New to the forum. Hi from Australia

[Lau]

Hi

I just discovered your forum because I was looking for ideas how to fix a leaking pond. When we bought the house, the pond was nice and full with a few nice fishes. The previous owner told me in confidence during a visit that in summer i have to add water to the pond because the level is going down. Evaporation he said. Which seemed logic. After moving in, we saw that actually it was losing 4 centimetres a day in winter. Which seems a lot. It was losing a lot of water and we added daily. After a while, because it was loosing so much water, we relocated the fishes into another pond and let the pond dry in order to try to fix it.

I asked the company that made it 11 years ago, what the problem could be and they said it could be a root that went through the liner (1mm thick) and to repair it would cost basically the cost of a new pond. I was thinking more that one of these heavy rock ruptured the liner but i am no specialist.

What do you think. Is there a magic way to solve this leak? Can I put a new liner on top of these rocks and make a new pond?

Thanks for the advice.

Lau

 

[sissy]

welcome and wow a headache you did not need while moving in . ave you checked around the pond to see if there are wet spots where water could be misdirected . I know some on her have talked about rocks shifting and the liner sinks down and water seeps out . Plus plant roots can direct water out of the pond . That happened to me . I had a lily plant that roots pushed the liner aside and it pulled water from the waterfall ond it also can be a leakig hose . I would not put a new liner ontop of rocks as all the rocks would do is cause the liner to rip were they are under the rocks . I have had to rebuild my pond because of liner rips . I just bought new pond liner and redid it myself . Just think if you can remove the rock you can gt what ever your mind can come up with and what ever your body can handle . Do you know what kind of filter system you have . Hardest part for you would be handling some of the bigger rocks and the liner is not light either . Plants are big culprets in leaks and shifting of rocks from hot and cold weather

 

[JRS]

Welcome to the forum.

Leaks vs evaporation can be tricky to determine although having another pond to compare it to gives you a control which helps.
I agree, do not cover those rocks, starting over with a good base and underlayment with the investment in a new liner is the long term solution. EPDM is usually the best liner material for small ponds.

 

[addy1]

Welcome to the forum!

Good advice above

 

[j.w]

@Lau
How far down did the water go while leaking? If you fill it up and allow it to leak and it only goes down part way then the leak will be on the side somewhere. If the water drained all the way out to the bottom (sounds like it did) then your leak is down there. If you can find the hole you could try and patch it but if you have a 1mm liner that is not very thick and I would not bother. The thicker liners last much longer. Check this site: https://planetliner.com/pond-liner-thickness/ I myself don't put rocks on the bottom of my pond. Only leak I have ever had is where my tubing that goes up to the top of my pond to the waterfall I had rolled the liner over the tubing and the liner sagged down due to the weight of the tubing. No big deal tho as the pond stays full up to that level and it is just a wee bit below the top of the pond. I just live w/it. Not redoing the whole spot for just that little bugger!

 

[sissy]

Even a small earthquake we had here in Virginia caused a leak in my pond . All this cold below zero weather we have had this past winter has me checkng my water level every couple of days . We have never had below zero weather before . I have one of those 6 feet long hard plastic measuring sticks and have been marking it with tape . But again we ae getting rain .and been up in the high 60 degree temperatures . It is just one of many things alot of ponders have to deal with . The ground shifts rocks settle and mother nature has alot to do with it . sad to say Rain storms fool you into thinking everything is okay

 

[j.w]

Even a small earthquake we had here in Virginia caused a leak in my pond . All this cold below zero weather we have had this past winter has me checkng my water level every couple of days . We have never had below zero weather before . I have one of those 6 feet long hard plastic measuring sticks and have been marking it with tape . But again we ae getting rain .and been up in the high 60 degree temperatures . It is just one of many things alot of ponders have to deal with . The ground shifts rocks settle and mother nature has alot to do with it . sad to say Rain storms fool you into thinking everything is okay

We got down to minus 6f here one year which never hardly ever happens here. Broke all the garage pipes in all 5 houses here on our street. All built by the same builder who did not insulate the pipes along the garage wall that faced outside. He put the insulation in the wrong way and the outside of the pipes were not covered. All of us were scrambling that day to turn all the water off from the garage. Then we all had to fix it all. Now no more freezing pipes can happen. We also blow out all the garage pipes w/air from valve knob inside garage to the outside one too. Think we are the only ones here that blow out the pipes for extra protection. Better safe than sorry! Oh and pond was frozen over big time but all the water kept flowing from the pumps to keep holes in ice and lost no fish.

 

[sissy]

We have never been below zero here by what all the news stations say . I saw colleen on youtub and she is in deep freeze also . Now we are supposed to be near 80 degrees and maybe over 80 for the next week or 2 . so that means March will come in like a lamb and leave like a lion .Old saying but still the same results

 

[sissy]

Got 3 rolls of quilt batting at the flea market for 5 dollars . They were for a king sized quilt . 98 by 108 inchs . I know water is starting to clear up . But was busy yesterday rebuilding steps on front porch . I forgot to add more koi clay

 

[Lau]

welcome and wow a headache you did not need while moving in . ave you checked around the pond to see if there are wet spots where water could be misdirected . I know some on her have talked about rocks shifting and the liner sinks down and water seeps out . Plus plant roots can direct water out of the pond . That happened to me . I had a lily plant that roots pushed the liner aside and it pulled water from the waterfall ond it also can be a leakig hose . I would not put a new liner ontop of rocks as all the rocks would do is cause the liner to rip were they are under the rocks . I have had to rebuild my pond because of liner rips . I just bought new pond liner and redid it myself . Just think if you can remove the rock you can gt what ever your mind can come up with and what ever your body can handle . Do you know what kind of filter system you have . Hardest part for you would be handling some of the bigger rocks and the liner is not light either . Plants are big culprets in leaks and shifting of rocks from hot and cold weather

Thanks Sissy, your advise is interesting and i never thought about this. Unfortunately, now there are no plants and it's still leaking. I will try to move some rocks but it will be difficult without a machine. My next solution is to fill it with dirt to make it smooth and then put a new liner. I understand the rocks will puncture it if i don't.

