Leaking pond help
Author
Discussion

Mirinjawbro

Original Poster:

1,004 posts

87 months

Hello all

Have a leaking pond and wondering if anyone has any tips to find it

When full the pond will slowly lose water until a certain level.

Currently we have

Liner
Slate / rocks around the outside
Cement between the 2
Then pond foam over the gaps with small pebbles stuck to it to hide

The pond is now empty again

Thanks


98elise

31,363 posts

184 months

Mirinjawbro said:
Hello all

Have a leaking pond and wondering if anyone has any tips to find it

When full the pond will slowly lose water until a certain level.

Currently we have

Liner
Slate / rocks around the outside
Cement between the 2
Then pond foam over the gaps with small pebbles stuck to it to hide

The pond is now empty again


Thanks
The leak will most likely be a split in the liner at the level the water falls to.

How old is the liner?



Edited by 98elise on Wednesday 11th March 21:51

Mirinjawbro

Original Poster:

1,004 posts

87 months

Couple of months

It has never been filled to the top and stayed

I cant see any tears or see water draining out

I have thought about getting what I imagine to be almost like wallpaper paste and paint over the joins

98elise

31,363 posts

184 months

Mirinjawbro said:
Couple of months

It has never been filled to the top and stayed

I cant see any tears or see water draining out

I have thought about getting what I imagine to be almost like wallpaper paste and paint over the joins
If its a couple of months then not age!

There are joins? Why would you have joints/joints in a liner? They would be very difficult to seal.

Mirinjawbro

Original Poster:

1,004 posts

87 months

Not joins in the liner

Its where the rocks ontop of the liner are kept in place

I think there may be gaps there

VTC

2,312 posts

207 months

Start looking for Rat damage, they are buggers for eating holes through liners and living near the pond.
Our last hose had two large ponds and dealing with leaks was a monthly past time.
becareful with excess feeding as they will come for the food and stay.

we inherited the ponds and fish collection with the house and after the 5years there I do not miss the responsibility at all, let alone the constant spend, food pumps UV lights filter care etc.
even going on an anual holiday meant paying for people to come to feed the fish, check water levels etc.

Mirinjawbro

Original Poster:

1,004 posts

87 months

We do get rats but this has leaked from day 1

Theres 3 levels. It always settles id say around 2.5

Those waterproof pond sealants are super expensive

Or maybe a dye after filling to see if it sucks anywhere

Megaflow

11,016 posts

248 months

Any external filters or pumps that might be leaking?

Mirinjawbro

Original Poster:

1,004 posts

87 months

Turned off to test. All fine.

After some googling it appears concrete isn't fully waterproof.

The pond always settles at maybe 90 95 percent height. We are wondering if its escaping through the join with the concrete / liner

The cement was used to secure the slate / rocks at the top.

Thinking about buying some liquid runner seal to go from the join down maybe 3 4 inches to test.

Any recommendations please anyone ?

Thankyou all

WrekinCrew

5,473 posts

173 months

Mirinjawbro said:
...Or maybe a dye after filling to see if it sucks anywhere
I've heard that milk works. Pour a little in carefully and see which way it drifts.