A 500 gallon preformed pond liner is an extremely popular product for homeowners who want the functionality of a pond, but don’t have the cost. A pond that has a liner is considerably more affordable than one that doesn’t. Preformed pond liners are made of heavy duty plastic material that can withstand the test of time and weather. Because preformed pond liners require no digging, you will have a garden pond that is ready to use in no time at all. Not only will it look good, it will also be safe and sturdy.
If you enjoy the sound of running water, but don’t have the room for a full-size garden pond, there is a solution. Landscape ponds are smaller versions of gardens ponds. The design is smaller, so there is more room to include a garden pond with other landscape features. The liner is installed inside a molded “box”. The entire unit is then placed above a garden bed. It is ready to use, and looks wonderful!
Before purchasing a pond liner, you should know a few things. Most importantly, determine how big of a pond you want. Large ponds are usually larger in size than mini ponds. You should also decide on the shape and type of liner you would like. Depending upon how your pond will be used will help you decide which preformed pond liner will be best suited for your situation.
Some pond liners are available in different shapes and sizes. A “low waterfall” unit is great for smaller ponds. This type of liner goes down about three feet. Larger pond liners that go up to eight feet provide better water flow with a higher waterfall. These are great if you do not have enough room to install a large pond liner.
Another important feature of a pond liner is the type of backfill material it is made from. Backfills are materials that help keep the water in the pond. If the pond is not maintained, algae will grow. A good backfill helps keep the pond healthy.
Backfill material comes in many forms. Rubber is the most common. Other options are concrete or pea gravel. It depends on how well the pond is maintained. Remember, the backfill should be filled with water, not dirt.
The liners themselves come in many different colors and styles. There are white, black and silver. Each unit is constructed of plastic. The different plastics include polyethylene and polystyrene. If you are looking for the ultimate in quality, choose a unit that is made from high density polyethylene. This is one of the strongest and most durable plastics on the market today.
Most preformed pond liners are available in three to four feet wide, thirteen to fifteen feet long and between eight to ten inches deep. Most come in white. It is best to have your pond liner professionally installed. This ensures the liner is fitted correctly and properly aligned with the unit. This prevents sagging and provides extra stability for the water level in your pond. When you install your liner, you will receive a mounting hardware kit and guide to help you when you are installing your pond liner.
Once you have your water feature in place, you will only need to add a filter system and pump to enjoy your new pond. When you add your pump and filter, be sure to check the manufacturer’s instructions. They will provide you with information about how long it takes the system to run and how many gallons of water it can hold before it has to be refilled.
One of the most important things you can do when you install a liner is to make sure your water testing kit includes a water report. This report will list all of the fish you have in your pond and when they were born. It will also list the temperature and alkalinity of the water. These are two factors that determine what kind of fish you will have in your pond. You will want to raise the alkalinity to keep the water acidity down so you will not have to keep replacing your filters.
Most pond liners require very little maintenance once they are installed. The water level should be checked from time to time as the pump and filter system will need to be adjusted at different times of the day. If you find that the unit leaks, there is usually a simple solution and you can purchase a new filter unit to solve the leak.