[Shayne]

Wondering if anyone has used the above as a liner. Dug out big pond, got quote for BIG price. Is there any less expensive way to do it? How about truck taurpaulin?
Ideas welcome as hole is looking a bit tired with a drizzle of water in the end. Thnx.

[vulkan]

Hi, sorry, but for a pond you should use a pond liner, concrete or fibreglass. Anything else will not last and costs more in the long run as you have to buy that and then buy the proper material.

Most plastic "sheets" are too thin, not UV stabalised or both.

[ormondsview]

I've used rubber and if there are no stones below to cause friction, then it will last 10 to 15 years. It is the material for our big pond and it is 3/8inch thickness. Never have it exposed to sunlight as it dries up and cracks and perishes. So, watch water level, make it gradual dip if possible. Here's the stuff http://www.garden-pond-supplies.com/Pondmaster_EDPM_Synthetic_Rubber_Pond_Liner_p/02106.htm See who your local dealers are. No doubt they ship.

I use the pond on a high point and put in a hose which drains by gravity to water my plants while I refill the pond each week, just topping it up. Useful to have a waterfall system because it needs to have air to avoid stagnant algae buildup.

[forest flame]

depending on the size it may be cheaper to concrete it.though conrete is porous it will seal itself in time with the formation of algae etc.

[vulkan]

[SorchaBC]

On a similiar note; we were thinking of using the old middle from our waterbed. The plan is to split it open, remove the filler, and use the rubber membrane. It's for an area that gets waterlogged all the time anyway, so the idea is to embrace that and have a shallow aquatic plant area. Has anyone any suggestions in relation to this?

[vulkan]

I wouldn't do it. From what you have said the problem is two fold:

If the proposed area already gets waterlogged then anything water proof you put in the ground is liable to get lifted out of where you put it as the water table rises. It is not unusual if an area gets flooded for any rigid ponds to be lifted clean out of the ground. With anything flexible they just get flipped out at one or more edges or pushed up in the middle like a giant blister.

The other problem with using an old water bed or any other non aquatic product is what is actually in the make up of the material? There may be an anti algaecide to stop the water going off colour as well as a host of other "nasties"

Years ago a friend of mine had his brick built pond sealed with human grade "paint" (It is used to seal the inside of water storage tanks that as humans we get our water from.) The water that comes in contact with this "paint" is fit for human consumption.
So if its fit for humans it must be better than fit for fish and so ok for a pond.
NO, it killed all the fish, it contains an algaecide that is harmless to people, but lethal to fish.

Aquatic use products do not contain any chemicals that are harmful to aquatic life, anything else may do.

Although you said you want to put in just plants, later you may add fish, why not build a raised pond / flower bed, or if it stays waterlogged most of the time, why not plant directly in it?

[Rockworld]

[Rockworld]

[SorchaBC]

Vulkan,

It does stay waterlogged all winter, but dries out in the spring/summer. Like now, it's totally dry but in winter we have a "lake" for weeks on end. I definately only want a shallow area for waterloving plants, have enough animals without going down the fish route

I have some rubber pond liner as well, just figured the waterbed liner might be put to better use than filling a landfill. Ah, I'll find something to do with it somewhere!

[vulkan]