 

[Lau]

View attachment 171208 @Lau
How far down did the water go while leaking? If you fill it up and allow it to leak and it only goes down part way then the leak will be on the side somewhere. If the water drained all the way out to the bottom (sounds like it did) then your leak is down there. If you can find the hole you could try and patch it but if you have a 1mm liner that is not very thick and I would not bother. The thicker liners last much longer. Check this site: https://planetliner.com/pond-liner-thickness/ I myself don't put rocks on the bottom of my pond. Only leak I have ever had is where my tubing that goes up to the top of my pond to the waterfall I had rolled the liner over the tubing and the liner sagged down due to the weight of the tubing. No big deal tho as the pond stays full up to that level and it is just a wee bit below the top of the pond. I just live w/it. Not redoing the whole spot for just that little bugger!

thanks for the feedback. I think the leak is pretty much in the middle of the height of the pond as that is where the water stops when there is water in the pond.

 

[GBBUDD]

Good news is the pond is on the smaller side it would not take more than a day for a pro and a helper to remake the pond.
But obviously we all like to just stop the leak and move on.

Refill the pond and shut the pumps off. Mark where the water line is. Let the water drain untill it stops. Where the water stops dropping so fast is your lowest leak. As mentioned look for the soil to be soft dark or wet. This will point you toward the leak.
Now if you have no idea what kind of liner you currently have. I would order a epdm patch kit. This is a sample thats usually a little thicker and stronger than .040 epdm. If you have similar then looking for the leak is feasible. If your liner is blue , white like a liner pool. Then I would look to rebuild as Pic liners have a definite shelf life.

There are many youtube videos on how to patch a liner. It's quite simple just remember getting the area of the leak clean and dry is a must.

Now refill the pond up over your patch and see if the water drops again. If it does your patch may need to have a second patch put over the patch. Refill etc etc. Now you may have a second leak . And it might be from the plumbing or filters so its a process of elimination.

Good news is I have never been to Australia and would gladly come fix your pond. Send airline tickets and 5 star Airbnb reservations and I'll be there next week .

 

[sissy]

can you just abandon that pond and build a new one nearby and use that area as just a rock garden , maybe use some of the less heavy rocks in the new pond . You don't say hw big the pond is . I have a spot in my yardwhere I placed all the rocks from when the basement was done to just hold water and it helps keep the yard over there nice and green

 

[Lau]

can you just abandon that pond and build a new one nearby and use that area as just a rock garden , maybe use some of the less heavy rocks in the new pond . You don't say hw big the pond is . I have a spot in my yardwhere I placed all the rocks from when the basement was done to just hold water and it helps keep the yard over there nice and green

Hi Sissy, it is an idea we discussed but there is no really another location for a pond. on the photos i posted you can see it size ( 1.2-1.4m/ 4-5 feet deep and 3m/10-12feet wide) and the huge rocks that will be very difficult to move. If there were no big rocks I could look for the leak much more easily but they make it difficult.

 

[Lau]

Good news is the pond is on the smaller side it would not take more than a day for a pro and a helper to remake the pond.
But obviously we all like to just stop the leak and move on.

Refill the pond and shut the pumps off. Mark where the water line is. Let the water drain untill it stops. Where the water stops dropping so fast is your lowest leak. As mentioned look for the soil to be soft dark or wet. This will point you toward the leak.
Now if you have no idea what kind of liner you currently have. I would order a epdm patch kit. This is a sample thats usually a little thicker and stronger than .040 epdm. If you have similar then looking for the leak is feasible. If your liner is blue , white like a liner pool. Then I would look to rebuild as Pic liners have a definite shelf life.

There are many youtube videos on how to patch a liner. It's quite simple just remember getting the area of the leak clean and dry is a must.

Now refill the pond up over your patch and see if the water drops again. If it does your patch may need to have a second patch put over the patch. Refill etc etc. Now you may have a second leak . And it might be from the plumbing or filters so its a process of elimination.

Good news is I have never been to Australia and would gladly come fix your pond. Send airline tickets and 5 star Airbnb reservations and I'll be there next week .

Hi GBBUDD, thanks for the feedback and offer for help. I would love to invite you here and share a tent looking at the 1000s stars in the sky and remaking the pond and the world who both need some fixing but my budget is currently a bit short....
In regards to your comments, i did this and I know about the level it stops (look at the 3rd photo, the yellow line) the issue is moving the rocks. I am also wondering about what you wrote that the liner might be on the thin side, got old and it might have been punctured by these heavy rocks over time (there are tiny earthquakes sometimes here so it could have caused movement in the rocks) . So if I cannot move these rocks I will fill it with dirt to smooth all the sharps and then put a new liner on top or make it much more shallow and put a preformed plastic pond.