Guide to Making a Stock Tank Pool (in 9 Steps)

Project Overview

• Working Time: 2 - 7 hrs
• Total Time: 2 - 8 hrs
• Skill Level: Intermediate
• Estimated Cost: $500

A stock tank pool, if done correctly, can have all the features of a full-sized pool but on a smaller scale. With the right tools and knowledge, you can add elements of a traditional pool to a stock tank, including a filter and pump. Your only limit is your imagination (and the size of the tank).

Remember, a stock tank is much smaller than a regular pool, so it's easy to overpower it with a pump and chemicals. Choose the right equipment carefully and maintain your DIY stock tank pool properly.

Here’s our guide to everything you need to know to make a stock tank pool in an afternoon.

How to Choose a Stock Tank for a Pool

Stock tanks come in various shapes, sizes, and materials, each with its own pros and cons. The stock tank you choose will affect the features you can add to your stock tank pool.

• Size: How many people do you want to fit in? If you want to stretch out and not just sit, it should be at least 8 feet in diameter to avoid touching the edges, which will accommodate more people.
• Shape: Stock tanks generally come in oval or circular shapes. Oval stock tanks are better for one person to stretch out, while circular stock tanks can comfortably hold more people.
• Depth: Ensure it's deep enough for your shoulders to be submerged without lying down, ideally in the 26- to 28-inch range. You can sit down and measure from the seat cushion to your shoulders to find the right depth.
• Material: Stock tanks are usually made of plastic or galvanized metal. Plastic is easier to work with, lighter, and resists corrosion better. However, metal tanks do not degrade in the sun as easily and are less likely to become brittle and crack over time.

Where to Put a Stock Tank Pool

The best place to put a stock tank pool is on a flat, level ground. Avoid areas where water runoff could undermine the pool's stability.

Be certain about the location you choose because you won’t be able to move it once it’s filled. Water weighs 8.33 pounds per gallon, meaning a 300-gallon tank will weigh approximately 2,500 pounds.

Never place a stock tank pool on a deck or roof. An average deck is rated for about 20 pounds per square foot, and a roof is rated for even less. If your 300-gallon stock tank pool is 8’x3’ (24 sq. ft.), the weight will exert 104.2 pounds of pressure per square foot, far exceeding the maximum load for most decks and roofs.

Warning

When making a stock tank pool, you're using something for an unintended purpose, which carries additional risks. To limit injuries, read through all steps in advance and familiarize yourself with your tools. Always use proper protective gear such as gloves and goggles when using power tools, and be aware of your surroundings.

What You'll Need

Equipment / Tools

• Drill
• Hole saw
• Tin snips
• Silicon gun

Materials

• Stock tank
• Filter pump
• Hose
• Hose clamps
• Hose fittings
• Silicone tube

How to Make a Stock Tank Pool

Step 1: Prepare the Location

• Make the ground as level as possible.
• Dig out the high spots and add dirt or gravel to the low spots.
• Tamp down added dirt or gravel with a hand or power tamper to limit the settling when the pool is filled.

Step 2: Set Up the Power Source

• Run an extension cord from an exterior outlet to your pool, ensuring the cord path won't be a tripping hazard.

The only item needing power is the pool pump, which shouldn't require so much power that it trips your breakers.

Step 3: Water Test the Stock Tank

Since a stock tank wasn’t designed to be a pool, you need to ensure it can hold water.

• Fill your stock tank to the top with water and watch for leaks.
• Check the seams, as that’s where leaks are most likely.
• If it leaks, add silicone to the leaking area from the inside of the pool so the water pressure maintains the seal.

Step 4: Cut Holes for Machinery

• Mark where you want your waterline. Sit in the pool to help visualize it.
• Mark where to drill openings for the hose fitting/skimmer and return line.
• Drill the openings.

Using a hose fitting instead of a skimmer is fine since the pool is small, though using a real skimmer is also okay. The process for creating openings varies slightly depending on your choice.

For a stock tank pool with a hose fitting as a “skimmer”:

• Mark where to drill the openings for the hose fitting/skimmer and return line, slightly below the chosen waterline.
• Drill holes for the hose fitting and return line using appropriately sized drill bits.

For a stock tank pool with a real skimmer:

• Trace the skimmer mouth’s opening onto the stock tank at the intended location, with the waterline at the skimmer mouth's halfway point.
• Mark where to drill an opening for the return line, slightly below the waterline.
• Drill each corner of the skimmer mouth's opening using the largest drill bit available, without exceeding the tracing edges.
• Use snips to cut out the straight corners.
• Drill an opening for the return line using a matching-sized drill bit.

Tip

The material of your stock tank will affect the ease of making openings for machinery. Use a drill with a hole saw and, if possible, a hole saw with a center bit to limit the drill’s “walking” when making holes.

Step 5: Install the Hose Fittings

• Install the hose fittings into the drilled holes. If your filter pump kit didn’t come with matching hose fittings, a local pool store can help you source the proper size.
• Apply a small bead of silicone against the body of the stock tank for added waterproofing, which helps with the hose fitting’s sometimes irregular shape and texture.

Step 6: Install the Filter Pump and Hoses

• Install the filter pump, which is an all-in-one unit that uses a cartridge to filter water and has a built-in pump for circulation.
• Connect the inlet part of the filter pump to the skimmer mouth (or hose fitting), and the outlet side to the return hole.
• Use hose clamps on all connections to ensure a watertight seal.

The 7 Best Pool Filters of 2025

Step 7: Fill the Tank

• Use a hose to fill the pool.
• Watch for leaks, especially in patched areas and at drilled holes.
• Fill to the appropriate level you determined when drilling the holes.

Step 8: Start the Mechanicals

• Once the water is at the correct level, turn on the pump.
• While running, check for leaks, especially around the pump filter hose connections and the holes in the stock tank, as these areas will now be under pressure.
• If you spot any leaks, turn off the pump, drain the water below the leak, and seal it with a hose clamp or silicone, depending on the location.

Step 9: Add Chemicals

• First, perform a baseline test of your water to see your starting point. Certain stock tank finishes can affect the water's pH.
• Once you have your baseline, add a small amount of pool shock or a piece of a chlorine tablet.
• Run the pool for a few hours, then check the chemical levels again.
• Continue to add shock or chlorine tablets until the chlorine level is between 3 and 4.
• Repeat the process for pH, alkalinity, and calcium.

While these additional chemicals are not absolutely necessary, they will help with maintenance in the long run.

Maintaining a Stock Tank Pool

Maintaining a stock tank pool is similar to maintaining a regular pool, but the amount of chemicals you add will be much smaller.

Regularly check the pool chemistry, at least weekly, and run the filter pump for at least 8 hours a day, especially if the stock tank is in a sunny location. This ensures the water stays clear and ready for swimming.

Because stock tanks aren’t designed to have holes drilled into them, regularly check all connections for leaks and repair them immediately to limit corrosion and extend the life of your pool.

To winterize a stock tank pool, disassemble the filter pump and bring it inside, drain the pool, then store it in a shed or under a deck until the next season. It’s an easy process, so there’s no excuse not to do it.