Stock Tank Pool Dreams

Brandi and Chris Thomas transformed their outdoor space into a beautiful sanctuary complete with a DIY stock tank pool. After a little research, the two dove into making an empty, unusable space a summertime retreat. On the next page, BayouLife talks to the couple about their inspiration.

Photograph by Kelly Moore Clark | Styling by Brandi Thomas

Stock Tank How To

Brandi and Chris Thomas decided to transform and empty space into a stock tank pool. BayouLife talks to the couple about their inspiration and steps toward creating the outdoor space.

BL: Where did your inspiration come from?

Brandi: Our friend told us we should put a stock tank in our backyard – which was something I was totally clueless about. I went down a full-fledge Instagram rabbit hole and became obsessed. That same day I went to Tractor Supply and bought a 6-foot stock tank.

BL: Is there a website that our readers can get information on this DIY project?

Brandi: The tutorial we used for the stock tank is stocktankpool.net/setup. The tutorial we used for the heater is stocktankpool.net/propane-stock-tank-hot-tub.

BL: How did you build the wood surround?

Brandi: I didn’t want the metal from the tank visible and I wanted to elevate the pool with a contrasting surround. My ingenious husband used scrap wood left over from our deck build. But, we didn’t want to attach it straight to the tank in case we’d need to make repairs. Chris came up with the idea to take nylon from some 13-foot ratchet straps and screw that into the back of the wood and then attach the leftover strap to the inside of the deck so it’s hidden. We then painted the outside of the wood surround with black spray paint.

BL: How much did the project cost?

Brandi: The stock tank pool was $235
Above Ground Pool Pump: $150
Instant Water Heater: $350 (the largest one they make – you can get cheaper but this one heats the water faster)
Chlorine tablets: $60
Filters 4-pack: $10
Hole saw: $25
10 ft. Cantilever Umbrella: $79
Pool Cover: $40 (we ordered an 8-foot cover and Chris cut it down and customized it by sewing in four pool noodles so it would float on top of the water).

With the pool and accessories the total was $949. The deck project was around $750 for wood and materials and covered a 16 ft x 8 ft. area.

BL: Is there any other information we should include?

Brandi: We love our stock tank pool. It’s so crazy how it has already fostered so much community and connection, and it has become such a great tool for hospitality. Everyone who has experienced it loves it, too. There are all kinds of different ways and ideas when it comes to installing stock tank pools. Do your research and find a path that works best for you and your lifestyle.