The easiest ponds and basins to line feature low sloping banks, flat bottoms, and relatively shallow designs. However, natural aquatic habitats tend to include the opposite of all of these features. Even ponds and pools may feature steeper slopes than expected if grading isn’t recommended. The narrow layout and tight curves of many streams and rivers make them difficult to line when necessary for erosion control. Yet, it’s worth the extra effort to install a liner in these challenging situations when it’s called for by an environmental designer. Choose a thinner, more flexible material without sacrificing strength or durability by sticking with RPE liners from BTL Liners. These extra tough and flexible materials help you address all of the following challenges common to lining aquatic habitats.
Scale
The sheer scale of some aquatic habitats, especially man-made ones, makes them challenging to line. Custom manufacturing is the key to minimize leak risks. Having a continuous sheet manufactured can help minimize the number of seams, which in turn reduces the chances of leaking significantly. Not all liner manufacturers can make custom sized liners, leaving you relying on narrow rolls that take more time and effort to install. Turn to BTL for custom manufactured RPE liners for all types of aquatic habitat use.
Water Quality
Many pond liners are inappropriate for using in sensitive aquatic habitats since they can have a negative effect on water quality. Liners that are not explicitly tested for their compatibility with fish and plants should be kept out of all zoo, aquarium, and natural habitats. It’s an unsafe addition that isn’t worth what it brings to the project. Fish-safe and plant-safe liners are available from sources like BTL, so there’s no need to gamble with a product that isn’t thoroughly tested for safety.
Underwater Architecture
Purpose-built aquatic habitats vary primarily from everyday ponds and lakes by featuring more underwater architecture built with fish or other animals in mind. For example, almost all ponds feature at least one shelf structure to create a shallow section around the banks and anchor the liner. Yet most aquatic habitat designs call for multiple shelves of varying heights, making lining a lot more complicated. That’s before you add in the overhangs, sunken berms, and bottom-anchored “furniture” that many habitat designs call for. Every sunken rock pile and anchored tree trunk requires planning during the lining stage. Some of these features may be graded and installed under the liner, while others are more practical to build over the surface after lining.
Pumps and Other Equipment
Don’t forget about the importance of pumps, filters, and other water quality equipment in controlled aquatic environments. The enclosures in zoos and aquariums, in particular, can hardly function without extensive water treatment systems. Even habitats that are only partially aquatic tend to require at least some filtration and treatment to stay clean without constant attention from the staff. Every piece of equipment that penetrates through the liner complicates installation, but it can all be accommodated with the right reinforced liner material.
Animals
Aquatic habitats built both in zoos and out in the wild leave the materials exposed to animals, insects, and more. The construction materials must be able to withstand the claws and burrowing habits of everything from bears to muskrats, depending on where the habitat is built. Few other ponds or lakes offer quite such a challenging amount of animal exposure as those used for zoo habitats and enclosures. Reinforced liner materials are a must, along with thick layers of soil or concrete to keep animals and insects from making direct contact with the lining.
Wave Machines and Water Circulation
Many aquariums and zoos are now installing advanced pumps and centrifugal systems to go beyond just circulating the water in their aquatic habitats. Also known as advanced circulation and wave generation systems, these complex pieces of equipment make it a little more challenging to line the enclosures and exhibits. First, the wave patterns mean that splashes crest higher and therefore the lining needs to run further up the sidewalls of the tank or pond. Second, the extra wear and tear on the banks from the waves also means the liner must be able to stabilize them and prevent erosion. BTL Liners has products that can do both, making them ideal for using in any kind of habitat with an active water circulation system.
Extensive Rock Work and Natural Features
Finally, most aquatic habitat restorations and new enclosures alike call for extensive rock work. Natural looking arrangements of rocks and boulders create niches for species ranging from snails to crawfish, frogs, and newts. Many animals and reptiles kept in zoos also need rock areas to climb and bask on or hide under. With natural features worked extensively into most aquatic habitat designs, it can be tricky to line everything seamlessly while still creating the desired natural look. Using a liner that can be installed under almost any amount of gravel, rock, and sculpted cement goes a long way in achieving the desired habitat appearance. Appearance is important to more than just the visitors of a zoo. It’s also essential that the animals and fish feel comfortable in their homes.
No amount of lining challenges can prevent the successful implementation of the right geomembrane. If you’re not sure what material or specific product line would be best for a new aquatic habitat project, reach out to us here at BTL Liners. We can put our 40 years of industry experience to good use by helping advise you of your choices. Choosing the right liner makes installation go much more smoothly, even with all of the challenges listed above.
