concrete vs liner

[CYRUS]

i have a couple of questions that i was hoping you guy could help me on.
the idea would be building a 30'x12'x5' ingound pond.

-would pond liner be cheaper to construct than a concrete pond?
-why do i see alot of people who used pond liners convert to concrete ponds in the end?
-which material would keep the heat in better?
-how long do liner normally last?
-would a 1st time DIY pond builder have trouble building a concrete based pond?
-do you need UV filters for indoor ponds?

 

[Kobeclone]

A pond liner would be MUCH cheaper that a concrete one. For that size of pond, the liner should run around $400-$800- depending on season and where you live. If you go with a pond liner buy a 45-60 mill one.

A Firestone EDPM 60 mill.- the most widely used and best quality pond liner- comes with a 35 year warranty, so it will last atleast 35 years.

A concrete pond would keep in heat much better, but will cost 1000's of dollars more.

NOOO to the uv sterilizer if you use a pond liner. It is UV rays which ruin pond liners. With a uv sterilizer you can expect your pond liner to have holes in a few years-which will not be covered by the warranty.

It is not as much if you have indoor pond building experience, but more if you have pool building experience. If you go through with a 30X12X5 concrete pond, it won't matter how many cinderblock, plywood, etc. ponds you have built, but more how many pools you have built. With your dims, it is essentially a pool. If I wanted a concrete pond this large, I would hire an inground pool builder. You are looking at several tones of concrete that will need to be poured- which will somehow need to get down to your basement.

 

[oldfish]

NOOO to the uv sterilizer if you use a pond liner. It is UV rays which ruin pond liners. With a uv sterilizer you can expect your pond liner to have holes in a few years-which will not be covered by the warranty.

Sorry this one part of your advice is wrong!The UV rays of a UV filter never leave the filter itself and will not damage a liner.Also a good liner is UV protected so the sun's UV rays won't distroy it.

 

[Kobeclone]

Sorry this one part of your advice is wrong!The UV rays of a UV filter never leave the filter itself and will not damage a liner.Also a good liner is UV protected so the sun's UV rays won't distroy it.

Ok, you are right about UV rays never leaving filter, but even the very best liners are "only" protected for the sun's UV rays for 35 years. Over time, UV rays break down the chemicals in the liner. I guess our discussion of this is pointless considering this is in the indoor pond forum.

 

[black peter]

i have a couple of questions that i was hoping you guy could help me on.
the idea would be building a 30'x12'x5' ingound pond.

-would pond liner be cheaper to construct than a concrete pond?
-why do i see alot of people who used pond liners convert to concrete ponds in the end?
-which material would keep the heat in better?
-how long do liner normally last?
-would a 1st time DIY pond builder have trouble building a concrete based pond?
-do you need UV filters for indoor ponds?

Can you be more specific ?are you going to dig the hole in the basement or in your yard and then to build a green house over it ?

 

[Dr Joe]

Is this the same one you were digging in 07-27-2006?

 

[CYRUS]

yup thats the one.
so far the hole is there but nothing in it
i slaped a makeshift deck right ontop of it for now so no one fall in it
had to take a break since work got too busy
i was thinking of working on it again but havnt decided what to use yet

 

[CYRUS]

Can you be more specific ?are you going to dig the hole in the basement or in your yard and then to build a green house over it ?

well back in '06 green house was the plan but i dropped that plan since im loosing too much heat by using green house look. i'd sure would look cool though. i decided to do an extension of the house instead. almost like a covered deck with glass sliding doors so atleast you's still see the garden when you sit inside. maybe add 2 skylights in just to get some sunshine in but not loose too much heat in the room

 

[IITUFFTOBEATII]

A concrete pond would keep in heat much better, but will cost 1000's of dollars more.

If the pond is below grade, which i surmise it is because the thread starter mentioned digging a hole, then this statement is incorrect. Soil is a very good insulator. Concrete is a conglomerate of rock aggregates that transfer heat faster than most soils.

 

[shinigami]

-do you need UV filters for indoor ponds?

NO, you do not need UV filter. In ponds UV is used to control algea blooms, which can turn your pond into green pea soup, and you will not be able to see your fish clearly. Even if the pond is outside, if it's shaded/covered/sunlight is blocked, you would not need UV.