Here’s the second post in my stock tank pool story. You can read about stock tank pool preparation here, as well as stock tank pool assembly here.
The two hardest things to get are the stock tank itself and the pool pump, so be prepared for spending the majority of your time obtaining these. You can do it. I believe in you and your need to feel refreshed this summer.
1) Stock tank.
These come in a variety of shapes and sizes with the round 6 and 8 foot options being the most popular. I opted for the 6 foot round because it was the best size for the area where I wanted to put the tank: it also happens to hold two adults with lots of room to spread out or up to four adults chatting & drinking [when social distancing is no longer a requirement]. I don’t have kids and I don’t plan on luring kids to my backyard to find out how many will fit.
Stock tanks are normally sold at home improvement/feed stores. Tractor Supply Company is a popular place to get such tanks, but I was quickly dissuaded when my online search of their website could not find any in available within a 100 mile radius. On a whim, I called a store in Grapevine called Master Made Feeds and the gentleman proudly announced that they did indeed have two in stock!
And then I panicked.
How was I going to get a 6 foot round metal stock tank 20-something miles across town when I own a very small two door that can definitely only handle 6 bags of malleable mulch bags on a good day? Inspiration and desperation collided and I called back “how much to deliver?!” The $100 delivery charge wasn’t optimal but it was my best bet over begging a friend or renting a Uhaul on short notice.
(No, I’m not getting a bigger car – did you see the part where mine can hold 6 bags of mulch?!)
There are two different types of round stock tanks, the CountyLine version, sold at Tractor Supply Company is smooth and preferable for this reason because the inlet and outlet nozzles will sit flush against it during installation. I got a Hutchison Western one, aka HD, (beggers can’t be choosers) which has small grooves along galvanized exterior and requires a few additional steps to ensure there is no water leakage (see silicone sealant note below).
2) Intex pump & filter.
The majority of DIYers seem to to be pleased with the Intex 28635EG Krystal Clear Cartridge Filter Pump for above ground pools, 15oo GPH flow rate. It normally retails for less than $100 but it is completely out of stock everywhere, so I turned to Ebay. I did try some bidding on Ebay but some of the shady sellers were cancelling bids if they didn’t feel like they were getting the price they wanted at the end of the bidding period which meant that I finally just did a ‘Buy it Now’ option. After tax and shipping, these pumps/filters are going for around $300 … so be prepared for that reality.
The Intex 28635EG Krystal Clear Cartridge Filter uses a paper filter that needs to be replaced about once a month. The other filter/pump combination that you can purchase, the Intex 26643EG Krystal Clear Sand Filter Pump does not have a filter to replace, instead, as the name denotes it uses fine grit sand for filtration so you will need to purchase sand instead of filters.
In all honesty, I choose the Cartridge Filter Pump because there were so many DIYers that were perfectly pleased with their purchase and I figured I could upgrade at a later date if I needed it (and hoping they would become more reasonably priced as time passes). Both pump options are linked below so you can copy and paste in the name for your Ebay search or maybe you will luck out and find one in stock on Amazon.
So once you get these two main items, you can start with the next round of purchase. Get ready to fill your Amazon cart up with the following:
3) 2 3/4 hole saw attachment.
You will put this on your cordless/corded drill to create two holes in the stock tank for the inlet & outlet nozzle hoses and attachments. Don’t worry, it’s very easy to use, just please wear safety glasses because hot metal shards will come at your face. I will remind you of this again during installation!
If you are in Oak Cliff, I am happy to loan mine out – I doubt I will ever need this again.
2) Silicone Sealant (optional?).
A few DIYers that had the corrugated tanks noted they had some leaks around the inlet/outlets holes so they used silicone sealant. I didn’t want to find out IF mine leaked so I went ahead and did two rounds of sealant on each side, waiting for it to cure for an hour between applications. Grab a rubber glove and a paper towels because the sealant is very sticky and gooey. I will remind you of this again, too.
3) Chlorine tablets and dispenser.
I originally purchased the 3 inch chlorine tablets but they are too much for the 6 foot tank. Instead, I have linked the 1 inch tablets from Kem-Tek. You will need two tablets in the dispenser of your choice if you go with the 1 inch variety. Speaking of dispensers, I went with the rubber ducky dispenser because I liked the ridiculousness of it. There is a cheaper option, also linked below, just pick whatever it is that makes you happy bobbing up and down in your new pool. If you choose the cheaper option, you can completely close how much chlorine goes into the pool, and it will only come out the holes in the bottom, which is sufficient – the ducky does not have this option, hence it overloaded the chlorine in the pool so I had to put it in time out for a day.
4) Intex 26005E Above Ground Swimming Pool Inlet Air Water Jet Replacement Part Kit.
