pond liners?

nybirdman · Dec 5, 2016

We purchased 50# bags of sodium benonite from a local well driller @ $15.00 per.Also called well drillers clay.

Redneck in training · Dec 5, 2016

Using a membrane seals the pond but it also stops "mineral exchange" in other words you have to treat it more like a swimming pool.
There are one things I learned too late to have good pond: Bulldozers don't compact soil. I think if the original builder who covered the sand with clay compacted it with sheep foot roller I bet it would seal better.

Grouseman · Feb 26, 2017

Thank you again for the information, I have some questions do you think I'm ready for the liner yet?

EddieWalker · Feb 27, 2017

Since this is just for training dogs, is it safe to assume that they will only be getting in and out of the water from the end with the shallow slope?

Will you be filling it with a hose?

I think that going with bentonite would be a huge waste of money, time and effort. It has to be mixed into the soil and compacted to be effective. Even then, it's not 100 percent.

For your sized pond, find the lowest priced rubber liner out there. Look at roofing supply businesses since so many buildings use rubber liners for their roofs. The fish supply stores sell a special rubber liner designed to be fish safe. You're not raising gold fish, so that wont matter to you. Just keeping water in there is all that matters. Especially if you are having to fill it with a hose!!!

Ghost River Retrievers · Feb 27, 2017

Grouseman said:
Thank you again for the information, I have some questions do you think I'm ready for the liner yet?
View attachment 500113 View attachment 500114

I'm not a pond builder, but I am a retriever trainer, so that's the perspective I'm coming from.
I presume that you are building this to be a swim-by pond...if so, the banks seem a bit steep. Your dogs will be climbing out of that pond a whole bunch and you don't want them to use up all their energy simply from climbing out of the pond, especially due to the number of repetitions. Most of the training ponds around here have the banks at a 45 degree slope.
GRR

Grouseman · Feb 27, 2017

Ghost River Retrievers said:
I'm not a pond builder, but I am a retriever trainer, so that's the perspective I'm coming from.
I presume that you are building this to be a swim-by pond...if so, the banks seem a bit steep. Your dogs will be climbing out of that pond a whole bunch and you don't want them to use up all their energy simply from climbing out of the pond, especially due to the number of repetitions. Most of the training ponds around here have the banks at a 45 degree slope.
GRR

Yes it is a swim-by pond, I will be tapering down the edges. I just don't want it to wide. Right know it is 33 x 55 feet. Thank you.

Ghost River Retrievers · Feb 28, 2017

Grouseman said:
Yes it is a swim-by pond, I will be tapering down the edges. I just don't want it to wide. Right know it is 33 x 55 feet. Thank you.

I would consider it to be the perfect size.
And yes, I'm jealous! : )

Grouseman · Mar 3, 2017

Here is an up date with photo's.

skipperbrown · Mar 4, 2017

I have a pond liner in my pond and I have dogs. The liner material is the same as used in commercial building roofing and was installed by a commercial roofing vendor. The liner is very heavy and you will need a team to place it and you will need to be wary of tracking dirt on the seams before gluing. The issue you will have to overcome is the liner becomes slick as glass once it gets a layer of leaves, silt, or anything else on it. It's find for a few months, but their is no way I can now stand on the liner without sliding into the pond. Ask me how I know that. My pond has steep sides, about 25-30 degrees maybe, and even my dogs cannot crawl out without help. If I was doing it again, I would have stair stepped the edges with at least 2 steps. I highly recommend you incorporate some type of stairs or you will need to built a ramp for the dogs to get out. My pond leaked. We tried a ton of bentonite and it still leaked. The liner has been in for at least 5 years and the only leaking comes from evaporation. Best of luck.