6 Best Budget Stock Tanks For Beginners For Small Acreage

Setting up your first pasture for a few goats or sheep always starts with the basics: fence, shelter, and water. While the first two get a lot of attention, the water trough is often an afterthought—a critical mistake. The right stock tank saves you time, prevents headaches, and keeps your animals healthy, while the wrong one can mean cracked plastic in winter, daily scrubbing in summer, or just being too big or small for the job. Choosing the right tank isn’t about finding the biggest or most expensive one; it’s about matching the material, size, and shape to your specific piece of land and the animals you’re raising.

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Tuff Stuff 110 Gallon Oval Tank: Top Durability

When you need a tank that can handle being kicked, pushed, and leaned on by livestock, this is your answer. The Tuff Stuff tank is made from a thick, impact-resistant plastic that feels a world away from the flimsier options. It’s the kind of gear you buy once and expect to last for a decade or more.

The material is also UV-resistant, so it won’t get brittle and crack after a few years in the sun. The oval shape is a huge practical advantage on a small property. You can tuck it neatly against a fence line or the side of a barn, saving precious space in a small paddock or corral.

While it’s one of the pricier plastic tanks on this list, the cost is justified by its sheer toughness. If you have animals that are hard on their equipment, like a couple of boer goats or a young steer, paying a little more upfront for a tank you won’t have to replace is a smart investment. It’s heavy, even when empty, so plan on putting it where you want it to stay.

CountyLine 100 Gallon Poly Tank: Best Value Pick

This is the workhorse tank you’ll find on countless small farms, and for good reason. The CountyLine poly tank hits the sweet spot between affordability, durability, and practicality. It’s not as bombproof as the Tuff Stuff, but it’s more than tough enough for most beginner livestock situations.

Made from UV-stabilized polyethylene, it holds up well to the elements and is light enough for one person to move when empty. Most models come with a built-in drain plug, which is a non-negotiable feature for easy cleaning. Tipping a full 100-gallon tank to scrub it is a chore you’ll only do once.

Think of this as the reliable default choice. It’s perfect for a few sheep, a small herd of goats, or even as a secondary water source for a horse. You can find them at nearly any farm supply store, making them easy to source and replace if needed. For the price, you simply can’t beat the functionality.

Behlen 70 Gallon Round Galvanized Stock Tank

There’s an undeniable classic appeal to a galvanized steel tank. But beyond looks, steel offers a few practical benefits. The metal surface naturally discourages algae growth better than dark plastic, meaning a little less scrubbing during the hot summer months.

The 70-gallon size is excellent for smaller livestock. It’s an ideal capacity for a flock of ducks, a trio of Nigerian Dwarf goats, or a large flock of chickens. The rigid steel walls won’t bow or flex, even when animals are pushing against them. This rigidity is something plastic can’t quite match.

However, there are tradeoffs. Galvanized steel can eventually rust, especially if the zinc coating gets scratched or if you place a salt block in the water, which accelerates corrosion. They also transfer temperature more readily, getting hot in the sun and losing heat quickly in the cold, making them less ideal for extreme climates without shade or a de-icer. Still, for its durability and aesthetic, it’s a fantastic choice that doubles as a great raised garden bed if you ever upgrade.

Rubbermaid 50 Gallon Foam Tank: Lightweight Pro

The single biggest advantage of the Rubbermaid tank is its weight. Made from structural foam, it’s shockingly light but surprisingly strong. This makes it the perfect choice for rotational grazing systems or any situation where you need to move your water source frequently.

This material also provides a bit of insulation. It helps keep water cooler in the summer sun and resists freezing slightly longer than thin-walled plastic or steel tanks. The 50-gallon capacity is on the smaller side, but it’s ideal for:

• A temporary paddock for a few sheep.
• A quarantine pen for a new animal.
• Watering a small flock of poultry.

The main drawback is that its light weight can be a liability. A strong wind can blow an empty one across the pasture, and a pushy animal can shove it around if it’s less than half full. But for portability and ease of handling, nothing else comes close.

High Country Plastics 125 Gallon Round Poly Tank

If you have a few more animals or just want the peace of mind that comes with extra water capacity, this is a great step up. High Country Plastics focuses on robust designs, and their tanks often feature thicker walls and heavily reinforced rims that stand up to abuse.

Many of their products are made from FDA-approved, food-grade plastic, which is a nice feature for anyone concerned about material safety. A 125-gallon tank provides a great buffer, meaning you don’t have to worry about filling it every single day. For someone with a busy schedule, that time savings is a huge benefit.

The round shape is very strong structurally and allows multiple animals to drink at once without competing for a corner spot. The downside is that a round tank has a larger footprint than an oval one of similar capacity, so make sure you have the space for it. It’s an excellent, durable option for a small, permanent pasture setup.

Little Giant 40 Gallon Tub: Most Versatile

Every small farm needs one of these tubs, even if it’s not your primary stock tank. Its versatility is unmatched. The 40-gallon capacity is perfect for a small group of animals, but its true value lies in its multi-purpose design.

You’ll find yourself using it for everything. It can be a water trough for ducks, a feed tub for mixing grain, a temporary brooder for chicks, a tub for washing equipment, or a mobile water source for animals in a temporary pen. The built-in handles make it easy to carry, dump, and scrub.

While it’s too small to be the main water source for anything larger than a few mini-goats, it’s an indispensable piece of farm equipment. It’s the perfect starter "tank" for someone with just a handful of chickens or as a secondary, specialized tub for any homestead. Don’t underestimate its utility.

API Stock Tank De-Icer for Cold Climates

A stock tank is only useful if the water inside it isn’t a block of ice. For anyone farming in a region with freezing winters, a stock tank de-icer isn’t a luxury; it’s a necessity. These simple devices sit in the tank and use a heating element to keep a small area of water ice-free.

When choosing one, look for a model with a built-in thermostat. This will turn the unit on only when temperatures drop near freezing, saving a significant amount of electricity. The goal isn’t to heat the whole tank, but simply to ensure your animals can always get a drink.

Safety is the most critical consideration here. Always plug a de-icer into a GFCI-protected outlet and run the cord through a PVC pipe or other conduit to protect it from curious animals that might chew on it. A de-icer works most efficiently in a plastic or foam tank, as metal tanks lose heat to the surrounding air much faster.

Trough-O-Matic Float Valve for Auto-Filling

Hauling hoses or buckets to fill a stock tank every day gets old fast. An automatic float valve, like the Trough-O-Matic, is a simple mechanical solution that automates the job. It connects to a standard garden hose and functions just like the float in a toilet tank, adding water as the level drops.

This is a massive time-saver, especially in the summer. It ensures your animals have a constant supply of fresh water and prevents the tank from running dry on a hot day. Installation is usually straightforward, requiring you to drill a hole in the side of the tank.

However, they are not a "set it and forget it" solution. Hoses can be chewed by animals, freeze and burst in the winter, and the valves themselves can sometimes get stuck or clogged with debris. Think of a float valve as a powerful tool for convenience, not a replacement for checking on your animals’ water supply every day.

Ultimately, the best stock tank is the one that fits your specific operation. A lightweight, 50-gallon tub is perfect for a rotational grazer, while a heavy-duty 110-gallon tank is better for a permanent pasture with rambunctious goats. Don’t overbuy for your needs; start with a simple, affordable option that works for the animals you have now. You can always add a second tank or upgrade as your small farm grows.