6 mil Clear Plastic Sheeting as Liner?

[Jason]

Ok so I have been thinking about buying a roll of 25x10' 6mil clear plastic sheeting from Lowes or HD for $25 as a pond liner in my 300 gallon Im re-working at the moment and wanted to know your thoughts or experience and if it will last a couple of years?
I already have a 20 mil EPDM liner for it but I thought the "clear" look of the sheeting would display Lights in the pond well and see the earth's layers showing through, now the 20 mil is PLENTY strong, How?, well lets just say I had about 30 gallon in the bottom when I pulled up the liner from under the remaining water and it did not give or stretch that I could feel so Im confident in trying this Doubled-up 6 mil clear as a Liner for my small 300 gallon pond but with all factors in mind there is only ONE I am worried about... Promoting Root growth, since it's clear and sun will hit it sometimes, do you think it would give roots the urge to grow through or up or not affect it at all, Let me know what you guys think?! Thanks

 

[sissy]

well number one lights will have to be LED as other lights would get to hot for that liner .The rest I think would be trial and error .

 

[cr8tivguy]

I would be more concerned about punctures from small rocks and/or roots under the plastic. Although it may seem strong now, when a full pond of water is resting on the plastic, the force may be pretty strong against the earth. A little pebble of sand could be sharp enough to puncture the plastic. I have no scientific evidence (just Male Answer Syndrome).

Keep us posted on how it turns out.

 

[Neo]

I used it for ponds when I was a teenager (almost 20 years ago...ugh!) I had to take my fish in for winter though because the liner would freeze up and bust or the heat would rot them over the summer.

I have a feeling that liner would not look clear for long either, once the algae takes over they all look the same in my experience.

 

[sissy]

They do sell 10 mil and found it at ace hardware here .

 

[Jason]

Thanks guys and gals, I don't think I am going to try it since the guy at HD actually tried the same thing and said it lasted for about a year before it gave out but the Black lasted him a lot longer :/ Nick, I thought you were younger (around my age (25)?) Take that as a compliment. Looks Like I am the Youngest Ponder on here lol. Sissy, I have an ACE store by my house and will have to check that out! If I can get 10mil then I will go that route and double up on that as well, will keep you posted

 

[Neo]

I'll take that compliment lol, I'll be 33 in August but I've been digging ponds since I was 11 because my grandparents always had one. At 13 I finally talked my Mom into letting me put a big hole in our yard with some fish in it and I've been "hooked" ever since.

 

[guitarman023]

I had two preformed ponds with holes in them and I used black 4mil plastic from lowes to line them. I just pulled them after two years of service and they were still water tight. The plastic above the water line had faded considerably though. Regardless, I would definitely have something under the plastic to keep things from poking holes in it.
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[Jason]

Good call Guitarman! I did go ahead and buy the Black 6mil and doubling up on it for a liner, If it does not rain this weekend then I will finish digging and leveling everything out!

 

[dieselplower]

If there is one thing I have learned in my 2 years of ponding it is that if you are going to do something, do it right the first time. It will save you a lot of time and money in the long run. I would not waste my time on a 6 mil liner. Why not just get a 300 gallon tub? Much easier to work with, relocate, and resellable.

 

[sissy]

true I pick them up at house auctions around here for 20 or 30 dollars

 

[guitarman023]

In your original post you said you only wanted two years out of it. I was given those preformed ponds by a friend, and I wanted to build a small pond at first and make sure it was something I enjoyed. Two and a half years later, I'm hooked and I'm just now finishing my 2000 gallon pond. I would absolutely recommend doubling the plastic up, and I would also put some landscape fabric or underlayment under your plastic. I hope it works out for you.

 

[Rogueknight]

In your original post you said you only wanted two years out of it. I was given those preformed ponds by a friend, and I wanted to build a small pond at first and make sure it was something I enjoyed. Two and a half years later, I'm hooked and I'm just now finishing my 2000 gallon pond. I would absolutely recommend doubling the plastic up, and I would also put some landscape fabric or underlayment under your plastic. I hope it works out for you.

 

[Jhn]

I would not double up the liner like the old post you quoted recommended. It is a good way to get water between The two liners causing the upper one to bubble up, would just put down some type of underlay to protect it Or are you just gowing with the clay/bentonite lined pond.

 

[Mmathis]

I would not double up the liner like the old post you quoted recommended. It is a good way to get water between The two liners causing the upper one to bubble up, would just put down some type of underlay to protect it Or are you just gowing with the clay/bentonite lined pond.

I was wondering about the clay, as well. I thought that would be the “lining” for a natural bottom pond, doing away with the need for a liner.