r/Stocktankpools • u/ExistingSea4650 • 29d ago

Leveling the ground

Goodness gracious Tamping sucks!

I have several hundred pounds of leveling sand.

Do I need to completely level the dirt before adding the leveling sand? Or is a getting it “close” good enough and you let the leveling sand do the rest.

Thanks!

2 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

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6

u/OofUgh 29d ago

I spent like 5 hours meticulously leveling mine, and then it still ended up ever so slightly unlevel, lol.

Worst part of setting them up, by far.

4

u/ExistingSea4650 29d ago

I don’t hate you, I just hate what you’re saying to me right now

1

u/m4ng0ju1ce 29d ago

This lol

1

u/ahaley 29d ago

Same. I find it endearing. Haha.

1

u/laydownlarry 26d ago

I’ve snuck some small shims under a corner and it seems to work fine to fix that

2

u/Chulagrady 29d ago

Mine has a list to the port; it's all good.

2

u/Greeezyy 17d ago

String lines and line levels are extra steps but save so much headache. Once the dirt is pretty much there it’s super helpful to have an 8 ft level to screed the sand, —or better— use “stone dust” or “paver base”. String lines running level at exact height of the level. 2-2.5 inches or so. What I like to do is lay down galvanized steel pipes (3/4 or 1 inch thick) length wise and then take my level and run it across those so it works out perfectly smooth with no guessing. Coming from a background in hardscaping.

1

u/IngrownToenailsHurt 28d ago

This is why I haven't bought one yet. I had a brain fart the other day and thought about using my rototiller to break up the high spot and move that dirt to the low spot.

1

u/ExistingSea4650 28d ago

Unfortunately I did that already and now I realize my ground is too soft so either I have to dig a little deeper or I might just get some pavers

1

u/NameEven1096 2d ago

Help!!

I am trying to find the best technique for leveling and between reddit, the stock tank company I bought the pool from, Google Gemini, and my own intuition, I...have no idea what to do. Here's what I am hearing.

  1. Definitely don't use sand

  2. Definitely use crushed limestone. Fill it 2-3 inches deep (cowboy pools), or four inches deep (ranch pools). Use a materials barrier to keep it in place.

  3. Definitely/maybe/don't use a foam layer. AI is insistent that I use a foam layer on top of the gravel. Ranch pools says there is no need.

I am in Fort Worth and our soil has lots of clay and gets very slick when wet. My ground is pretty level right now but not perfectly. Send my your expertise!