Fibreglass pond/tank, how difficult to DIY?

[anonymous-user]

Am looking at putting a rectangular pond in the garden, and have checked out the pre-formed ponds but the dimensions aren't quite right so looked at a custom made fibreglass tank which comes in at circa £800-1k for a 8x4x4. Plus extra for bottom drain, skimmer etc.

Like below:



Am assuming marine ply, bracing with wood, bit of angle iron, then 3-5 layers of fibreglass.

For this in the know, does this seem DIY able. Any tips?

[anonymous-user]

Nimby said:

Why not use butyl rubber pond liner? Either a single piece and pleat the corners, or cut to fit and seal with the stuff they use for EPDM roofs.

I thought of that, and a box welded liner, but the plan was to line the pond exterior with gaboon baskets, stuffed with York stone and I assumed that the possibility of puncture would be higher.

Like this:



With a Blade, fountain thing.

[anonymous-user]

227bhp said:

Forget it, it isn't viable for a one off.
They will have a mould, all the work is in the mould, you need multiples of items to make it worth while.

Can I ask why you state it isn't viable? is a mould totally necessary or can I just build a box and fibreglass the hell out of it.

This isn't the start of a fish farming set up, it's just a rectangular pond with a fountain and a dozen sarasota goldfish and some lilies and I was hoping I could hide any imperfections and the pipework with the gabions.

Thanks for all the other comments, I will price up a box liner, with liner vs DIY Fibreglass and just buying one. But first I need to shift a bunch of plants and soil, which is this weekends task.

[anonymous-user]

stevemcs said:

I'm building a L shaped pond and going down the route of a box welded liner its around 2.5mtr x 2.0 x 0.8 and 0.45 deep and its looking around £500 if that gives you something to go on.

Thanks it does, are you going for a bottom drain?