Tips On Installing a Box-Welded Pond Liner
Installing a box-welded pond liner for any regular shaped vertically sided pond, is a straightforward procedure, when the design of the pond was measured and dug-out. The pre-installation preparation and planning will ultimately dictate the success of your pond project.
When locating the proper water feature, try to avoid being near trees - not just are fallen leaves a nuisance in fall, but shrub roots can damage even the best protected pond liners.
Along with choosing to build a normal shaped pond, it's also important to consider the kind of edging you're likely to lay round the perimeter. The main function of the edging is to secure the liner in position but also needs to mix in with the surrounding landscape and the formal nature of the pond. Flagstone is a favorite option of edging material. The edging needs to be at least 8-10cms deep to deliver a secure anchor to the liner and make disguising the edge of the pool much easier.
It is important when purchasing your box-welded lining to ensure you allow for a sufficiently wide flange on the top edge to accommodate for all finishing details.
If the pond is to be utilized for koi carp, underside drainage must be considered, with the floor of the pond sloping gently to one or more sumps where soiled water can be taken to an external filter system.
Box-welded pond liners are principally utilized in ponds which have vertical or near-vertical sides, any pond deeper than 0.5m should have brick or concrete block walls to prevent ground water eroding the surrounding soil into the gap behind the lining and stretching and damaging the pond walls.
Before starting to install the pond liner, first ensure the interior surface of the pond is eloquent and stones or roots which could damage the liner, are removed. Bear in mind, when the pond is full of water, there is a huge weight pressing down on the liner - a cubic metre of water weighs a metric tonne, therefore a little pond measuring 3m x 2m and 1m deep will hold 6 tonnes of water.
The first procedure is to put a protective coating of underlay, such as geotextile, which will not only protect the liner from being punctured but additionally allow natural gases formed under the lining to escape. Geotextiles are rough, inert, permeable fabrics, typically manufactured from polypropylene. The underlay should be carefully bedded into all corners of the pond and adjoining sheets overlapped by at least 30cms. It is a fantastic idea to remove your shoes and get into the pond at this phase. The underlay can be pinned into the soil with staples made from stainless steel wire to hold it in place before the lining is installed. The staples can be dealt with by small pieces of geotextile held in place by tape.
Capacity
When the inside of the pond has been ready, the box-welded pond liner can be lowered into place. This should be done carefully to avoid stretching the lining material and also to minimise wrinkles, which shouldn't be necessary if the lining has been properly measured. Water could be added slowly as the lumps are worked out. It's a fantastic idea to measure the total capacity of the pond at this point, since this information will be vital in regards to populating the pond with fish and plant life or if handling the water. If you do not have access to a flow meter, then time how long it takes to fill out a ten litre bucket, then time how long it takes to fill out the pond. You won't be far out.
When the pond liner is set up, you need to add further protective geotextile underlay in these areas where gravel, rocks or stone are going to be placed, for example on the concrete border, other regions where the flange is going to be covered and also on any ledges where you're planting plants.
Bear in mind, even if you're using cement or any other chemical compounds to fix the stonework in place, you have to take action to prevent sediment falling to the water to avoid needing to give it a thorough clean when the structure is complete.
Once your pond is filled, it's crucial to find the water to the right condition prior to adding any fish. If your water source is chlorinated, you'll have to employ a dechlorinator and then wait for a couple of days for your pond to achieve ambient temperature, then add a filter starter - a unique blend of friendly bacteria which enable your filter to begin breaking down ammonia, and also remove uneaten food and other waste. Keep testing your water and when the conditions are right, add your own fish.