I wanted to share with y’all how we made our stock tank pool, i.e; garden pool, soaking pool, adult kiddie pool, hillbilly hot tub, whatever you wanna call it! There weren’t many tutorials on how to do this when we wanted to build ours, so I hope this helps some folks out!
It’s Frickin’ Hot
We live in the South, so we knew the summers were going to be hot. We usually go to the beach, A LOT, but last year we were still building the chicken coop later in the year than we hoped, and we wanted to cool off! We want to build a real pool someday, but with a historic fixer-upper farmhouse needing upgrades and items fixed on a monthly basis, it’s just not gonna happen for maybe a decade, so onto plan B!
Plan B
We frequent tractor supply on a weekly basis because we have farm animals, (goats and chickens), and that’s where we get their feed. We have seen the large stock tanks there when we visit and I had seen them turned into a pool on a few occasions, but never “nicely done”, really just plopped on the ground in a yard for kids, dumped out on a weekly basis, like a kiddie pool. Then, tractor supply came out with an article, click here, on turning them into actual pools. They took some pictures of a couple that were nicely done in gardens with twinkle lights and had pool pumps, drains, and chlorine. Now that I could envision! So I searched Pinterest and Instagram like a mad woman trying to find exactly how to do it, what I wanted it to look like, and we were sold!
Feeling Inspired
So after taking in all that information, which wasn’t much, this is what we did to make our stock tank pool dreams come to life! We decided to get a 6ft x 2ft stock tank, because it is just the two of us 90% of the time, and the area we wanted to put it was not large. It is plenty of space for 2-3 people and can fit 4 people max. This is the smallest size they carry in the round tanks. The largest I believe is 12ft x 2ft.
How to Make a Stock Tank Pool
Supplies (Click on the item to buy the product we used)
- Stock Tank Pool-(from Tractor Supply)
- Above Ground Pool Pump
- Pool Filters-(change once a month)
- Hose ON/OFF Valve
- Plumbers Glue
- Hose Clamps-(size to fit your pump hoses)
- Waterproof Silicone
- Metal Hole Saw Kit
- Chlorine Floater
- Chlorine
- Pool Net
- Pool Cover
Step 1-Buy a Stock Tank! Our tractor supply rents trailers for $15 per hour, so we rented it and brought it home!
Step 2-Level out the area with sand or dirt, we did dirt because we were lazy, sorry just being real with y’all! But sand is preferred.
Step 3-While it is empty set it on your leveled area, place a piece of wood on top from one end to the other and place a leveler on the wood. Step in the pool to weigh it down and then adjust the dirt or sand to make it as level as possible.
Step 4-Now you need to cut holes in the pool for your pool pump with the hole saw. The pool pump has one hose to suck out water, and one hose to bring the water back into the pool. We decided to use our hose that brought the water back in as a water feature. We had an antique cast iron pump from our well that we wanted to use. So if you want to use yours as a water feature, only cut one hole! This also aerates your water, bonus! So to do this first find out the exact size of your hose and match that with the metal hole saw cutter attachment. Measure twice, cut once! Very important or you will have leaks!!!
Step 5-Put the hole in the backside of the pool, where the hose would naturally reach it. Make the cut. This is the hardest part, it takes a lot of pressure to cut through the metal but don’t give up, you will get through!
Step 6-Now cover both ends with plumbers putty and insert into the hole, attach, and let dry. The hose clamps that came with our pool pump were cheaply made, so we replaced them with the metal ones seen here.
Step 7-Silicone the edges.
Step 8-Twist off the drain plug that is on your pool, and replace it with an ON/OFF Hose Valve. This will make it easier for you to drain the pool if you ever need to.
Step 9-Fill the pool!!! Check for leaks as it fills. If it has a leak, drain it a little, dry with towel, and silicone again. Once it fills past the hose for your pump, turn the pump on and test to make sure it works. Make sure to follow instructions to the pool pump you purchase.
Step 10-Add chlorine. We use 2-3 mini chlorine tablets once a week.
Step 11-Take a dip!
