Putting pond liner in a metal water trough?

[Joshaeus]

Hi everyone! I understand that galvanized metal water troughs by themselves are unsuitable for ponds because of the zinc and other metals they emit as they rust. However...could I put a pond liner in the water trough to avert that issue? If so, how would I attach the liner to the trough? Thanks

 

[Ronfire]

Yes that would work but you should put drain holes in the tub to stop water build up under the liner.
You could attach the liner using the black irrigation pipe, cut a slit lengthwise and slip it over the top.Make sure you get a large enough pipe to fit over the edge.
Or simpler yet would be to coat the inside of the tank with a suitable product. Not sure if the spray in truck bed liner. is fish safe but that would be easy to get done. I would think it would be fish safe as it is a 2 part product to fully cure.

 

[Joshaeus]

OK! Thanks

 

[Rex]

I would think even with drain holes, you would have rusting for the trapped moisture between the tank and liner.

I know the experts say these metal tanks can be bad for fish, but I my dad had a horse trough full of lilies and large koi for years. He had a 55 gal barrel upflow filter that was full of lava rock. The water was crystal clear. The plants and fish were healthy as could be.

When I was young my brother and I put some goldfish in a neighbors horse trough that was out in the middle of his field. No telling how old this tank was at that time, but it still had goldfish in it 15 years later.

 

[sissy]

but just like everything these metals are recycled and are a lot different than they used to be .Look at soda cans you can bend them while drinking from them .

 

[sissy]

 

[sissy]

The box and the way he glued the liner in may help ,not sure