Over the summer, everywhere you look, a new alternative to keep cool has been popping up that’s more affordable than the real thing: stock tank pools. First seen on Instagram, charmingly set onto a patio with fairy lights strung above. Then a second. A third. And then a tidal wave of 'em.
Unless you have a huge backyard, significant funds (seriously—thousands or tens of thousands of dollars), and the time to keep it pristine, installing a pool is not achievable. At least, that’s we were told growing up, whenever we'd ask for one—predictably, the requests got louder on a hot summer day. For the pool-less like us however, there were other creative, pack-it-away-when-you’re-done means of keeping cool that were, let’s say, more nostalgic (and fun): slip-n-slides, kiddie pools, the good old sprinkler.
Stock tank pools are actually pretty standard farm fixtures. They are made from galvanized metal (sometimes, plastic), are generally round or oval-shaped, and are traditionally used to hold water and feed for livestock. (They’re basically “oversized metal buckets.") Thanks to an extended stay-at-home directive, some ennui, and lots of ingenuity, they exploded in popularity as a relatively simple alternative to a pool. Less swimming pool, more plunge or soaking pool (they’re typically only about two feet deep, but can go up to about 10 feet in diameter for round tanks), they have the potential to turn your home into a pretty great vacation spot. And at a fraction of the cost involved in digging up your backyard to build a swimming pool.
They also far less tedious to install: All you need is some sturdy and level ground to set it up. However, it’s not as simple as buying one, plopping it down, and filling it up. Many sites display a pretty good overview of how to go about it. ow how to maintain your pool: You need to treat your pool once a week to keep consistent chlorine levels, and replace the filter every couple months.It’s also equally important to know how to maintain your pool: You need to treat your pool once a week to keep consistent chlorine levels, and replace the filter every couple months.M anuy a pretty good overview of how to go about it. The tutorial reiterates that it’s also equally important to know how to maintain your pool: You need to treat your pool once a week to keep consistent chlorine levels, and replace the filter every couple months.
Stock tank pools are also a lot better looking than their hardy origins suggest. True, they were originally designed for agricultural purposes, not to "look good," but that's exactly what I like about them: their simple, minimalist look. Leave them bare-boned, paint them, or build a deck around them—they'll look pretty good no matter what (and feel even better).