The only way to stop your stock tank pool from rusting
I was thrilled to get an email from a lovely couple who followed my stock tank swimming pool tutorial and used a pool liner to rescue their rusty, paint-peeling pool. There is nothing better than hearing that your blog post helped someone!
We are still so in love with our tiny pool. It was the best thing we ever added to our small yard.
The only way to stop your stock tank pool from rusting
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That’s the number one question I see online, and I figured out how! Well…
How do I keep my stock tank from rusting?
There is only one way that will work permanently to protect your stock tank pool from rusting, which is a stock tank pool liner. Leaving the galvanized metal untreated or painted won’t last longer since the pool chemicals or pool salt will eventually rust the galvanized metal or eat away at the paint.
I’m speaking from experience. Peeling paint on the stock tank pool is a big headache and you are faced with trying to figure out what to do with the mess. Stripping paint off a stock tank pool by hand or with chemicals is a big job and will damage the galvanized protective coating even more.
Essential supplies needed
Please read my stock tank pool tutorial and video for detailed instructions and all the other materials used.
TIP: Make sure that the size of the pool liner matches the size of your stock tank
Stock Tank Pool Transformation
Julie was generous enough to let me use their images and even took a before photo of their stock tank pool that was rusty and had lots of areas where the paint was peeling.
Here is the before photo:
It reminds me of my failed attempts to paint our stock tank pool. Remember?
Just like us, they literally draped or let’s call it lined the stock tank pool with the pool liner like you would with a garbage can and plastic bag. That’s it! As I mentioned above, please read my tutorial and watch my video.
Differences to my tutorial
She and her husband followed my instructions, with the only difference being that they didn’t have rocks surrounding the pool to keep everything in place.
They have rope keeping the bamboo in place at the back of the pool where the pump is connected. The stock tank pool liner they used is a solid color, our’s has a print.
Julie and her husband also purchased the same bamboo as I did and then cut it the same way we did.
They made sure to stain the bamboo with the same stain as us before adding the bamboo fence to the stock tank pool.
I also love how they used the leftover bamboo as edging around their beautiful tropical flower bed.
And here is their finished tropical stock tank pool with the liner and bamboo fence. I so wish I could have all these tropical plants in our yard too.
Here is a photo of how the stock tank pool looks at night:
And below is a reminder of what our little pool looks like:
UPDATE: In 2025, I added a pool liner pad before our stock tank pool liner replacement. We had to replace the liner since it had a big hole in it from ice accumulation during the winter.
So if you are in the same predicament as Julie and her husband and have an old stock tank pool that is rusting and peeling, or if you are just starting out, then give my version of adding a pool liner to your stock tank pool a try.
Is a stock tank pool liner worth the cost?
I know the liner feels like an added expense on top of an already pricey setup. But when you compare it to repainting every season, dealing with Flex Seal disasters, or replacing the whole tank, it is actually the cheapest option by far. For the full cost breakdown, including pump, filter, and landscaping, check out my stock tank pool cost guide.
FAQs about stock tank pool rust
The only permanent solution is a pool liner. Paint, Flex Seal, and other coatings will eventually peel or fail when they come into contact with pool chemicals. A liner physically separates the water from the metal, which is the only thing that works long-term. I’ve been using a liner since 2019 and can say from experience that it’s the answer.
Yes, galvanized stock tanks absolutely rust when used as pools. Pool chemicals like chlorine and salt water break down the galvanized zinc coating faster than normal water exposure would. Once that protective coating is compromised, rust follows quickly.
I tried Flex Seal before I figured out the liner method, and I regret it. Flex Seal peels, especially with pool chemicals, and then you’re left with a pool full of rubber chunks and a tank that’s harder to clean than before. Regular paint has the same problem. The galvanized coating on the tank actually prevents paint from bonding properly, so it peels just as fast. Neither option stops rust; they just cover it temporarily. Save yourself the money and headache.
Yes, the tank needs to be empty, dry, and reasonably clean before you install the liner. You can leave some surface rust and old paint (within reason), but you want to remove any debris that could tear the liner from underneath.
Our liner lasted 6 years of heavy summer use plus harsh Pennsylvania winters before it developed a hole from ice damage. The tank itself is still going strong and we’re now on our second liner. Without a liner, I’d estimate most galvanized stock tanks start showing serious rust damage within 1-3 seasons of pool use.
The liner protects the surfaces it covers, but the valve holes are still vulnerable. Water can seep behind the liner at those cutouts over time. When we replaced our liner at the 6-year mark, there was visible rust around both valve areas that needed treating before we put the new liner in. The fix: Rustoleum Rust Dissolver to clean it up, followed by caulk. You can read the full story in my stock tank pool liner replacement post.
