DIY Stock Tank Pool Ideas! Stay Cool! • The Budget Decorator (2024)

Is an Olympic size lap pool not in your budget? We get it. For summer fun in the backyard, try this easy stock tank pool project that uses supplies from the farm & ranch store.

Stock tank pools are the perfect plunge pool to cool off from the heat, yet take up very little space and don’t cost a lot to DIY. You can install them above ground, or dig them in. They don’t have to look like it came from a farm store, either!

People create wrap around decks, dedicated patios, and even waterfall fountains for them! Choose galvanized stock tank pools or plastic – poly as a liner for an in-ground version. Loving this fun idea!

DIY Stock Tank Pool Ideas! Stay Cool! • The Budget Decorator (1)

How Do I Make a DIY Stock Tank Pool? – Tips & Ideas!

So there are lots of ways you can go about setting up a stock tank pool. You can be as simple or complex as you want. Some people simply fill their tank with water and just drain and refill it as necessary. Others create a more traditional “pool” by adding pool pumps, filters and chlorine. These tutorials walk you through all different viewpoints. Worried about problems with your pool? Here are a couple of the most common concerns, and how you can deal with them.

Potential Problems & Solutions

Don’t these stock tank swimming pools breed mosquitos?

Any standing water can potentially breed mosquitos. You can either use a pump to keep water moving (they only breed in still water), cover the tank when not in use with mosquito netting, or use pool chemicals to control them.

Does the galvanized metal get hot and burn you?

Metal does get hot in the summer sun. Make sure you position your pool under afternoon shade. You can also cut a pool noodle in half lengthwise, then wrap onto the rim of the pool. This will keep you from getting burned when getting in or out of the pool. BTW, you can also buy stock tanks in a commercial plastic version instead of metal.

How do you prevent algae?

Once again, you have choices. Change your pool water frequently, or use pool filters and chemicals.

Do these look “trashy”?

We will let you make that judgement once you have scrolled down and not only looked through all the tutorials, but our Instagram inspiration as well! Our vote? Trendy, not trashy!

Where To Buy Stock Tanks to create your Pool

You have a few options depending on what size stock tank pool you want and where you are located. If you happen to have a farm supply store near you, that might be your best bet. Up until very recently, you used to be able to get some great deals on a couple versions from Amazon. But unfortunately they are not available on Amazon right now.

Your best bet now is to buy from Tractor Supply Co.They have locations all over the country. You can order online and do curbside pick up at the nearest store.If you want to do an in-ground plastic stock tank pool, TSC also carries those as well. But we have to say, we love the look of the above ground galvanized metal.

We also found a website – TankAndBarrel.com and they seem to have quite a few choices of steel round tanks and they do ship, but it looks like the freight costs are pretty spendy! They are located in Nebraska – so if you happen to be near them, I’m pretty sure you could pick up.

Again, many other farm supply stores may carry them as well.

Side note : If you are thinking all you want is a little water in the garden, check out our post on 14 Soothing DIY Garden Fountain Ideas over at TGG.

DIY Stock Tank Pool Ideas & Projects

Sunwoven Studio‘ starts us off with an easy primer on a simple stock tank pool idea. They painted theirs to make it look picture perfect, and it does! They also link to a video tutorial for easy installation.

DIY Stock Tank Pool Ideas! Stay Cool! • The Budget Decorator (2)

Stacey at ‘Embracing Motherhood‘ has the happiest kids on the block! They even have a video tutorial on how to make a galvanized stock tank pool!

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Katie and her husband from ‘Let’s Add Sprinkles‘ made this cute little oasis in their hot Texas garden for less than $300! Great DIY stock tank pool tutorial –they leveled the land and added decomposed granite for the pool “pad”. Can’t you see yourself soaking in this on a hot July afternoon?

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Jump on over to ‘Hey Wanderer’, and find out how to make a DIY stock tank pool hot tub! Yep. finally a DIY pool for grown ups!

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Marty from ‘A Stroll Through Life‘ was so inspired by the last tutorial from ‘Let’s Add Sprinkles’, that she and her family made their own DIY pool! Cool waterfall? No Hillbilly Hot Tub here!

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First of all, if you read our blogs regularly, you know we love the Palm Springs area. This galvanized stock tank pool is perfect for cooling off in the desert heat! This is one of the most complete tutorials we came across, with tons of great info. From ‘The Joshua Tree House‘. Need a hat like these 2 fashionistas? Check out Top Places To Find Stylish Hats For Womenon our sister site OhMeOhMy Blog.

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Sew and Tell Quilts‘ did an in-ground version of a DIY stock tank pool. This tutorial has lots of photos, and they also shared what went wrong to try to save you some headaches. Here is a great example of a plastic stock tank pool that actually looks very nice!

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This galvanized stock tank pool was made with gorgeous decking, from ‘Good Home Design‘. The tutorial is photos only, but there are tons of great tips in the comments of this post! Building it into a slope created a more “built in” pool feel, especially with the deck.

