Benefits Of Backyard Stock Tank Pools You'll Wish You Knew Sooner

Who doesn't love the idea of having a pool in their backyard ... at least in theory? In practice, pools can be expensive and are a lot of work to maintain. Installing pools also often requires hiring a team of contractors and sacrificing a large section of your yard space. All of these problems can be solved by going with a stock tank pool instead. 

Not only are they affordable and low-maintenance, but stock tank pools are also easy to DIY, and their small footprint means you'll still have plenty of space in your yard. While stock tanks were originally intended to be used for drinking water for cows and other animals, they have seen an explosion in popularity as affordable backyard pool options. 

Made from either plastic or galvanized steel, these pools offer an affordable way to cool down and beat the heat. Unlike in-ground pools which can cost $28,000 or more, and traditional above-ground pools which generally cost a few thousand dollars at least, stock tanks rarely cost more than a few hundred dollars. Kits to add a filter to your stock tank are also a few hundred dollars or less.

In-ground pools require teams of skilled experts to create and install. Even above-ground pools, while possible to manage yourself, are extremely challenging and take multiple days (and a fair amount of skill) to install correctly. Also, pools with over 2 feet of water may require permits, adding a potential bureaucratic headache into any pool installation. 

Putting up a stock tank pool in your yard, on the other hand, takes just a few hours. It's as simple as finding or creating a flat spot in your yard for your pool, installing your filter kit, and filling your stock tank pool. If you don't want to purchase a kit, you can even build a pool filter on your own if your stock tank is small enough.

Because of their small size, maintenance for stock tank pools is relatively simple and affordable as well. Simply use chlorine tablets in a floating dispenser and use a skimmer net as needed, just like you would with any other pool. If you want, you can even take apart and put away your pool in the winter – or whenever you aren't using it. 

Stock tank pools arguably look quite cowboy chic on their own, but if that's not your aesthetic, they're also easy to redesign and upgrade. Because they don't take up much space, you can still have a lush garden with plenty of colorful landscaping around your stock tank pool. With the right setup, you'll be able to relax in your garden pool while enjoying the scent of your most fragrant perennials. 

Placing a stock tank pool on a deck isn't recommended, but you can easily build one around the pool or place it on a slab patio. You could even partially bury it, creating an in-ground stock tank pool. Because they can be taken down, you can even relocate your pool if the first spot you try doesn't seem to work with your landscape. Either way, incorporating the stock tank pool into your lawn or garden design can make it a star of your backyard instead of an eyesore.