Fish Pond Liners Are a Flexible Solution

Fish Pond Liners Are a Flexible Solution
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Jan_Rautenbach]Jan Rautenbach

One of the easiest ways to build a pond is to use a flexible fish pond liner. There are various types available, and provided the supplier sells material that may be used to join smaller lengths, it can be used to line a pond of any shape or size.

When you look for fish pond supplies, look out for different types of liner to see what is available to you. If you are considering a fish pond construction kit, then be sure to check what type of liner is included in the kit, and how big (or small) it is. If you want to build a large pond it is usually best to buy all the items required individually, particularly the liner.

The two most popular liners in the United States of America are polyethylene and EPDM, which is an ethylene propylene polymer. But there are some other options as well.

Polyethylene
In layman's terms, polyethylene is plastic. We use it to waterproof buildings and we can use it to make ponds watertight. The secret when using it for a pond is to ensure that you use a polyethylene liner that is strong enough. Generally the thicker the plastic the stronger it will be, but it is also best to use black liners because the carbon used in their manufacturer will inhibit the effects of ultra-violet light much more effectively.

The biggest bugbear with polyethylene liners is that they puncture relatively easily, so ideally buy the thickest and strongest material available. Polyethylene pond liners available in the USA are 20-mil, 30-mil or 40-mil thick (this is equivalent to 200, 300 and 400 micron plastic). Generally the thinner materials are available in larger sizes, for example up to 40,000 square feet for 20-mil and only up to 25,000 square feet for 40-mil. This is ironic since it is best to use a thicker, longer lasting liner for larger ponds.

But you can join two length of polyethylene together with a cross-laminated, high density tape and rubberized asphalt. Otherwise you can use the double-sided fabrication tape manufactured to repair polyethylene. It comes in 30 foot-long rolls that are 2 inches wide.

If you are using polyethylene for a pond liner it is best to pad the base under the liner with geotextile fabric to prevent any possibility of the material being punctured from below. Originally developed to stabilize steep soil banks and help to prevent soil erosion, it is softer and more effective than sand.

EPDM
Very popular as a pond liner in the USA, EPDM is well suited to the irregular shapes favored for decorative and koi ponds. The material is resistant to the sun's harmful UV rays and it has a life expectancy of more than 30 years.

EPDM liners are sold in a wide range of sizes from 5 feet x 50 feet to 40 feet x 50 ft, and even up to 20 feet x 100 ft. Individual panels may be seamed together using a special kind of tape. Repair kits are also supplied.

Originally developed as a roofing material, the standard thickness used for fish ponds is 45-mil.

Butyl rubber
More popular in the United Kingdom than in the USA, butyl rubber is said to have a life expectancy of up to 50 years, but it is very expensive. Available in various thicknesses, it is highly resistant to puncturing and
won't degenerate in the sun. The thicker the material, the more difficult it is to work with.

Geotextile fabric
Although not strictly speaking a flexible pond liner, geotextile membranes or geofabrics as they are sometimes called can be used to line fish ponds.

The material itself isn't waterproof, but once coated with a rubberized bitumen product that contains a high percentage of rubber latex, a geotextile membrane will form a flexible and impervious coating that will hold water without leaking. Unlike true flexible liners, size is not an issue, because all you do is overlap each section by about six inches, and once you have painted the bitumen over the top, the join will be sealed.

Jan Rautenbach has an interest in fish ponds. He has made a study that will be of interest, whether you are planning a new fish pond, koi pond or backyard pond. His site has valuable articles on selecting the right equipment, pond construction methods, as well as a link to reliable fish pond supplies companies. Go to http://BuyFishPondSupplies.com.

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Fish-Pond-Liners-Are-a-Flexible-Solution&id=3418159] Fish Pond Liners Are a Flexible Solution