If you purchase the pump/filter brand new it will come with two hoses plus one Plunger Valve, one Jet Nozzle and the small Air Jet Value that fits on the side of it. This kit will give you the additional pieces that you need to complete the setup – the inlet strainer, two rubber washers and one more plunger valve. You will have some extra parts leftover, but this is the best bang for your buck to get the additional items you will need, plus the strainer is complete out of stock on the Intex site, so there’s that.
5) Additional washers (optional).
One great recommendation I found was to put a washer on both sides of the tank when installing the inlet/outlet. If you have grooves on the tank, however, this requires some additional tightening (I had to use a wrench carefully) because the inlet has a side nub (Air Jet Valve) that will not fit into place unless this is well tightened on both sides. If your tank is smooth, this should be much easier. If you decide to add these to your cart, you will need two more as two come with the kit I linked above.
6) Leaf Skimmer.
You will need to be able to remove large debris from the pool. You can also pair this with a small pool vacuum if you would like, but the simmer has been sufficient so far in the fight against those pesky June bugs.
7) Spa Scale Remover (optional).
A Houston stock tanker noted that she had a layer of film on the top of the tank and suggested spa scale remover. We aren’t in Houston, but I wanted to be prepared.
8) Chlorine/PH testers.
You will want to make sure that the Chlorine and PH levels in the tank are a-ok and check them regularly. I mentioned above that 3 inch tables were too much for the tank size so I just removed the rubber ducky dispenser for a day to get it back on track. If you have never owned a pool like myself, don’t worry, this part is very easy as well – dunk the tester in the wall and add some colored drops on either side to reveal the associated levels. Add PHup/PHdown/chlorine/shock to get it back to normal levels.
9) Chemicals.
Depending on what your test comes back with, you may need to increase PH, decrease PH, or shock the pool. Shock is a quick way to kill a green algae situation and you should stay the hell out of it for 24 hours after adding shock. All of the precautions on their respective bags, but wanted to bring that one up. Or you can just not get algae, that’s an option, too.
10) Filters.
If you get the paper filter-type pump, you will need to replace the filter every two weeks to a month depending on your debris-filtering needs. The online people all recommend rinsing the filter first, then replacing it. For me, that means rinsing every two weeks with a water hose and replacing once a month.
11) Floating pool thermometer (optional).
So far everyone has asked if the pool is too warm and if I feel like I’m in a large cooking pot. On the contrary, I have found the pool to be a bit chilly, even on the 100 degree Saturday we just had. I’m not sure what the exact temperature is, but I will definitely share that once the thermometer comes in tomorrow. Yes, it’s another rubber ducky. I’m committed at this point to this theme.
12) Pool Cover (optional)
I am waiting for the 6 foot solar cover to come in any day now – it’s purpose is to both to guard against pecans/leaves/whatever falls in the pool and warm it up a few degrees. You can also purchase a large, round patio furniture cover as another option.
13) Magnetic hooks (optional)
I have a metal carport nearby so these hooks will serve to hold the leaf skimmer net and wet towels so they aren’t strewn around the deck. I hate clutter.
14) Cedar Mulch, Outdoor Fans & Mosquito Repellent Incense Sticks (optional).
Mosquitoes are THE devil in Texas so we found a combination of these three items did the trick. I added 6 bags of cedar mulch around the base of the tank and coupled it with an outdoor fan which was mounted to the house with a board, painted to match the Hardie Board siding in some non-offensive gray. I also start burning the Mosquito Repellent Incense Sticks about 10 minutes before we go outside – the smell reminds me of camping and the lack of bug bites gives me intense joy.
12) Planters (optional).
I thought these were lovely so I am planting some Mojito Elephant Ear Plants in them as soon as they come in. It’s my super fancy side coming through, I know. I thought it needed some umph.
13) Wicker Outdoor Seat / Husky Bin (optional):
The pump isn’t very loud, but it’s not exactly beautiful either. I wasn’t ready to build a seating area or additional deck around my pool (nor do I have the room to do so), but I did have enough room to find a way to hide the pump. My solution was to purchase a rattan storage bench with seating on top, which happens to match my other outdoor furniture. I cut a hole on the side of the bench farthest away from where people can see it with an exacto knife and this took less than a minute to do so. I purchased the bench new on Ebay for $140 with free shipping, and white it was easy to assemble, it took some time because it comes with one of the stupid manual allen wrenches and required some weird angles to crank it from.
A second, much more cost effective option is to purchase a large Husky bin, turn it upside down and cut a hole in the side of it.
Either option will shield your pump from the elements and provide it a nice flat surface if is not on a slab of concrete or something of the kind.
What’s next? Assembly, of course!