FAQs
Can I use a pool liner?
Yes, you can. I have seen several people do this. We haven’t found a pool liner that’s our flavor so that’s one of the reasons why we haven’t used one.
Why don't you just get an above ground pool?
That is what we first considered but we really don't like the look of above ground pools. We could actually get a bigger pool for less money than the stock tank pool, but ultimately we love the look of the stock tank. It's perfect for what we need- all we really want is to be able to dip in and cool off. Also, our pool already exists so we won't be going back in time and using an above ground pool. If you don't mind the bright blue color and the size of the above ground pool, maybe that choice would be better for you. I will say that we read that above ground pools usually last about three years, but a stock tank can last well over 10 if you take care of it. Again, I'm no expert so I can't say any of this for sure. These are just the reasons behind our choice!
Can you make it a hot tub?
Yes. We have a video here and here about doing that. One thing that no one will tell you though is that metal stock tanks are horrible at retaining heat. So you’ve got to insulate and cover your tank to help retain the heat. We wrapped reflectix and a carpet pad around our tank. You can put something else like fabric on top to hide the carpet pad. You can see what that looks like here. You can either get a cover for your pool or even just throw a tarp over it to help hold in the heat.
Will chlorine cause rust?
Eventually yes. We actually have rust for the first time on our pool this season (season 3). We believe this was because of an accident and not standard. We have some friends on year 5 who have never had rust. We are exploring our options for how to fix this and will update this with our solution when we do it. Plenty of people have commented and told us that chlorine will cause rust and we shouldn't use it. The truth is the stock tank will rust with time even with regular water with no chemicals or salt in it. The goal is to catch it in the beginning and fix the problem before it spreads. We are now to the point where we are managing our rust problem.
How long will this last?
There is no definite answer to this. I've read about people using theirs for 10+ years and we are on year 5. Hopefully we will get many more years out of it!
Why don't you get a poly pool?
Much like the answer to #2. We really don't like the look of the poly pools. I have seen some people build decks around theres and it looks nice.
How big is it? How many adults fit in at one time?
In general, the 8ft can fit 8 adults, 9ft = 9 adults, and 10ft= 10 adults. Of course the size of the adults matter but they fit a lot more than you would think. You can fit 2 adults on most floats in the 8’ and 9’ tanks and 3 adult floats in a 10’.
Does the metal get hot?
No. We live in Nashville, TN and it gets over 100 degrees in the summer. We have never experienced the pool ever being too hot to touch.
Does the water get really hot?
No. The water will sometimes get to a temperature that is like lukewarm bathwater and we will just add a little fresh water from the hose to cool it off. You can also dump a bag of ice in there if your water is too warm. But 95% of the days we use our pool, the temperature is just fine, and even a little cool when you first get in.
Will it rust?
Eventually yes. We actually have rust for the first time on our pool this season (season 3). This happened because of an unfortunate accident. A chlorine tablet ended up on the floor of our pool and stayed there long enough to cause rust (it doesn't take long). The good news is, we have friends on year 5 who have never had rust. We are exploring our options for how to fix this and will update this with our solution when we do it. Plenty of people have commented and told us that chlorine will cause rust and we shouldn't use it. The truth is the stock tank will rust with time even with regular water with no chemicals or salt in it. The goal is to catch it in the beginning and fix the problem before it spreads. We are now to the point where we are managing our rust problem. We will eventually replace the pool. One of the best things you can do is to keep your chlorine levels balanced and not too high. It's important to regularly test your water, because too much chlorine will cause your pool to rust sooner.
Do I have to use chlorine?
Not necessarily, but after extensive research and looking at all of the options we feel chlorine is the best choice. We choose to use chlorine to keep the water clean and low maintenance.
Where can I buy a stock tank?
We sell tanks 8’, 9’ and 10’ tanks in DFW, Austin, San Antonio, and Houston, Texas. Click here to shop those tanks.
Don’t live there? Check out this blog post.
Will you build one for me?
We offer installation service for the following areas- In Texas: DFW, Austin, Houston, San Antonio, and we also install in the Nashville, TN area.
We do not offer installation services anywhere else at this time.
Can I make this with saltwater?
Technically yes you can. Our DIY tutorial uses a different pump, so you will have to figure out how to attach the salt water pump to your stock tank, but yes, it can be done. Saltwater is pretty corrosive to metal and therefore do not recommend this option.
How big is your stock tank pool?
Ours is 8ft by 2 ft and it holds approximately 700 gallons. Another common size is the 6 foot one and you might be able to find a 10 foot, but the most common size is 8ft. To my knowledge you cannot find a deeper size in the galvanized metal version. There are poly tanks that are a little deeper at 28 inches.
Can you paint it? How do you paint it?
