So you have been thinking about getting a GALVANIZED STOCK TANK POOL. You know that they have been the new worldwide rage these past few summers, and you really like the look. So whether you call it a "hillbilly hot tub," a "redneck pool," or a "stock tank pool," you can not deny that they are a fun, impressively simple rustic throwback to the good old-fashioned country lifestyle. It would look incredible in your backyard right over there, go ahead and look out your window where it will go. It's ok, we will wait ... Galvanized stock tank pools look AMAZING inside and out, and when a good one starts around 375 bucks, they are as attractive to your wallet as they are to your eyes. This new trend has brought out A LOT of questions, so we thought that putting an article together to answer the most common questions would help.
1. How hard is it to move? Will it fit through my gate? How do I get it home?
Well, hold on a second, that is 3 questions, no? Technically yes, it is. However, they can all be answered together, so we thought we would group them here. With an average weight of around 150 pounds and a circular design, these round tanks easily stand up on their end and roll around, making them quite maneuverable. Next, with a width of 24 inches, they go through normal 48-inch wide gates with ease. However, keep in mind that if you have some sort of crossbar across the top of your gate, you will be limited to the tank's size to fit under it unless you have an alternative way to get the larger tanks into your backyard. Standing up a 10-foot tank makes it 10 feet tall. So finally, how to get that massive tank to your house ... that's easy, WE DELIVER!
2. Why should I buy a tank from Livestock Equipment Canada?
Because it's the right thing to do! ... Seriously though, there are many differences between our tanks and the competition. First and foremost, WE HAVE BIGGER TANKS!! We are Canada's exclusive Hastings tank distributor ... which means we carry 3-foot tanks all the way up to 10-foot diameter tanks ... no one else in Canada has this except us. Next, the overall quality of the tank. Don't be fooled by some misleading wording; a "20 gauge bottom tank" is not a true 20 gauge tank. Most tanks only have a 20 gauge bottom with 22 gauge (thinner) sides ... once they roll, form, and bend, those sides can stretch out to somewhere around 24 gauge (which is really thin) ... OUR TANKS ARE ALL 20 GUAGE G90 galvanized steel! Don't forget that our tanks are built to withstand the abuse of 1500-pound animals. They will easily withstand nominal use as a backyard pool or flower bed. Here are a few key features to keep in mind while shopping for your galvanized steel stock tank.
Here we have a cross-cut diagram of how our tanks are made. Using this diagram and the pictures provided should give you an excellent idea of what you are buying when you buy one of our tanks.
The tank's wall is wrapped around a small pipe that is around the top of the tank. Most other tanks fold the lip over itself, leaving a fairly sharp edge at the top.
Finally, a simple thing like a proper drain plug is completely missing on some tanks, while other tanks use a cheap plastic plug that cracks or leaks. Our 3/4" NPT steel plugs provide a leak-free seal that is easily removed with a standard 3/8" drive ratchet for drainage. Common thread sizes allow for pipe and hose adapters and valves to be used for circulation or redirection of the water flow when draining.
3. How do you keep the water clean and the slime from building up around the edges?
That green water or slime on the sides is algae ... it's water ... it happens, even if you can't see it, it is there making things slippery and working very hard to make your pool look gross. Don't be alarmed. It is totally preventable and treatable. First thing, remove all organic matter like grass, leaves or little critters that have drowned with a pool net of some sort. Then we recommend draining, washing with soap and water and refilling with clean water. However, many people will add a small amount of liquid chlorine to the water to kill the algae. We don't recommend chlorine as it will attack and deteriorate the galvanized finish. ABSOLUTELY DO NOT USE pucks just laying on the bottom of the tank. As seen here, you will destroy the tank in just a few hours.
With this in mind, if you decide that you are going to chlorinate the water, take it easy on the chlorine, don't add too much chemical and use a mini puck floater. A chlorine test kit is an absolute necessity also. If you are planning to leave the water in the pool for a long period of time, then we definitely recommend that you visit any local pool place and set yourself up with a decent water testing kit so you can maintain the PH of your water. A small pump and filter or an aerator is a great idea and will help keep your pool that much cleaner.
4. What about rust?
G90 galvanized steel is VERY rust-resistant under normal conditions as long as the coating remains intact. With this in mind, go back to question #3 and reread the part about chlorine being corrosive. Too much chlorine will wreck a galvanized stock tank in 1 summer or less if you fail to follow those recommendations ... GO BACK AND RE-READ QUESTION NUMBER THREE NOW ... NEWS UPDATE ... We have been working with Crekote to find a solution that would be easy to apply and create a barrier between the galvanizing and the chlorine. Please read our NEW BLOG about galvanizing vs chlorine to learn more about this.
5. What about bugs and mosquitoes?
It's common knowledge that standing water is a breeding site for mosquitoes and other bugs. As we mentioned above, using a pump will keep the water moving and filtered along with properly balanced and clean water. Mosquitoes shouldn't be an issue. If bugs are still bugging you, install mosquito netting over the tank or add mosquito dunks to your chlorine puck floater.
6. Does the pool get too hot?
WHAT IS TOO HOT? ... empty steel tanks attract a lot of heat if placed in direct sunlight, and touching any hot metal could cause a burn on your skin. However, when you fill the tank, the water absorbs and modulates the tank's outside temperature, keeping the steel warm to the touch even in direct sunlight. The galvanized stock tank pool itself can easily withstand boiling water. Perfect if you want a hot tub, not so great if you are trying to cool off on that 110-degree day. So we figure the proper answer for this question is NO the water in these tanks cannot get TOO HOT that the tank will be damaged. But if you are concerned about the heat, we recommend locating your pool in the shade or part shady area. If no shade is found, a 'sun sail' or cantilever umbrella to break up the sun's intense heat could be used. We want to point out that steel tanks quickly lose a lot of heat when the air is cool, so you may want to invest in an inline water heater and one of our solar blankets to help with levelling out the water's temperature fluctuations. While we are on the topic of heat, we would like to remind you that warm or hot water needs more chemicals to remain balanced, and chlorine will be burned off faster, allowing those gross algae that we talked about earlier to grow more quickly. The warmer the water is, the more attention and care it needs to keep it clean. Finally, what about that hot metal ring around the top? Try a sliced pool noodle or foam pipe insulation wrapped around the top edge.
7. What do we do with them during the winter?
This has to be the best part of owning a stock tank pool. Don't forget that these tanks are designed to sit outside, giving your animals water all year long. Winterizing is a snap ... pull the drain plug and turn it over ... DONE! If you have built it into a patio or something and cannot turn it over, pull the plug and leave it out ... you will have a bit of cleanup in the spring, but nothing that a bit of soap and water won't take care of. Other options are rolling it over to the barn or leaning it against the house or garage. These can take a lot of abuse, don't be afraid to dish it out a little.
With all this information coming at you, it might seem overwhelming. So if you feel that way right now, remember that many of the tips above are for more advanced installations, so we would like to take you back to the basics. A galvanized stock tank pool is the toughest, most simple thing to take care of ... If the water gets dirty, drain and refill ... If the water is too warm, add cold water ... If the water is too cold, add warm water ... If you are on a well and don't pay for using water then drain and refill as often as needed. When you're done with it for the season, flip it over or leave the drain plug out, the 1/2" of ice in the bottom of the tank over the winter will not hurt anything. You will absolutely spend more time enjoying your galvanized stock tank pool than you will be maintaining it. All that is left for you to do is buy one HERE.