Stock Tank Pool Water Chemistry: A Simple Maintenance Guide

Keeping a stock tank pool clean comes down to two things: physical filtration (your pump and vacuum) and chemical balance. Here is what you need to know.

What chemicals does a stock tank pool need?

• Chlorine tablets — sanitize and kill bacteria and algae (but NEVER let the chlorine tablet touch the bottom of a tank as it can cause rust- check out our chlorine float to keep your tank clear)
• pH increaser / decreaser — keeps water in the safe range
• Test strips — monitor levels weekly

Target water chemistry levels

• Free chlorine: 1–3 ppm
• pH: 7.2–7.6
• Total alkalinity: 80–120 ppm

Why does my stock tank pool keep turning green?

Green water means algae — chlorine has dropped too low. Check: pump running 4–8 hours daily, filter cartridge not clogged, chlorine dispenser has tablets. To recover: vacuum the bottom, shock with chlorine shock, run pump continuously 24 hours, then resume normal maintenance.

Simple weekly routine

1. Daily: run pump 4–8 hours, check chlorine dispenser
2. Weekly: test chemistry, rinse filter, vacuum bottom
3. Monthly: replace filter cartridge if flow drops

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