FIRST-HAND STOCK TANK POOL SETUP
If I were setting up my stock tank pool again, I’d start with these.
The quick version:
- Clean it: a small rechargeable vacuum makes maintenance easier.
- Check the water: test strips are one of the first things I reach for.
- Make it more fun: the fountain and floating lights changed the whole nighttime look.
Affiliate disclosure: This page contains Amazon affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases, at no additional cost to you. See the Affiliate Disclosure.
PRACTICAL FIRST BUY
CLEANING
INTEX rechargeable handheld vacuum
The one I use to clean the bottom of my pool
See Current Price →WATER CARE
EASYTEST 7-way test strips
Quick water checks without overcomplicating it
See Current Price →NIGHTTIME UPGRADE
Fountain + floating lights
The biggest visual upgrade to my pool at night
See Fountain Price →See Light Price →Want the rest of my setup? Keep scrolling for the chlorine floater, storage net, dog float, sign and my first-hand notes on every item.
First-hand note: I like all of the accessories below. The only issue I have had was with one of the floating pool lights, which worked intermittently until I adjusted the battery connection.
The practical accessories
POOL CLEANING · FIRST-HAND USE
INTEX rechargeable handheld pool vacuum
I use an INTEX rechargeable handheld pool vacuum for cleaning the pool. A small rechargeable vacuum makes sense for my setup because I can clean the bottom without adding another large piece of equipment to the pool area.
View on Amazon →WATER TESTING · FIRST-HAND USE
EASYTEST 7-way pool test strips — 150 strips
I use EASYTEST 7-way pool test strips as part of checking the pool water. They are a simple addition to the basic pool-care supplies that came with my original setup.
View on Amazon →CHLORINE DISPENSER · FIRST-HAND USE
XY-WQ flamingo chlorine floater — 1-inch tablet version
My original Ranch Pools package already included a chlorine float, but I also bought this flamingo chlorine floater. It fits 1-inch chlorine tablets and performs a practical job while fitting the backyard-pool look better than a plain floater.
View on Amazon →POOL STORAGE · FIRST-HAND USE
Muximund extra-large pool-float storage net — 71 × 47 inch
I use this Muximund pool-float storage net to keep floats and other lightweight pool items contained instead of scattered around the pool area.
View on Amazon →The accessories that make the pool more fun
POOL FOUNTAIN · FIRST-HAND USE
POOLHACKER solar pool fountain
The POOLHACKER solar pool fountain is one of the additions I made after buying the pool package. I like it as part of the overall setup, and it adds a visual feature without being part of the pool's original circulation equipment.
View on Amazon →
POOL LIGHTING · FIRST-HAND USE
FAINSLIGO floating solar pool lights — 4-pack
I use these color-changing floating solar lights as a nighttime addition to the pool. I like them overall. One light initially worked intermittently, but adjusting its battery connection resolved the issue.
View on Amazon →DOG POOL FLOAT · FIRST-HAND USE
Pet Soft dog float raft — Small, Blue Bone
I bought this inflatable dog pool float as another fun accessory for the pool. It is not an essential part of maintaining a stock tank pool, but it is part of the setup I actually use.
View on Amazon →POOLSIDE DECOR · FIRST-HAND USE
Vintage pool sign — 8 × 12 inch
I also added this vintage-style “Swim at Your Own Risk / Lifeguard Is Drunk Again” sign. This is purely a backyard decoration rather than pool equipment, but it is part of the finished pool area.
View on Amazon →What I would buy first
If the goal is simply to make a stock tank pool easier to own, I would separate the practical purchases from the fun ones. Cleaning, water testing and storage solve recurring ownership tasks. The fountain, lights, float and sign are additions that make the space more enjoyable once the basics are covered.
Would I buy them again?
Yes. I like all of these additions and they have stayed part of my pool setup. The minor battery-connection issue with one floating light is the only problem I have encountered among the items listed here.
Amazon buttons above are affiliate links. Product availability can change.
If you are considering the pool itself, start with my complete 8-foot stock tank pool setup for the package, price I paid, installation time and actual pump-and-filter setup.