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Here is a stock tank pool done by ‘Hot Tub Advice‘ on Pinterest. No tutorial, but great inspiration on how to create your own little hideaway! (A cool one!) Love the privacy screen and the stepping stones leading right up to it. This makes it look like an important part of the landscaping, not an afterthought.

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This DIY stock tank pool idea was uploaded by Pinterest user Rebecca, and just goes to show what you can do with the tutorials you have already seen! Great inspiration!

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Another Pinterest user upload by Sara, this is cool copper DIY stock tank swimming pool!

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Stock Tank Pool Instagram Inspiration

So if you thought those tutorials were cool, wait until you check out these Instagrammers’ stock tank pools! Pure inspiration… Nothing “trashy” here! Lovin’ this!

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A post shared by @stonewayswimclub on

Casandra not only has this awesome DIY pool idea for us to check out, she also happens to have the coolest Etsy store, ‘Against the Grain‘. It’s all about handcrafted wood signs. Love the talent here!

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A post shared by Casandra Heeren (@casandraheeren) on

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A post shared by OliveEverly Blog (@oliveverly) on

Love the setting of this whole outdoor space with a gorgeous yellow paint job on this DIY stock tank pool to top it off!

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A post shared by Erin Barrett (@sunwoven) on

If you want an easy and inexpensive way to cool off this summer, try one of these DIY stock tank pool ideas! For the grown ups, try our post on 12 DIY Ideas for Patios, Porches and Decks. And if you want to keep the kids safe in the backyard when they aren’t in the pool, check out our post on DIY Wasp Traps on our sister site The Garden Glove, along with our post on Easy DIY Outdoor Firewood Racks and DIY Greenhouses. And don’t forget sunscreen – check out our post on how to make DIY safe & natural sunscreenon OhMeOhMy. Oh, almost forgot. You’ll need a stylish swimsuit! Check out ourCupshe Swimsuits Reviewand16 Sexy One Piece Swimsuit Styles For Summer also on OhMyOhMy.

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Image Credits: The Joshua Tree House, Embracing Motherhood, Hey Wanderer, A Stroll Through Life, Good Home Design, Pinterest, Pinterest, Pinterest

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure for more info.

As an expert and enthusiast, I have access to a vast amount of information on various topics, including DIY projects like stock tank pools. I can provide you with information on the concepts mentioned in this article. Let's dive in!

Stock Tank Pools

A stock tank pool is a type of pool that can be easily set up in your backyard using supplies from a farm and ranch store. These pools are a popular choice for summer fun as they are affordable, take up little space, and can be customized to fit your style and preferences. They can be installed above ground or dug into the ground [[1]].

DIY Stock Tank Pool

Setting up a DIY stock tank pool can be as simple or complex as you want it to be. Some people choose to fill the tank with water and drain and refill it as needed, while others opt for a more traditional pool setup with pumps, filters, and chlorine [[1]].

Common Concerns and Solutions

The article addresses a few common concerns related to stock tank pools:

  1. Mosquitoes: Any standing water can potentially breed mosquitoes. To prevent this, you can use a pump to keep the water moving, cover the tank with mosquito netting when not in use, or use pool chemicals to control them [[2]].

  2. Hot Metal: Galvanized metal can get hot in the summer sun. To prevent burns, it is recommended to position the pool under afternoon shade or use pool noodles wrapped around the rim of the pool [[3]].

  3. Algae: To prevent algae growth, you can either change the pool water frequently or use pool filters and chemicals [[4]].

  4. Aesthetics: Stock tank pools can be customized to fit your desired look. People often create wrap-around decks, dedicated patios, or even waterfall fountains to enhance the appearance of the pool [[1]].

Where to Buy Stock Tanks

If you're interested in purchasing a stock tank for your DIY pool project, there are a few options available:

  • Tractor Supply Co: Tractor Supply Co is a farm supply store that carries stock tanks. They have locations all over the country, and you can order online for curbside pickup [[5]].

  • TankAndBarrel.com: TankAndBarrel.com is a website that offers a variety of steel round tanks. They do ship, but freight costs may apply [[5]].

  • Local Farm Supply Stores: Many other farm supply stores may also carry stock tanks [[5]].

DIY Stock Tank Pool Ideas & Projects

The article also provides several DIY stock tank pool ideas and projects. It features various tutorials and examples from different sources, including blogs and Instagram accounts. These resources offer step-by-step instructions, photos, and inspiration for creating your own stock tank pool [[6]].

Please note that the information provided here is a summary of the concepts mentioned in this article. For more detailed instructions and visuals, I recommend referring to the original article and the specific tutorials and examples mentioned.

Let me know if there's anything else I can assist you with!

DIY Stock Tank Pool Ideas! Stay Cool! • The Budget Decorator (2024)
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