Leaking wildlife pond

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Discussion

rosie11

Original Poster:

196 posts

139 months

Monday 6th May 2013
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We have a enormous man made wildlife pond (around 30 ft x 40 ft x 4ft deep) that has sprung a leak in the liner, it is now pretty low on water, trying to locate the hole would be like looking for a needle in a haystack so am looking at emptying it out,
Question is what time of year would be the best time to do it?
We have protected great crested newts amongst other beasties in it.

Nightmare

5,187 posts

285 months

Tuesday 7th May 2013
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finding a leak in a pond - assuming its in an edge and not the bottom - isnt actually all that hard in my experience...and a DAMN sight easier than completely emptying and relining it! or is
it in the bottom?

there really isn't a good time of year....but now is especially bad however if you have damselflies, dragonflies, newts or tadpoles.

If you have to...either late summer, or early spring in my opinion as least will be in the water at the time. but fully cleaning a wildlife pod will obviously set it back to square one effectively.

Salt flat rat

85 posts

135 months

Tuesday 7th May 2013
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Do you know how it sprung a leak ? I once shot at a heron raiding my ponds and missed. I did, however , puncture the neoprene lining. Daunted by the effort of draining in order to find the bullet hole, I just put a hose into the pond and kept it topped up that way. Within less than a week it stopped leaking. I guess that the sediment etc. had blocked off the hole.

rosie11

Original Poster:

196 posts

139 months

Tuesday 7th May 2013
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We have no idea how it managed to get damaged, the only thing we can think of is if a deer went in and damaged it, so assuming the hole is around the edges how does one go about finding it?

Nightmare

5,187 posts

285 months

Tuesday 7th May 2013
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Air bubbles!

If leak is in the side it will stop going down at some point. Note where abouts that is in your head or whatever

Note! Do bear in mind that in a wildlife style pond, assuming you have plants in it, and ones growing up to and from the edge, the water will go down several inches a day at the moment from plant growth - everything is growing like buggery at the mo. I thought mine was punctured a few years ago cos of this....

Then add a few inches of water from the tap and (yes this does take a while but still a lot less time than everything else) slowly go round the perimeter on hands and knees and look for a tiny stream of air bubbles or water disturbance.
Every time you think you might find something run your fingers over the liner at that point. 1 to get rid of crud on it and 2. You can feel little holes or years easier than see em.

Then let it go down again or bail it out or whatever and repair with one of the kits smile

Nightmare

5,187 posts

285 months

Tuesday 7th May 2013
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Oh yeah - and agree with salt flat rat - it'll likely stop leaking fairly quickly anyway all on its own as long as a heron hasn't put its beak right through...

Mark A B

166 posts

150 months

Friday 10th May 2013
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Any pics of the pond? Sounds brilliant!

TwigtheWonderkid

43,402 posts

151 months

Friday 10th May 2013
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Yes, keep topping it up. Usually, the leak will either bung itself up, or the area it's leaking into will become saturated and the leak will dramatically slow down.

And as said, pics please. Had a few ponds, but nothing on this scale. Sounds more like a small lake!!