Honestly? Not permanently. Poly (plastic) stock tanks don’t rust at all and are worth considering if you’re starting fresh and don’t mind the look. But for a galvanized steel tank, the liner is the only thing I’ve found that actually works.
Where to buy stock tank pool liners
During the pandemic, it was impossible to find pool liners for your stock tank pool because everyone wanted them. I believe I was the first one to have a tutorial with that idea and then suddenly everyone wanted them. Thankfully they are available again and here are some of my favorites.
I prefer the liners with a printed pattern simply because it hides imperfections. We had to patch our liner several times and the print just helped disguise the patches.
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 (sold out) | 5 | 6
You should also check out Julie and her husband’s website. They are very gifted jazz musicians. I really love their music.
Tschüß,
Wow! What a beautiful space!!!!
Right? Isn’t it amazing? I wish we lived somewhere warm right now too so we could use our garden more during this time being stuck at home.
Thanks for reminding us of this beautiful space! Sure looks dreamy! Wish it was better weather so you could enjoy it and melt some stress away!
Thank you, Angeal! That sure would be nice. It’s cold with ice rain here instead today 🙁
I used a poly stock tank instead of galvanized. No rust, pant and no outside coverage required. I put noodles around rim of tank and bout 5 bamboo mats(6.00ea) around pool on mulch. Cost 300.00.
Hi Marilyn, that’s awesome! Unfortunately, we couldn’t use a poly tank because it wouldn’t hold the weight of all the stone and rocks used around our pool.
Can I ask what pump you use? The water flowing out of my pump is nowhere near that strong!
The exact pump set-up and links are in my other blog post: https://cuckoo4design.com/our-new-stock-tank-swimming-pool-in-our-sloped-yard/ Hope that helps!
Hello! Where did you get the pool liner?
I bought it on Amazon and linked it but it is currently out of stock.
We have the poly tank but want to wrap it like yours. Ours is slanted so we will have to make adjustments of course and figure out attaching it but I have a few questions.
1. How is the bamboo holding up over time?
2. Where did you purchase such a large roll?
3. What did you do to the top edges? Caps?
Hi and sorry for my late response. The entire process is described with links in my original blog post and video https://cuckoo4design.com/our-new-stock-tank-swimming-pool-in-our-sloped-yard/ the bamboo has held up great.
I have a 6′ stick tank and would like to purchase a liner. The premade only come in 8′ and I don’t want to spend $$$$ for a custom made one. Do you have any ideas for buying the 8′ liner and trimming it? I’m probably use a rotary cutter and a tool for making the arc for fabric. I’m a little hesitant, so am looking for encouragement or a “forget it, don’t waste your money.
Thanks!
Hi there, I can’t imagine that trimming the liner to fit a 6′ foot tank would work.
My tank rusted. We striped the rust off, painted with anti rust paint advised by Home Depot. Installed the liner and 6 weeks later the pool was showing rusty water it was covered all winter and when opened up the rust evenly covered the entire inside of the tank. I now have a plastic Intex pool. I even have a rust remover on the well!
I couldn’t deal with another tank or liner even if one were available!
Hi Debi, Sorry to hear that. We’ve had the same pool liner and stock tank pool since 2019 and never had a problem with rusty water.
I have been a regular reader of your blog for some time now, and I just wanted to let you know how much I appreciate the effort you put into creating such valuable content. Thank you!
Thanks for posting this. It helped a lot. The only thing I’d add is make sure to use gaskets everywhere if possible and lot of sealant if using a liner. And even plumbers tape. You advised us but just throwing extra caution out there to help people avoid multiple emptying and refills. The one issue that we’re dealing with and wondering if you ever ran into it is is water ever got between liner and stock tank. It isn’t much and will likely just deal with it the rest of the summer but just checking.
Hi Greg, I agree the sealant is very important. Regarding your question about the water getting behind the liner. Yes, that happens to us too. I wrote a blog post about what we do when we open the tank for the summer and how we address this issue https://cuckoo4design.com/opening-up-stock-tank-pool-with-pool-liner-after-winter/ I don’t know what causes the tiny holes in the liner. The metal of the pool shouldn’t be sharp anymore since I had added the flex liner. Maybe it’s dirt and from walking around on it. Last year we didn’t really have a problem with it though.
We have a stock tank pool that has some rust in the bottom. We plan to get a pool liner (if we can find any in stock). Do we need to remove the rust first, or we can simply put the liner in the pool and use it? Thank you!
Hi Krysta, Julie and her husband didn’t remove the rust and just lined the stock tank with the pool liner like a trash can. Good luck
Thank you! That’s what I was thinking she was saying, but trying to be sure! That is easy enough!