Pond liners are often mistaken as a material only used on large, professional, or public ponds. Yet, privately owned residential ponds benefit just as much from the use of liners as any other water features. There’s no pond so small it doesn’t need a liner. Even patio water features made from buckets and barrels are often best designed with the use of a flexible liner. Aside from this persistent myth, there are many common misconceptions regarding liners for residential ponds. Make sure you know the facts about when liners are needed and how much they really benefit the pond owner.
You Can’t Have a Natural Pond with a Liner
Ponds lined with impermeable geomembranes and similar flexible materials can be just as natural as those only built with clay or soil. It’s true that contact between the water and the soil can encourage bacterial growth that cleans the water. However, these bacteria are just as abundant in a lined pond that’s naturalized with the addition of gravel and rock. Material that settles in the gaps between rocks quickly replaces the natural soil below the liner, creating a biodiverse space. Only if the liner is left exposed and no amount of sludge is allowed to build up will the pond remain static or sterile. Ponds made with geomembrane liners can be just as natural as any other design, if they’re built with plenty of plants and substrates for bacterial colonies.
Plants and Animals Will Quickly Damage the Liner
Some residential pond owners think that trying to install a geomembrane as a liner, or even a clay product, is a waste of time and money. They assume that growing tree roots and digging animals will ruin the liner materials within a matter of months or years. This leads them to forego any liner and just make up for the water lost to seepage by topping off the pond regularly. Considering the cost of water, or at least the power to pump it from a well, it’s obvious that putting in a durable and lasting liner is a better choice. A reinforced polyethylene liner is more than durable enough to withstand the challenge of residential installation if it can handle industrial use as well.
Flexible Liners Are Never Fish Safe
Overly cautious koi owners are often afraid to try new materials in their ponds because their favorite fish can cost thousands of dollars each. However, extensive laboratory testing is available today to determine if a particular geomembrane liner product is safe for fish. With third-party testing to back up a manufacturer’s claims, it’s now easier than ever to find materials safe for use in fishponds. There’s no need to gamble with materials designed for roofing or wonder how long-term exposure will affect the fish. There are plenty of fish-safe options here at BTL Liners to secure your koi and carp ponds without issue.
Pond Liners Are All Fish Safe
On the other end of the spectrum, some pond builders mistakenly tell their customers all pond liners are safe enough for fish. This isn’t true, even now, due to the use of many common plasticizing chemicals. These chemicals help various polymers stay flexible when used to make thin sheets like pond liners, especially when dealing with freezing temperatures or daily sun exposure. Unfortunately, these chemicals slowly leach out into the water and can affect sensitive plants and fish. A pond liner that isn’t rated as fish-safe is likely a threat to the long-term health of the pond life. Look for fish-safe pond liners before investing in any fish species, since you’re likely to become attached to them over time.
Liners Only Keep Water In
It’s true that the pond liner’s primary job is to keep the water inside where you need it the most. However, this overlooks the important role the liner also plays in keeping unwanted water out. When building a residential pond for fish or fishing, it’s especially important to ensure rising groundwater doesn’t dramatically change the pH balance or hardness of the water. Liners keep water out, just as much as in, when installed properly and with a heavy cover material to hold it down. Without a cover of gravel or sand over the liner, it may rise along with the water table in the area during heavy rain.
Rock and Gravel Cover Just Make Cleaning More Difficult
Speaking of cover materials to hold liners down, rock and gravel are commonly used for both that purpose and a naturalized look for the pond. However, some pond designers avoid the use of rocks and gravel due to the misconception that these materials make it harder to keep the pond clean. It’s true that it’s impossible to remove every bit of sludge from a pond filled with rocks due to all the gaps and openings between the materials. However, leaving these tiny gaps alone during dredging is actually recommended for pond ownership. These natural nooks and crannies are great for encouraging the growth of bacterial colonies that naturally break down waste and keep the water clean. If you remove all of these bacteria each time you dredge the pond, the natural system has a harder time staying balanced and healthy. Rock and gravel cover also help protect the liner material from both wear and UV exposure.
Pond Liners and Trees Don’t Mix
It’s true that the aggressive roots of some plants, like bamboo, can damage even the toughest pond liner materials. However, the risk of mature tree roots not along the bank of the pond is often overstated by pond design experts. With a reinforced liner and a thick underlayment layer to protect it, it’s perfectly possible to leave healthy trees near the pond for shade. Large roots won’t be able to penetrate through the material when it’s protected by a felt-like layer of underlayment. Keeping trees 20 to 50 feet back from the edge of the pond also reduces root development towards the water source. Finally, properly lined ponds are less likely to attract tree roots than unlined ponds since there’s no water constantly seeping through the soil to encourage growth.
Draining is Necessary for Dredging
Some people who are interested in building a residential pond misunderstand the dredging process and assume they’ll need to start draining their pond to clean it if they install a liner. However, it’s perfectly possible to use a dredging or vacuuming system that doesn’t require draining to remove the sludge. In fact, it’s often even possible to test the liner for leaks without draining the pond. Leaving the pond filled while cleaning and inspecting it can save a lot of money on water while preventing the need to remove and restock fish and plants.
Filters and Pumps Become Necessary in a Lined Pond
It’s not necessary to commit to a specific management style or water filtration system just to enjoy the stability offered by a real pond liner. There’s no need to invest in pumps, skimmers, filters, and more just to build a lined pond. With the right design and extensive enough planting, lined ponds can be as natural as you like and require little to no electricity. Lining is great for remote ponds as well as those in the backyard. If power is needed for aeration or water circulation, solar panels are usually sufficient to keep the system running smoothly regardless of its location.
With a better understanding of the value of pond liners, you should be ready to invest in the right materials for your project. There’s no need to settle for what’s available at home supply stores or local suppliers. Work with BTL Liners to get custom residential pond liner fabrication to fit any need. Our custom pond liners make it easy to complete any design, whether you need to add a detention pond, fishing hole, or natural swimming feature.
