Personally I would have part of it, maybe half, as part of a deck and the exposed part sitting on a concrete slab with planter boxes around it filled with whatever seems interesting. Maybe even smaller bodies of water around the exposed side using preforms or what have you. Lots of leeway here.

I agree, rocks can be pricey if you don't have access to free ones.

If you want a funky "natural" look, you could get a bunch of branches and vines and make a twiggy fence/arbor/trellis around it. I'm going to be doing something like that for a trellis for a hummingbird vine to grow on next year. I may even venture into a "fish-watching" chair if I am brave enough.

This has been an interesting to think on.

I think rather than 'disguising' the stock tank, to hide it in plain site. Do something to make the stock tank the center piece of a garden. For example,

{{gwi:234532}}

We recently put a stock tank in the front of our house, under the eaves. It is being used as a rain barrel and standing water prevention. We just had >10" rain in three days so all the caladiums and most of the canna's are laying down right now.

{{gwi:234533}}

~dianne

Here is a link that might be useful: More pictures ....

Just ran across a product for treating the inside of the stock tank on regular pond use only. It is a rubberized coating. Check the link.

Here is a link that might be useful: PermaFlex