Build Your Own Stock Tank Pool!
Difficulty Level: Beginner to Moderate
Time To Build: About 3 Days
I had a blast creating this DIY stock tank pool with a fully functioning filter. With young kids at home, hot summer days, an honest grudge against the look of an above ground pool, and cost of an in ground pool, I decided to build my own. To beat the summer heat I wanted something that I and my kids would enjoy while being low maintenance and long lasting. This stock tank pool is all of those things and I am really excited how it turned out! Stock tanks come in 6’ and 8’ diameters and I would highly recommend getting the 8’ diameter option even though the upfront cost is more. 2-4 adults and 2-4 kids can easily lounge in that space with room for more. Either size tank is 2’ deep so you can easily sit and rest your arms on the poolside, grab a drink. It’s perfect.
I can’t guarantee that your pool will come out or look the same as ours, but I can provide you with instructions on how I created ours.
Materials
- 8ft Diameter Stock Tank – $600
- Plunger Valves – $29
- Intex 1500 GPH Filter Pump – $120
- Outlet Adapter – $38
- Leveling Sand (10 Bags) – $35
Tools
- Drill
- Tape Measure
- 2 3/4″ Hole Saw
- PVC Tape(Recommended)
- Metal File
- Various Shovels and Metal Rakes
- Level (Preferably 4ft long)
- Tamper
- Hose with access to water
- Stake and String/rope (Optional)
Click on the words in GREEN for links to each product. If you have any questions about the tools required just ask in the comments!
add-ons
Chlorine Float – $20
Pool noodles – $22
25 lbs of Chlorine Tablets – $150
Instructions
If you know you are going to make this pool, start looking for a tank NOW and find a way to transport it. The only place I was abIe to find a stock tank was Tractor Supply but you may have a similar farm/feed store in your area that may carry them. It did take me a few months before i was able to purchase one due to demands. I know the cost is pricey but this tank should last a long long time. I do not have a truck so for $19 and 75 minutes I rented a flat bed truck from Home Depot. I used 3 ratchet straps to secure the pool to the truck bed and took it easy on the drive home. The best way to move the tank too and from the truck is by rolling it on its side. It is not that heavy and should be easily managed with 2 people. (I forgot to take pictures of this part).
Once you have the tank, or while you are looking for one, determine where you want to place your pool. Think hard about this because with the amount of work you are going to put in, it is going to be fairly permanent….but you can obviously move it if desired. A big factor for us was where our outdoor outlet was placed in order to plug in the pool pump. The filter electric cord is pretty long but you may want to purchase that too just to ensure it will reach your desired location before you settle on the final position.
Once you locate your position, mark out a circle that is 8.5’ in diameter, or 6.5’ in diameter if you purchased the smaller tank option. The extra ½ a foot gives space for working and ensuring the pool is level. I used a stake and a string to mark out a perfect circle. Put the stake in the middle of the location, tie the string around it and pull the string and measure 4 ft 3 inches out. Take another stake or stick and secure it at that distance and then drag it on the the ground using the stake as the center point to make a perfect circle. You can use marking paint for this as well.
Once the circle is marked out, it’s time to make it level. This is where your shovel and level come in. This step is arguable the most important part. the tank MUST be level for it to last as long as it should and for the filter to work properly. If you have any grass in the location I would remove it to minimize settling which could make the pool un-level. Either way, dig down at least 1″ so there is room to add the leveling sand.
5. Once you have a level soil circle, it’s time to put down the leveling sand. This is where actually digging into the soil in the previous step becomes useful, because the leveling sand is going to be about 1” thick. For this, spread the 10 bags of leveling sand out over the area and make it nice and flat. I used a 2×4 but you can also use a long broom handle or other long smooth surface. Once you have it flat, check and ensure it is level then spray it down with water. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions on the leveling sand and compact it down with the tamper. This step is most likely going to take multiple iterations of spraying water and compacting until you can walk on the sand without leaving a footprint(Use your discretion on this one). Once you are sure its compacted and level, leave the sand overnight to dry.
6. Its the next day and your area is ready for the tank! Roll the tank into place and check for level again, inside the pool, if it’s good it’s time to break out the drill and the pool filter if you haven’t already.
7. Open up your pool filter and get all the hoses and fittings out. Follow the instructions in your box and assemble the pump to see what everything will look like once it is set up, and you can see how far the tubes for the pump suction and discharge can go. We are going to drill 2 holes into the stock tank, one for the pump suction and one for the outlet. The suction wants to be near the bottom of the pool but not all the way down to prevent the pool from completely draining if there was a leak, and keep the pump running properly. The outlet wants to be near the top of the water and preferable partially submerged. The farther away the inlet and outlet are the better water circulation you will get. Take the inlet and outlet nozzles and make sure to find a place on the tank that is flat and does not have any ridges so the gasket will make good contact with the metal for a tight seal. You can trace the fittings to make sure the whole seal stays on a flat surface.
8. Now it’s time to make the two holes. You know what they always say, measure twice, cut once. You cant make the hole smaller so be sure everything is in the right place before you start. I marked the center where I wanted to make the hole and then went slow the with hole saw. Take your drill and your 2 3/4“ hole saw and make your two holes. I would drill from the outside of the pool because most of the metal shavings fall in and you can more easily collect them. WEAR GLASSES FOR THIS. Once your two holes are cut, use your metal file to smooth out the cut and get rid of any sharp edges. This is VERY important to ensure the gaskets make a tight seal.
9. Now’s the fun part! You’re ready to assemble. Install the suction adapter that was purchase separately from the pump in the bottom hole and the outlet adapter that came with the pump in the top hole. The gaskets for both should be on the inside of the pool. Make sure everything is snug HAND tight. Do not use any tools as it is not necessary as long as the gasket is sitting properly(you could damage the parts). Once the fittings are in the holes, install the plunger valves that were purchased separately and make sure they are open, or unlocked as the valve indicator positions on the valve itself. These make it alot easier to clean the filter, you simply shut them(or put them in the lock position) before cleaning. Install everything else per the Intex pool pump instructions and then it’s time to fill the pool and do a leak test.
10. Double check all your fittings are hand tight and then start filling. I would recommend filling to a line below either filter hole and let the water sit overnight just to ensure there are no leaks in the tank itself. After this is done you can start filling past the suction and then the outlet adapter. If you see any leaks, turn the water off and make sure the seal is tight. DO NOT run the filter until you ensure there are no leaks and it is completely full of water. Tighten the fittings more by hand if necessary during this process.
11. Now that your tank is filled, make sure the filter is full of water, the valves are in the open (or unlocked) position, start it up and enjoy your brand new pool!
Bonus: we picked up some pool noodles and cut them down the middle and fit them around the edge of the pool, it broke up the shine of the metal and made it much more comfortable for lounging.
I hope you love this build as much as I did and feel free to leave comments and ask questions here, or on our social media post for more information.
Happy building,
Phil,
Disclaimer: ENT is not responsible for any damage or injuries that occur while you follow these instructions, all liability is on the person(s) performing the build itself. As an Amazon, Home Depot, and Tractor Supply affiliate I may receive a commission on qualifying purchases but this has no affect on the cost to you! Think of this as a way of supporting the creation of these free instructions, and Earth, Nails and Tails.
