New Liner install questions?

[rjp44]

Just recently dug out for a 10k gallon pond and have the liner coming later this week. Its firestone EPDM pond guard. Now before it goes in, is there anything I should do to the liner? Ive heard of washing and scrubbing it before hand? Is that necessary?

 

[poconojoe]

I have read on these forums that if you use EPDM roofing material, you need to rinse it off. But if it's EPDM pond liner, no rinsing necessary. I don't know what they treat roofing material with. Maybe something to prevent mold or mildew? I have always used EPDM pond liners and have never rinsed them off. So, don't worry about it. Just lay it in there and fill 'er up.

 

[addy1]

I have never washed the few pieces of EPDM that I have used.

 

[Lisak1]

what they treat roofing material with. Maybe something to prevent mold or mildew?

That's what I've heard - but if you bought pond liner you don't have to worry about rinsing it.

 

[sissy]

best thing is to lay it out on the lawn on a warm sunny day as it makes it less stiff to work with .With pond liner they use baking soda but with roof liner they use a chemical powder that I cannot spell and that is from goodyear plant that is here in Danville VA .They mostly make airplane tires but do produce some other stuff .Roofing liner they say should be rinsed off but say it is not harmless to people or pets or plants .

 

[Lisak1]

@sissy makes a good point... if you have the space to lay it out and let it warm up, it's easier to work with.

Of course, if you're like us and install your liner in July when the average daily temperature tops 100 degrees in the shade, you'll probably melt your hands while you're at it! But boy was that stuff nice and flexible! Like molten lava - haha!

 

[j.w]

@rjp44
I rinse mine off just to be safe no matter where I get it. Use no soap or chemicals tho!

 

[Mmathis]

As others have said, there’s no need to wash it. You’re probably going to have it filled and circulating long before you add fish. There will be things that it picks up like soil or grass before it gets set into the pond. You can filter or siphon those out.