Knowledgebase
Welcome to the BTL Knowledgebase. Ever since we started lining ponds, creating covers, and helping people with their projects, we've gotten asked a lot of questions. Many of these questions are repeatedly asked, so we put together the BTL knowledgebase to help answer any questions you had about a particular subject. We are adding new questions every month, so continue to check back often!
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Can koi live in dirty water?
Just like humans, koi can survive in some kinds of dirty water for short periods of time, but they’re unlikely to thrive
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Are koi ponds hard to maintain?
No backyard ornamental pond is maintenance-free, but the degree of daily or periodic maintenance will largely depend on how your pond is designed, set up, and the choices you make for fish and plants.
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How do you clean a koi pond without draining it?
The work of cleaning a pond can and in fact should be accomplished without draining it, since “mature” water is full of bacteria and other microorganisms that play important roles in your pond’s ecosystem.
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How do I keep my pond clean naturally?
Ponds are complex ecosystems and if you’re setting one up in artificial circumstances, it takes special care and constant attention to maintain it without artificial support.
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How do I clean the bottom of my pond?
Ponds always seem to attract plenty of “junk,” whether it’s branches and leaves from that weeping willow or bright yellow pollen from the pines in the other corner of the yard.
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How do I keep my pond water clean and clear?
Once your pond is more than a few days old, you’ll need to take care of it to maintain the clarity it had on day one.
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How much water should a pond lose per day?
Ideally, a pond will have no leaks and evaporation will not be excessive, requiring only occasional topping off.
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Do you need a liner for a pond?
Man-made ponds, whether ornamental, recreational or practical, require work so that the pond actually retains water and doesn’t lose it over a few hours or a few weeks.
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Can I put a new pond liner over an old one?
In general, there’s no problem with installing a new pond liner over an old one as long as you've corrected any issues that caused liner failure in the first place.
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Why is pond liner so expensive?
The prices for pond liners can vary significantly, depending on the material you’ve chosen.
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Can I use a tarp as a pond liner?
That's not an easy answer, since there are several types of plastic used in tarps.
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Are HDPE pond liners good?
HDPE is a quality liner that’s both durable and long-lasting, but it’s definitely worth looking at reinforced versions, which offer several significant advantages from simplified shipping and installation, to long term durability.
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Is PVC pond liner safe for fish?
PVC (Polyvinyl chloride) is a synthetic material that’s available in many different formulations, many of which include chemicals that are toxic to both fish and aquatic plants.
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How long does a koi pond liner last?
For backyard koi ponds, the lifespan of a liner depends more on the type and thickness of liner than anything else
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What thickness pond liner is best?
Pond liners are available in several thicknesses, but because they can be made with different materials, thicknesses aren’t always directly comparable.
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What are the best trees to plant around a pond?
Your major concerns with new trees are going to be falling leaves, twigs and branches, and eventually, invasive roots
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Should you put gravel in pond?
Gravel can be an attractive, natural looking addition to your pond, with some significant caveats.
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Will Leaves kill fish in a pond?
While leaves won't directly kill fish, they can cause deadly problems and it’s worth the effort to remove them.
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What can you use instead of pond liner?
If you’re looking to use a more natural solution than pond liners like PVC or artificial rubber (EPDM), there are a few choices which can be effective and look very natural, but they offer some interesting challenges.
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Can I use black plastic as a pond liner?
It can be tempting to go low budget on an expensive project like setting up a new backyard pond.
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What is the best liner for a pond?
There are several choices for fish-safe pond liner, each of which have their advantages and disadvantages.
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Should pond fish be fed in winter?
During the coldest months of winter, when water temperatures drop below 41 degrees Fahrenheit, fish will generally be in a semi-dormant state where their metabolism and activity slows dramatically.
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How often should pond fish be fed?
Surprisingly, your fish can manage pretty well on a relatively small amount of food.
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