Maintenance
As I stated in Step 10, we add 2-3 mini chlorine tablets once a week, and then we net the pool every/ every other morning while the goats graze, takes 1-2 minutes. Our pool is under a massive White Oak Tree, so I should put the cover on, but I like seeing the water! We run our pool pump for at least a couple hours a day, some days not at all, and it stays really clean and clear! The pump we purchased doesn’t take much electricity at all and says to change the filter on a weekly basis, but that’s for a larger size pool, so we do it every month. I plan to get a timer and just set that up soon also. It honestly is really easy to take care of! We ended up draining it in the winter just so we didn’t have to maintain it in the cold for now. I do plan on purchasing a vacuum however because the filter has a hard time getting sand and small particles that sink to the bottom. We will be purchasing this one soon, click here!
Why We Love It
We so far have LOVED having our stock tank pool! It is the perfect height to sit in and have sthe water be right at your shoulders, you can stretch out and float if you want to too! We use it at least once a week during the warm months, and we take out our cooler of beer, some music, and relax in our “garden pool” as I like to call it. It is next barn and coop so we watch our farm animals and dogs run around and play. We have lots of trees for privacy and added some fruit trees and a pergola so it has become our little vacation in the yard! My husband plans to build a deck where the water feature is to permanently attach it, and also to sit on and put your feet in, set a beer on, or sunbathe! I also plan to plant some cute plants around it, add a place to hang towels, and an area to wash our feet off. And the best part to come…we have plans to turn it into a hot tub in the winter time! We have seen some tutorials on making a pool heater. So stay tuned for our take on that later in the year!
Mahalo for reading and please let us know if you have any questions we would be happy to answer them in the comments below!!
Leah says
Ahhh!!!! Yes this is so much cuter than just a “kiddie pool for adults”! We are finishing a new build on an old farm, so adding an in ground pool didn’t fit the old farm look we are wanting to preserve. But.!!…this would give us a way to cool off without digging a huge permanent hole! Thanks so much for the tutorial!
Hannah says
How did you connect the hand pump to the pool pump? I am wanting to do the same thing
Jenna Panehal-Pelayo says
We just used a landscaping pipe and a pipe tightener and ran it through the hand pump
pamela says
i wanted to know how you connect the hose to the cast iron pump you have i like that idea thank you
Jenna Panehal-Pelayo says
Hi Pamela! All we did was run the output hose from the pool filter up the antique pump and it just sits inside. We did use some epoxy glue to hold it in place. Depending on the pool filter you buy, you may have to buy an extended hose type material from the hardware store to fit it up your antique pump depending on its size, etc.
Patience Mabin says
Did the 8-foot pool cover you listed fit the 6 x 2 stock tank?? I am putting mine in this weekend and want to get a cover that fits!! Thank you!
Jenna Panehal-Pelayo says
Hi Patience! The 8ft pool cover does fit over the 6ft pool it just hangs off the edge! I know someone who also bought the solar cover that helps warm the pool and cut that to size which worked great also!
Tina says
My husband and I also have a stock tank pool! We got it late in the season last year from tractor supply. We enjoyed it immensely.
This year we decided to “up or game”. We primed it and followed up with pool paint. We added glitter and skid resistant to the pool paint which turned out to be awesome!
My husband also installed an outdoor tankless propane heater to the side of the benches he built to go 1/3 of the way around.
We are loving the results and expect it to last many years to come!
Jenna Panehal-Pelayo says
that’s awesome!! what kind of paint was it?? It had glitter? I WANT! I also NEED to know how you did the heater! We really want to do that! We love ours!
erin says
Hi,
I’m wondering how this has held up regarding rust? I am thinking of doing the same project and am undecided about painting the metal to prevent rust. thanks!
Jenna Panehal-Pelayo says
I would wait until you have rust to paint it. We didn’t have rust for 3 years and it only happened when I put too much chlorine. The paint is hard to maintain, it would be better to store the tub or turn it over in the winter that’s when the paint gets yucky for me. I am going to buy a cover for next winter. For now I repaint it every spring.
Jess says
Hello, this is a great tutorial thanks for sharing!! Did you ever convert to a stock tank hot tub?? Dying to see!!
Jenna says
We havn’t yet! I want to so bad but just havn’t had the time!