what do you guys think about a pool liner for a pond liner ? i have a friend that is giving me a pool liner for a above ground pool that 20ft circle and 5 feet deep. no leaks or anything shes just buying a new one. i live in florida so the coldest it gets here is in the teens like 3 times a year ,so what should i stock ?i really dont want to heat it but i guess i could put it in the sump that im going to build out of 4 -30 gallon drums .
pool liner?
- Thread starter manfromnantucket
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anyone? im sure as i start building it and posting pics sombodys going to have something to say about me doing something wrong...
Its hard to make suggestions without some more information, overall it is going to be a big project. Could be awesome though. How are you going to use the liner, in the ground or above? It should be around 12,000 gallons. What is your budget? What are the plans for the drains, returns, barrels, media and pumps? What is the overall goal, natural planted look or try to keep it clear? If you post up your plans before you start we should be able to help with some suggestions.
thank you! ok i didnt know where to start. this is a very small budget build probbaly over some time 6-12 months. ok well lets start off. im going to build it in the ground but raise it up from the level gound about 8 inches so it doesnt get flooded. next im think im going to use a pool pump ,my step sister has for a pool she had a while ago. her old pool was like 40ft long 15 ft wide so i think the pump will be sufficent. next im going to get 3 55gal plastic drums, run the water from the pump into the first one. from the top of the drum and have floor buffer pads in there to filter it .then out the bottom to the next one, the next drum im going to layer this one with difftent levels of plexie glass with holes drilled in it put a buffer pad on top with activated carbon. then into the 3rd drum for a return. im not to sure on filtration but this is what im thinking. i want water in the pond to be clear but im going to have some plants in it for some 02 and filtration. now the thing im not really sure about is the depth. it gets cold here occasionally maybe 80 days a year here ist about 20-50 degrees out but thats it. so im not sure on heating ? i was hoping if i make it deep enough i wuoldnt have to heat it or just use miminal heat. hope this is a place to start. i know i have horrible grammer and spelling by the way sorry.
Details are key. If you keep posting up ideas as you develop the plans more people should chime in with suggestions. It is hard to make suggestions at the outset of a project this size without sounding pessimistic, just due to the scope of it. A lot of pond projects start out great and then grow extremely frustrating as what seem like unending problems comes up.
First concern would probably be the pool liner. I really don't know much about them. I do know you will need a huge hole that won't collapse. I am assuming the liner is made for a frame that supports it everywhere . Pond liners are made as a flat sheet to stretch and fold to fit the contours of the hole. I am assuming a pool liner is a seamed cylinder and will need an exact fit. First idea I think of for this is a plywood retaining wall and concrete collar extended above ground. Similar to this design from another site:
A pool pump will probably flow the amount of water you want, but they use a huge amount of energy compared to an external pond pump. Often they are 1500w or more. My neighbor keeps trying to give me his extra which is 1300w and would cost about $85 a month to run, vs pond pump of the same volume would cost less than $20 to run.
I would only consider species that would not require heat for a pond that size.
First concern would probably be the pool liner. I really don't know much about them. I do know you will need a huge hole that won't collapse. I am assuming the liner is made for a frame that supports it everywhere . Pond liners are made as a flat sheet to stretch and fold to fit the contours of the hole. I am assuming a pool liner is a seamed cylinder and will need an exact fit. First idea I think of for this is a plywood retaining wall and concrete collar extended above ground. Similar to this design from another site:
A pool pump will probably flow the amount of water you want, but they use a huge amount of energy compared to an external pond pump. Often they are 1500w or more. My neighbor keeps trying to give me his extra which is 1300w and would cost about $85 a month to run, vs pond pump of the same volume would cost less than $20 to run.
I would only consider species that would not require heat for a pond that size.
You're on the right track with burying it most of the way below grade. It will help w/temp. fluctuations and heat. Maybe able to get away with the cheap, bubble wrap looking covers to help retain heat for chilly nights. Still, may need to heat depending on the stock.
Pool pump will work.... very short term. You should look into a high effenciency pump. You can use the pool pump to cycle and get the pool going, but will want to search for a new (maybe used) pump while its running.
My biggest concern would be if the liner is rigid enough to withstand the soil pressure...
Pool pump will work.... very short term. You should look into a high effenciency pump. You can use the pool pump to cycle and get the pool going, but will want to search for a new (maybe used) pump while its running.
My biggest concern would be if the liner is rigid enough to withstand the soil pressure...
Mine works great, but since it's only a couple of months old i can't speak for life expectansy. I figured you can leave your pool set up year around even in cold climates like here, so the liner has to be very tough.
The only major drawback i had was getting the corner folds to look good, but I had the same problem with my 300 gallon upper pond with an actual pond liner.
I sent you a pm.
Tim
The only major drawback i had was getting the corner folds to look good, but I had the same problem with my 300 gallon upper pond with an actual pond liner.
I sent you a pm.
Tim