A person in a hat relaxes in a backyard pool, resting their arms on the edge. The scene includes colorful towels, potted plants, and pool toys. Wooden steps lead to the pool, and a wooden fence surrounds the yard.
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DIY Stock Tank Pool

ByLisa
18 Comments

You guys!!! We got a pool, a Stock Tank Pool to be exact! 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 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?

A backyard oasis with a woman in a straw hat relaxing in a stock tank pool, surrounded by vibrant towels, a beach ball, and lush potted plants. The wooden deck and fence complete this inviting DIY stock tank pool setup.

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DIY Stock Tank Pool

Some of you might be wondering, what the heck?! So let me explain. 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 pool to cool off in and just hang out. So when I stumbled upon this idea, 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!

A silver pickup truck with "4x4" decals is parked on a dirt road, featuring rugged tires and a large metal stock tank pool strapped onto its bed. A blue strap secures the tank under an overcast sky, emphasizing its practicality and readiness for adventure.

A woman with long hair, wearing sunglasses and a patterned shirt, smiles and points upwards. She stands in front of a large, round metal stock tank pool, with green trees in the background.

So what is a stock tank pool? Stock tanks are traditionally used as a water source for livestock but folks have been turning them into pools for decades. They have also been referred to as hillbilly pools, but we took ours to a whole new level! 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 an above ground pool. Also, we really didn’t want something large that would take up our whole yard. 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.

A cozy patio scene features four Adirondack chairs around a stone fire pit on a gravel square. Two side tables hold potted plants and decorative items. A large tree with blooming flowers and a wooden fence provide a charming backdrop, with grass surrounding the backyard area.

I am sure many of you are also wondering about sitting water and breeding mosquitoes. Have no fear, our stock tank is super fancy and has a pool pump and filter and chlorine! 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, leveling out a spot, building the 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.

Before and after images showcase a stock tank pool transformation. The "before" picture presents a plain metal tank on gravel, while the "after" image reveals a beautifully decorated pool complete with wooden steps, lush plants, towels, and stylish pool accessories.

 

Now all we have left to do is soak up some rays and enjoy our own little backyard oasis! And how cute are our new pool floats?! The unicorn is mine and the llama is Barry’s.

In the backyard, a stock tank pool is adorned with inflatable unicorn floats. Wooden steps lead up to the pool, surrounded by colorful towels, potted plants, and decorative flowers. A fence and lush greenery provide a charming backdrop to this idyllic retreat.

A backyard scene features a round stock tank pool surrounded by wooden decking and pebbles. Towels and cushions with black and white stripes hang on the fence. A colorful beach ball floats in the water, while potted plants and a lantern add charm to the area.

Patio with two dark Adirondack chairs and patterned cushions, facing a stylish stock tank pool. A small table holds a potted plant, with a bucket of canned drinks on the ground. Colorful pool toys are visible, and a wooden fence encloses the area.

Two gray Adirondack chairs with patterned cushions sit on a gravel area. Between them is a turquoise table holding a potted plant. A small lantern and bucket with drinks rest on the ground, next to a stock tank pool, all set against a wooden fence backdrop.

A cozy backyard scene featuring a charming stock tank pool with a wooden deck. Striped black and white pillows and towels are placed around the pool. A fence and green trees provide privacy. Drinks and a flower rest on the deck, enhancing the relaxing atmosphere.

The full tutorial and FAQ on how we set the stock tank pool up and how we built the deck is now available! 

A cozy outdoor setting features a striped black and white pillow by the stock tank pool. A tray holds three pink drinks with ice and a small dish of lime wedges. A potted plant sits in the background, next to a wooden fence adorned with string lights.

Three beach towels hang on a wooden fence near a vibrant stock tank pool in a garden. The left and right towels feature black and white stripes, while the middle towel showcases a colorful watermelon design. Lush greenery surrounds the serene oasis.

A small garden space features a black lantern on gravel, a tall black planter with yellow flowers, and a gray planter on a wooden stand filled with colorful blossoms. A charming stock tank pool adds to the ambiance, while wooden seating and a fence complete the picturesque backdrop.

A round, stock tank pool with clear blue water stands on a gravel surface. Three striped towels hang on a wooden fence in the background. A colorful beach ball and a small pink toy float gently in the water. Two striped cushions rest invitingly on a nearby bench.

A stock tank pool with wooden steps and deck is bordered by a fence. Towels hang on the fence, and colorful balloons, potted plants, and a pink flamingo float are around the pool. The area is covered with gravel.

Shop The Look

Stock Tank | Flamingo Towel | Black & White Towels | Unicorn & Llama Pool Floats | Flamingo Drink Holders | Shark Fin Chlorine Dispenser | Sunglasses | Fedora Hat | Step Lights | String Lights | Lantern | Tall Planter | Wood Planter (similar) | Side Table | Pillows | Pool Pump | Inlet Air Jet Kit |  Chlorine Tablets | Chlorine Test Strips | Pool Skimmer | Hole Saw 

The full Stock Tank Pool Setup tutorial and the full Stock Tank Pool Deck Tutorial is  available now!

If you enjoyed my DIY Stock Tank Pool, please share it on Facebook or hover over an image and save to Pinterest! And if you don’t already follow me on Instagram, Pinterest, or Facebook, I would love for us to be friends!

A woman in a sunhat leans on the edge of a cozy stock tank pool, smiling. The area is surrounded by gravel, with colorful towels and a beach ball in the background. Potted flowers and inflatable flamingos add charm, while a wooden fence encloses this picturesque scene.

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In a charming backyard scene, a stock tank pool is nestled within a wooden deck adorned with various potted plants. Nearby, a colorful beach ball and black-and-white striped towel add a playful touch, while a wooden fence and lush greenery provide the perfect backdrop for this DIY oasis.

This post, DIY Stock Tank Pool, appeared first on Garrison Street Design Studio.

18 Comments

  1. 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.

    Reply

  2. 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!

    Reply

    1. 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.

      Reply

  3. 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?

    Reply

    1. 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 😉

      Reply

  5. 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!

    Reply

    1. 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 😉

      Reply

  6. How would you winterize something like that? We live in Maryland where we get all four seasons. I love this idea!!!

    Reply

    1. 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.

      Reply

  7. 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!

    Reply

    1. 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.

      Reply

  8. 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!! 🙂

    Reply

    1. 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.

      Reply

  9. 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.

    Reply

    1. 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 😉

      Reply

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