Are you 100% that it will leak? I mean how could it leak?To double your chances of getting a leak?
It's finally happening!
- Thread starter The Masked Shadow
- Start date
The Masked Shadow
It has something to do with birds and bees. Forget that comment.
Am glad you got the stamp of approval did you do research on your citys permits of building a pond? Some towns/villages consider it an engineering requirement those days if its being dug out by machine. Since its past 3 feet deep its almost a gaurantee. I even got grief from my citys inspector digging an emergency trench when my yard was flooding and i already had a broken sump pipe floodingninto my basement and that weekend was calling for more rains.... my father and I dug a trench a foot to 2 foot deep down the yard to channel the water away from my house. So my basement could keep drying out. Village later gave me special permission due to my odd placed yard and easement issue. Thats when i found out we got lucky we didnt bring in machines.
As well as having the hidden cable lines, water, gas pipes sewer pipes under ground so you can know exactly where etc. Are you at that stage yet?
It leaks if you get a hole in it.
Dig out the pond, remove sharp rocks and other obvious protrusions, and then line the hole with something...either the pond liner underpad that is sold for the purpose, or (even better) old carpeting. Lay the liner carefully in place. Don't walk around inside while wearing football cleats or ice skates. Don't toast your new pond by throwing wine glasses into it. Don't use a sharp knife to stab unwanted snails or crayfish to remove them. In other words...don't put a hole in it.
My one little inground pond (using a liner) is going into its sixth trouble-free year now. A friend's pond which I helped him build, again using a liner, is now in its 9th year, no issues.
My only problem with a liner pond occurred a couple years ago, when a small above-ground pond made using a wooden framework and liner was destroyed by an inquisitive bear. Even then, the liner itself remained intact and is now in use again.
Liners are convenient, relatively inexpensive, and they work. Just take your time, build the pond and install the liner carefully, don't take shortcuts and you should have no problems. Come to think of it, that's a fairly good approach with anything else in the hobby, or in life.
Dig out the pond, remove sharp rocks and other obvious protrusions, and then line the hole with something...either the pond liner underpad that is sold for the purpose, or (even better) old carpeting. Lay the liner carefully in place. Don't walk around inside while wearing football cleats or ice skates. Don't toast your new pond by throwing wine glasses into it. Don't use a sharp knife to stab unwanted snails or crayfish to remove them. In other words...don't put a hole in it.
My one little inground pond (using a liner) is going into its sixth trouble-free year now. A friend's pond which I helped him build, again using a liner, is now in its 9th year, no issues.
My only problem with a liner pond occurred a couple years ago, when a small above-ground pond made using a wooden framework and liner was destroyed by an inquisitive bear. Even then, the liner itself remained intact and is now in use again.
Liners are convenient, relatively inexpensive, and they work. Just take your time, build the pond and install the liner carefully, don't take shortcuts and you should have no problems. Come to think of it, that's a fairly good approach with anything else in the hobby, or in life.
It has something to do with birds and bees. Forget that comment.
Am glad you got the stamp of approval did you do research on your citys permits of building a pond? Some towns/villages consider it an engineering requirement those days if its being dug out by machine. Since its past 3 feet deep its almost a gaurantee. I even got grief from my citys inspector digging an emergency trench when my yard was flooding and i already had a broken sump pipe floodingninto my basement and that weekend was calling for more rains.... my father and I dug a trench a foot to 2 foot deep down the yard to channel the water away from my house. So my basement could keep drying out. Village later gave me special permission due to my odd placed yard and easement issue. Thats when i found out we got lucky we didnt bring in machines.
As well as having the hidden cable lines, water, gas pipes sewer pipes under ground so you can know exactly where etc. Are you at that stage yet?
My community is fine with it - as long as you don't do it in your front yard at over 18 inches deep. My yard is placed at a downward slant - sheds about a foot every 10 feet. Hence the stream idea. There are petroleum lines about 1/4 of a mile away. Not sure about hidden cable lines - that would be devestating. But my community allows the digging of pools and ponds, so I assume there aren't any. My grandpa, who is a landscaper and has built many MANY ponds ovewr the years will help building. I'm at the stage of talking to him how and when. It will most definitely be dug soon.
Thanks for this professional opinion.
Your other paragraphs, on the other hand, are valuable. No bears. No racoons (if you can believe that). Only cyotes, rats, mice, and the extremely rare and elusive possum. My parents did a remodel on their room and changed from carpet to tile, so we do have carpet. I've heard carpet works. Is it because it soaks up leaks? I will be very careful, as people who are installing ponds should be.
It doesn't soak up leaks; it helps prevent them by acting as a soft layer of padding to protect against punctures from sharp sticks, pieces of debris, etc. in the excavation.
Quality liners are not fragile. They are tough, UV-resistant and durable. I've been told by people with tons of pond experience to expect 20 years or more out of a properly-installed liner pond. Can't say for sure yet, but results so far are promising.
Do some research on bog filters before you start. They sound great, look terrific and it will be much easier if it is part of your original design rather than an add-on later. They are sort of the outdoor pond version of using pothos in an aquarium for nitrate removal. I'm trying to figure out a way to add one to my current pond.
Quality liners are not fragile. They are tough, UV-resistant and durable. I've been told by people with tons of pond experience to expect 20 years or more out of a properly-installed liner pond. Can't say for sure yet, but results so far are promising.
Do some research on bog filters before you start. They sound great, look terrific and it will be much easier if it is part of your original design rather than an add-on later. They are sort of the outdoor pond version of using pothos in an aquarium for nitrate removal. I'm trying to figure out a way to add one to my current pond.
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I never secured mine. Lay it down, spread the liner on top, add water. Once you get some water into the pond, that liner and underpad are not going anywhere.
Ok, thanks! I'll talk to my grandpa about this. Still would love information for my other questions as well!
Cooool. Must have lots of pics.
You might want to check with "Miss Utility" before digging if that applies in your area.
You might want to check with "Miss Utility" before digging if that applies in your area.