Yes. We painted the outside of our tank with Plasti Dip and you can watch that video here. There are very few paints that can be painted on the inside of the pool and the only one we know of is a product called Pond Shield. We have not have the opportunity to use this ourselves but know several people have had good results. Pond Shield is one of the only paints that is able to be continuously underwater.
How much does it cost?
This is no longer a straightforward answer. The events of 2020 changed everything and made stock tank pools very popular. We watched the pool pump prices skyrocket and they only came down a little in the off season. The pumps can range from $80-$500. Tank prices vary as well. We sell a higher quality tank than what most big box stores carry and our tanks start at $520. Big box stores sell tanks starting at $350 and this depends on where you live. Check our supply list here and you can see what the cost of everything is.
Can I buy one in my country?
Someone people ask where they can find a stock tank in another country. We unfortunately have no idea where they can be found in other countries. Check this blog post on how to look for these on the internet.
There is a part missing from your supply list. Where can I get it?
If there is a part in our list of something that is out of stock, just copy the title of the product and search Amazon, or just google, for the name of the product. We will try to update our list when things are out of stock, so check back periodically. I've also heard that Walmart sell these parts.
How do you winterize the pool?
Check out this blog post here.
What cover do you use?
What cover do you use?
There are a couple options. Here is an 8ft pool cover that we use. Several of our IG followers use this furniture cover that can cover the pool entirely. Here is a DIY option.
How much chlorine do you use?
We use 3 tablets in our dispenser about every 3-4 days. But we have to keep an eye on it because sometimes it dissolves faster, and sometimes it sticks around for longer. It depends on your water, how clean it is, and the sun, etc. Watch our video on how to keep your water clean here.
How do you clean the pool?
We made a whole video about the things we do to keep our pool clean! Watch it here.
How do you drain the pool?
There are a few ways to drain your pool. Check out our videos on that topic here.
Are mosquitoes a problem?
No! Thank goodness. The pump moves the water around and it is chlorinated. Those suckers can't survive and will not thrive in your pool!
Does the pump run all the time?
No. We run our pump 2 hours a day and that keeps our pool water clean and clear. When we have had more high usage of the pool, we've upped that to 4 hours. The good thing is that the pump has a timer on it and will automatically turn on when it's time for it to run- at the same time every day.
Can I get my stock tank delivered?
If you are in Austin, DFW, Houston or San Antonio, Texas we will deliver to you. If you are in the Nashville area we will also deliver a tank to you.
Other places you buy stock tanks may or may not deliver and you will have to check with them.
What is the best way to get a tank home?
We have a whole blog post about that here.
Do you know how I can make the pool more kid safe?
One thing you can do is to put a fence around your pool. There are also alarms that will let you know when a child or pet gets in your pool. We also do not of any covers that will kid proof your stock tank pool. Check out this cover for a DIY cover option.
Do I have to have an electrical outlet by the pool?
Yes you will need to have something to plug the pool pump into. The good news is that the cord to most pool pumps is 25 ft. Per the pool pump manufacturer you should not use an extension cord and your pump should be plugged into a GFCI outlet.
Will you collaborate with me? Send me a free pool?
This question comes from people who are clearly confused about who we are and what we do. We are not stock tank pool manufacturers. We are not stock tank or pool pump manufacturers. We are 2 bloggers who did a DIY on how to make a stock tank pool and provide information about stock tank pools. We are not a big company that can send ya free stuff :)
What if it rains?
Rain is not a big deal. You may need to adjust your pool chemicals and/or clean out debris out of your pool,
Do I need to put anything under the stock tank? How do I level it?
Our stock tank pool was first on gravel and it wasn't problem. We do get asked if gravel is okay for under a stock tank pool. I can only speak from our personal experience which is that we had no problems. We did eventually have concrete poured in the area where the stock tank pool is. All of the stock tank pools we've installed the past 2 years have been on grass/dirt. You can either dig out a level spot or you can use sand to level. You can use pavers if you'd like.
How should I place the inlet and outlet on the stock tank?
Well, when we first did ours we did them on top of each other. However, we think for the best water circulation it is best for them to be placed diagonally from one other. I'm not sure it makes a massive difference. We haven't really had problems with how ours is placed. But when we install stock tank pools for other people we do them diagonally.
Where are other places you can buy pool pumps?
Amazon, Walmart, Academy Sports, Home Depot, Lowes, Target, and Ebay.
What are other pool pumps you can use?
Intex 1000- watch this video on how to install this. It’s a little different than the ones from our original installation video.
Bestway 1500 or 2500 - This is installed the same way we install the Intex 1500 and 2500 which is what is used in our original installation video.
Intex Sand Pumps - This will be installed the same way we install the Intex 1500 and 2500 and use all the same parts from our supply list.
You can use just about any pool pump but you may not be able to use our tutorial for the installation, so you will need to figure out how to install it to the stock tank.