Setting Up a Stock Tank Pool in Your Yard: Ground Preparation and Water Weight
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In short: set up your stock tank pool on flat, solid, well-drained ground, cleared of vegetation, on a base of a few centimetres of compacted crushed gravel that is perfectly level. Plan for an outdoor GFCI outlet nearby for the pump. Once filled, the tank holds from 740 kg to about 2.8 tonnes of water depending on the model: a deck or balcony must be checked by a professional.
1. Choose the spot
- Flat, solid, well-drained ground: away from slopes, roots and places where rainwater pools.
- Sun… and a little shade: the sun warms the water, a little shade prevents overheating.
- Away from trees: fewer leaves and less debris in the water.
- An outdoor GFCI outlet nearby: for the pump and the water heater, as required by the Electrical Code.
- Room all around: to walk, get into the water and reach the drain valve. Point the valve toward where the water can drain away from the house.
- Your municipality's rules: some set distances from property lines. See our guide Municipal regulations and stock tank pools in Quebec and Ontario.
2. Prepare the ground
- Clear the area: remove the grass, vegetation, roots and stones over the whole footprint of the tank, plus a little extra.
- Spread a gravel base: a few centimetres of crushed gravel, well compacted. A layer of stone dust or sand can be used to fine-tune the surface, and a geotextile underneath limits regrowth.
- Check the level: with a spirit level on a long straight board, in every direction. Fix it before setting the tank down: once filled, it won't move.
Other possible bases: a hard surface that is already flat and level (pavers, slab) can also work. On a wooden deck or balcony, the question is not the level but the load capacity: see the next section.
3. The weight of the water: the math to do
One litre of water weighs about 1 kg. Here is the weight of the water alone, with the tank filled to its approximate capacity (capacities stated by the manufacturer Hastings):
| Model | Capacity | Weight of the water |
|---|---|---|
| Round 5' (galvanized steel) | ~1,065 L | ≈ 1,065 kg (2,350 lb) |
| Round 6' (galvanized steel) | ~1,530 L | ≈ 1,530 kg (3,370 lb) |
| Round 7' (galvanized steel) | ~2,080 L | ≈ 2,080 kg (4,590 lb) |
| Round 8' (galvanized steel) | ~2,720 L | ≈ 2,720 kg (6,000 lb) |
| Oval 6' x 2.5' (galvanized steel) | ~740 L | ≈ 740 kg (1,630 lb) |
| Oval 7' x 2.5' (galvanized steel) | ~875 L | ≈ 875 kg (1,930 lb) |
| Oval 8' x 3' (galvanized steel) | ~1,190 L | ≈ 1,190 kg (2,620 lb) |
| Round 6' (polyethylene) | ~1,210 L | ≈ 1,210 kg (2,670 lb) |
| Round 8' (polyethylene) | ~2,195 L | ≈ 2,195 kg (4,840 lb) |
| Square 8' x 7' x 28 in (polyethylene) | ~2,840 L | ≈ 2,840 kg (6,260 lb) |
The weight of the empty tank and of the swimmers comes on top of these figures.
And per square metre?
Whatever the diameter, it is the water depth that sets the pressure on the ground: each centimetre of water adds about 10 kg per square metre. A galvanized steel tank filled to the brim (about 58 cm interior height) therefore puts about 580 kg/m² (about 119 lb/sq ft) on the surface, a round polyethylene tank (about 60 cm) about 600 kg/m² and the square polyethylene tank (about 71 cm) about 710 kg/m². On a deck, balcony or roof, always have a professional check the load capacity before installation.
4. Set down, plug in and fill
- Set the tank on the prepared base and check the level again.
- Attach the pump: the 925 GPH submersible pump goes into the tank: its suction cups let you attach it to the side wall of the stock tank pool. Its filters are built in: no drilling, no plumbing.
- Fill with your garden hose: allow a few hours depending on your water flow.
- Treat the water as soon as it is filled: follow our guide Stock tank pool water care.
- Cover the tank when not in use with the custom cover and the RainFlow cushion.
To get everything in a single delivery: the Premium Kit (6', 7' and 8') or the Complete starter kit + pump.
Safety
- Never dive or jump into the tank.
- Always supervise children.
- Remove the pump before swimming, and never use the water heater while someone is in the water.
Frequently asked questions
Can I set up a stock tank pool directly on grass?
We don't recommend it. Remove the vegetation and stones, then spread a few centimetres of well-compacted, level crushed gravel. Grass left under the tank holds moisture, and the ground can settle unevenly under the weight of the water.
How much does a filled stock tank pool weigh?
Water weighs about 1 kg per litre. Once filled, a 6' galvanized steel tank holds about 1,530 kg of water, a 7' about 2,080 kg and an 8' about 2,720 kg, not counting the tank itself or the swimmers.
Can I put a stock tank pool on a deck or balcony?
Only if the structure can carry the load. A galvanized steel tank filled to the brim puts about 580 kg per square metre on the surface, plus the weight of the swimmers. Have a professional check the load capacity before installation.
Does the tank need to be perfectly level?
Yes. Check the level in every direction before filling: a level tank spreads the weight of the water evenly, and the water sits at the same height all around the rim.
What electrical hookup do I need?
The pump and the water heater plug into an outdoor outlet protected by a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI).
Read also
- What size stock tank pool should I choose?
- Galvanized steel or polyethylene: which one?
- Municipal regulations and stock tank pools in Quebec and Ontario
- Winterizing your stock tank pool in Canada
- All our stock tank pools
We deliver across Canada, except the territories: to your home within 125 km of our delivery points, or to a pickup point. A question about your yard? Email us at info@ilotank.ca: we reply within 1 to 2 business days.