Stock Tank Pool

As we get moving into summer, it's time to get our stock tank pool ready for its active season!  It's our third year with the stock tank, and we have a pretty nice set up for some extra summer fun in the super-hot months here in MN.  It came in really handy last summer when we were between HVAC systems, and I've definitely dipped in between outdoor projects.

Overall, this is a fairly inexpensive backyard addition that is far lower in maintenance than a lot of other choices.  Plus, the size is great for lounging, and it is generally a great place to introduce swimming to little ones.  Our two-year-olds have used it the past two summers with and without different floats, and the nine-year-olds live it as a place to play.

Initial Set Up

​One of the benefits of using a stock tank over a plastic pool: initial set up only needs to be done once.  We did this as part of the One Room Challenge back in 2021, so we distributed part of the cost into that overall project.  The biggest struggle was getting the ground perfectly level so we had a place to put the tank.  I inherited my grandpa's 6' framing level, so that made it a much easier process, and we bought some Class 5 limestone from the stone yard, and had it delivered to our house.  I ordered two yards, but I probably only used 1/2 a yard for this part of that project.

Then we just rolled the tank in and set it down!  Since we use chlorine to keep our water clear and healthy for swimmers, I decided to line the tank with a vinyl pool liner.  Chlorine tablets or pool shock can damage the galvanized coating on tanks and lead to rust.  The liner adds an extra layer of protection.  I added an inch or so of water to help lay the liner down, and while there is a wrinkle or two, it's set up pretty well.  Then I wrapped the extra over the side, cut the excess (since liners come for 4' tall pools), and taped it in place with gray flex tape.  Over three years, that's held up with very few problems.  Then I used pipe insulation to soften the edge.  For other colors, pool noodles also work, but these are already split. 

Keep It Clean

Once it was full, it was ready for swimming.  These tanks hold about 700 gallons, so measuring any chlorine or algaecide should reflect that.  We decided to use 1" chlorine tablets with a tablet holder so the chlorine can slowly dissolve into the pool and refilling is made simple.  If the tablets are almost completely dissolved, it's time to refill!

For filtration, we use a sand filter designed for above-ground pools.  This one can support up to 5000 gallons, so we know we're in pretty good shape with keeping debris cleaned up.  Some set ups involve drilling into the pool to add filtration through the pool wall.  I decided against that, because I wanted to this tank to have multiple options for when it is no longer a pool.  Instead, I bought sink drains from the hardware store, and use a hose to create a siphon for water to exit the pool into the filter: a trick from my aquarium-maintenance days.  

Then we have a few other pieces of equipment to help us get the pool crystal clear that most pool folks have: a skimmer, a vacuum, and a scrub brush.  The skimmer is really helpful just to get bits out of the pool as they enter, the vacuum clears gunk that has sunk to the bottom, and the scrub brush helps to keep any algae from forming on the sides.

New Season Set Up

Since we live in MN, our set up for the new season is a little more involved than other parts of the country.  With a hard-freeze that can last months, leaving equipment in use during our winters would easily fry the pump, and the expansion of ice can tear through a pool cover without a second thought.
So, as soon as temps turn cold, we mostly empty the pool and give everything a really good cleaning. We disconnect and drain the filter using the drain plug on the bottom of the sand chamber. Once we start to get frosty, we ditch the cover so it doesn't get shredded by snow loads.

Getting things set up for the season really is this process in reverse, but over a much longer time period. Once ice is out -sometimes assisted by kids breaking up the ice-carousel- we start scooping any debris that may be in the pool: mostly leaves. I let the ice melt and keep that water in the pool, knowing I can treat it.  I start adding algaecide as soon as the ice is out, and as leaf-debris gets smaller, I start using my stick vacuum to get the smaller bits.  It doesn't do great with algae, but this makes it easier once the filter gets going.

Filtration Set Up

In the winter, the pool pump power cord moves to the chicken coop, so after the last freeze is gone -around the beginning of May- I move the power from the heated waterer to the pool pump and get that up and running.  Since our filter is set with S-traps, this is also when I top the pool off with fresh hose water.  The intake is made from two pipes for an S-trap, and for the initial set-up, I need to access the J-bend in order to establish the siphon. So, we top off the pool, put the hose into the top of the J-bend while it's on, and start the pump.  Once water is flowing back into the pool, the filter is good to go!

Checking the label on our algaecide bottle, I then figure out how much I need for the 700 gallons I do have (remember cross-multiplying?). It turns out, it's around 3/4 cup for the initial dose, and 2.5 oz a week afterward for the running season.  I then pack in chlorine tabs in the holder to shock the pool, and add no more until these are fully dissolved.  The rest of the season, these go in one at a time.  

The first couple weeks are a quick vacuum with the stick vac and a scoop with the skimmer daily.  I also run my scrub brush over everything to knock any grime loose for the filter to remove once or twice a week.  The first week, the pool goes from green to cloudy, the second it goes from cloudy to clear.  If the "clear" part doesn't seem like it's happening, a little clarifier goes a long way, or leaving the pool cover off on a sunny day can help re-balance the chlorine.

Despite how long this post is getting, it's not a very hard system to run.  It just needs different things at different times.  Getting it into maintenance-mode makes everything really simple and completely worth the 5-minute efforts in the early weeks. 

Materials List

• Stock Tank: Tractor Supply $600
• Vinyl Pool Liner: Leslie's Pool Supply $165 
• Flex Tape: Menards $45 
• Pipe Insulation: Menards $1.50 each (need 4) 
• Sand Filter: Doheny's Pool Supply $220 
• 50 lbs Pool Filter Sand: Menards $9 
• J-bend: Menards $4 (need 2) 
• 20" Plastic Extension Tube: Menards $4 (need 2) 
• 6" Plastic Sink Tailpiece: Menards $2.50 (need 2) 
• Skimmer Parts:
  Leaf Rake: Menards $16 
  Pole: Menards $23
• Pool Vacuum: Menards $36 
• Scrub Brush: Menards $10 (Not the one I have, because mine is very old from college)
• Chlorine Dispenser: Menards $7 
• Chlorine Tabs: Menards $63 
• Algaecide: Menards $7 
• Test Strips: Menards $11 
• Clarifier: Menards $6 

Total Cost, excluding tax (rounded slightly up): $1245

Accessories

• Kids Fruit Pool Float Tube: Target $3 
• Toypedo Bandits: Target $5 
• 14" Classic Beach Ball: Target $1.50 
• Swim Goggles: Target $17 (3-pack) 
• Pool Lights: Amazon $15 
• Pool Cover: Amazon $32 
• "2 FT" "No Diving" Stickers: Stock Tank Pool Authority $25 
• Flamingo Can Coasters: Amazon $8 

Accessories Cost: $110