water and the mosquito struggle. Have no fear, our stock tank is super fancy and has a pool pump, filter, and uses pool chemicals to keep it clean! Pretty cool, huh? So what all did we do to get the pool looking like this? Well, a lot! Here is a video recap of the last month and the entire process from getting it home, making a level area, building the pool deck, setting up the pool equipment, and filling it with water.
We probably could have done this quicker, but we only really worked on it over the weekends and the deck build took the most time.
Now all we have left to do is soak up some rays and enjoy our own stock tank pool in our little backyard oasis! And how cute are our new pool floats?! The unicorn is mine and the llama is Barry’s.
Stock Tank Pool Frequently Asked Questions
Where do you buy a stock tank?
Stock tanks can be purchased at your local feed stores or Tractor Supply company. If you are after a smaller stock tank like the one I used for the garden bed, you can get those at Home Depot and that fit in the back of our SUV.
How did you get the stock tank home?
A friend with a pickup truck helped us out. Stock tanks sit well on the frame of a truck bed and we strapped it down.
How much water does it hold and how did you fill it up?
Our 8ft tank holds 718 gallons of water, but they do come in different sizes. We filled it with the garden hose.
How did you set it up?
I have a detailed post on how we set up the stock tank pool.
How many people does it hold?
Our tank is the 8×2 ft depth option and we have had 4 adults in it comfortable. But it would be the perfect kiddie pool if you have a couple kids.
The full tutorial and FAQ on how we set the stock tank pool up and how we built the deck is now available!
Build it now so next summer you can lay poolside in the sun all day long!
I even added some hooks to the fence for our pool towels.
Shop The Look
Stock Tank | Flamingo Towel | Black & White Towels | Fun Pool Floats | Flamingo Drink Holders | Shark Fin Chlorine Dispenser | Sunglasses | Fedora Hat | Step Lights | String Lights | Lantern | Tall Planter | Wood Planter (similar) | Side Table | Decorative Pillows | Pool Pump | Intex Replacement Part Kit | Chlorine Tablets | Chlorine Test Strips | Pool Skimmer | 2.75 Inch Carbide Hole Saw
The full Stock Tank Pool Setup tutorial and the full Stock Tank Pool Deck Tutorial is available now!
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This post, DIY Small Backyard Stock Tank Pool Reveal, appeared first on Garrison Street Design Studio.
What a great idea! I love that the pool is big enough to cool off in but doesn’t take up the entire backyard. It’s just the right size for our yard. The video made it look so easy.
Thank you so much! The size was definitely a big appeal for us too 😊
Absolutely love it! My girlfriend and iI have been doing major indoor and outdoor renovations. Woodworking projects have been our favorite during the pandemic. What is the estimated all in cost? Excluding the wrap around deck.
Thanks again for sharing!
Thank you! Projects have kept us busy as well. We were able to do ours for under $500, but after May, the parts for the pool pump set up became very difficult to come by. We were able to buy the stock tank at a local farm supply store for $300. The pump was $100 plus some additional connectors.
This turned out so good! I’m getting ready to start this for next summer and am planning on painting it. How did your paint hold up through the summer?
Thank you so much Linda! I think it held up very well. I did wash it down with vinegar and water before painting it and used a foam roller. Like any painted metal it can definitely chip if its scraped though so I do not recommend painting the the top rim. Hope that helps 😉
Did you ever post about the deck instructions? I like how yours looks
Thank you! I have not shared a tutorial on the deck yet, but plan to before summer. Stay tuned 😉
What was the cost of the deck itself?
I just added a propane tankless heater to mine! Heats it to 104* in about three hours!
That sounds fabulous! I am not sure off the top of my head on the cost, but I will share that when I do the tutorial 😉
How would you winterize something like that? We live in Maryland where we get all four seasons. I love this idea!!!
This is our first winter with the pool and we are in Denver so we also get all four seasons as well. We drained the pool in the fall and disconnected the pump. The stock tank itself is meant to be outdoors to serve farm animals. Once the weather is warm enough, the plan is to reattach the pump and fill it back up.
Hi! Did you all put pea gravel under the tank? Did you have to do much leveling or add anything else under it to keep it level? (such as landscape bricks?) I love the way yours turned out!
Thank you! We did do a lot of leveling for beneath the pool as this area of our yard is not perfectly flat. We used paver base and sand to level it underneath. The pea gravel is only around the pool, not underneath it.
Hi! Did you all put some sort of paver brick under the tank before you back filled with pea gravel, or is it just on the ground? Love the way your setup turned out!! 🙂
Thank you so much 🙂 There are not pavers underneath the tank. It sits on the ground but we did do a lot of leveling with a tamper and added paver base and sand where needed. The pea gravel is only around the pool, not underneath.
What materials did you use for the pump? What size is the pump and what material did you use to cut a hole into the tank and keep it sealed. I love this idea and its perfect for me and hubby.
Thank you! I have linked several items in the post under “shop the look” including the pump and hole saw. I am working on a full tutorial, so stay tuned 😉