Here Are Some Facts and Benefits for Using EPDM Pond liner

Here Are Some Facts and Benefits for Using EPDM Pond liner.  At Pond H2o, we have a bevy of pond liners you can purchase to keep your water garden pristine and healthy.  Today, however, we will be specifically assessing the effectiveness of EPDM pond liner, an option that offers both high quality and flexibility.

It provides versatility

A koi pond under construction by Biofilter tech via Wikimedia Commons.

Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer (EPDM) pond liners are also known as one of the more flexible pond liners on the market. In other words, they can be used to form sizes and shapes at your discretion.  Typically, one sheet of EPDM rubber will be sufficient enough to meet the needs of your average pond. However, this will depend on your pond’s size. If yours is on the larger side, you can use multiple liners.

Easy Installation

Another of the benefits for using EPDM pond liner and a testament to pond liners, especially with the EPDM variation, is its simple installation. You don’t have to be a professional to install this pond liner. Although it should be noted that you will need butyl tape and top quality pond adhesive, like PondH2o’s product Gold Label sealant, to make sure the seams are waterproofed.

The quality is ensured

Seaming a EPDM pond liner by Aquascape Ponds via YouTube.

There are other flexible pond liners that have trouble holding up over the course of time. However, EPDM liners provide your water garden koi fish pond with longevity—enabling you to save money in the long run. 

For example, if you opt for a low-grade plastic or vinyl pond liner, there’s a higher chance it will eventually develop cuts and tears. Another variation known as PVC liners—typically found in above ground swimming pools —tend to be susceptible to punctures, too. PVC Pond Liners have a great starting price point and are easy to install, but can dry out in the sunlight.  With EPDM liners, however, the material is much more resilient and longer lasting. 

Practicality

And there’s a practical reason for this. EPDM liners were originally made for flat roofs so that they can be more water resistant over time. However, once this liner became popularized and buyers made aware of its sturdy material, EPDM liners soon became one of the most widely used pond liners in the U.S.

After installation, you can be assured these are qualified for your pond and are fish friendly. And while there is no perfectly impervious pond liner on the market, this will provide you with much more resiliency and flexibility than the average.

It is important to note that since EPDM liners are made from high quality materials, they tend to be more expensive than its competitors. Although as the old adage goes, ‘you get what you pay for,’ and this is certainly the case with this variant. 

In the long run, you will be much less likely to replace this with other liners. In addition, an EPDM pond liner will withstand  harsh, colder climates, too. 

As far as upkeep, the most salient matter is to make sure your EPDM pond liner is consistently obfuscated from sunlight. Otherwise, the strength of the lining material can weaken over time.

Buy our fish pond liners designed to fit every budget today to get started, including from our EPDM, LDPE, and other pond liners.

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What Is New Pond Syndrome

New Pond Syndrome is just the title used for when a pond is first put in place and goes through the maturing cycle or more exactly the Nitrogen Cycle.  Like anything new that is to support life it needs seeding and kick starting to help it mature.

So what is New Pond Syndrome?

The Nitrogen cycle starts off with Ammonia (NH3) which in turn through the nitrification cycle is Nitrite (No2) this then turns in to Nitrate (No3) which plants love and also single cell algae or greenwater. This process if not completed quickly creates the saying – New Pond Syndrome. It usually takes between 4 to 8 weeks to complete but depends on many factors explained here.

Always make sure you are filtering the pond every two hours through a pond filter that can support the water volume and fish load or you will be forever fighting a losing battle.

How Does New Pond Syndrome effect the Fish

Initially if fish are put in the pond quickly after installed you will see little difference if dechlorinator was used or 24 hours passed from filling the pond. But over days or even weeks ammonia and nitrites will build from fish food, fish waste and start to stress the fish, making them rise to the surface for more oxygen. The reason why this is happening is the good bacteria is not colonizing quickly enough in the filter or gravel to push the pond through the nitrogen cycle.

Five easy steps of helping the cycle along enjoying your pond creation:

1. While ammonia can be used by some plants, most of the nitrogen taken up by plants is converted by bacteria from ammonia – which is highly toxic to many organisms – into nitrite (NO2-), and then into nitrate (NO3-). This process is called nitrification, and these bacteria are known as nitrifying bacteria. Use a Beneficial Bacteria that will jump start this nitrification process when the pond was first installed.
2. Make regular water changes of up to 25% to help keep the water conditions good for the fish.
3. Do not add pond fish quickly, just start with one or two and then add a few more every 14 days or so till the fish load is correct for the filter and pond water volume.
4. Keep the oxygen levels high in the pond, helps turbocharge the good bacteria. Proper pond aeration products is the key
5. Buy a good water test kit to test the levels.

Completing proper water testing on your water garden pond will help prevent new pond syndrome.  Read more articles in our information center.

Pond Water Chemistry

Knowing about your water garden koi fish pond water chemistry is essential to a Happy & Healthy pond. However, several variables influence water quality for plants, flowers, fish and aquatic life including water temperature, nitrates and pH, carbon dioxide, alkalinity and hardness. Additionally, water quality can be affected by the interaction of these factors and others.

When you initially setup your koi fish pond and fill with water, there is no natural bacteria available to digest fish waste and ammonia omitted from the fish’s gills. There are a number of bacteria additives that you can introduce. Using these additives will speed up the balancing procedures of your pond. Over a period of weeks the pond will go through the nitrogen cycle. The first issue to be aware of is a potential rise in nitrates (NO2), if this happens, stop feeding and do a partial water change.

Rising NO2 levels are toxic to aquatic life. Causing fish to become sedentary and lethargic ultimately killing your prized koi pond. The bacteria additive will turn the NO2 into NO3, which are far less harmful to fish, and extremely beneficial to aquatic plant life.  A single cell algae will bloom as green pea soup. At this point the pond is becoming balanced, and adding an algaecide or bacteria will help balance the water in your pond.

The best advice anyone could give regarding your pond water chemistry and about the nitrogen cycle is arm yourself with a water test kit so you are fully aware of what your pond water is doing. Proper cleaning, testing and maintenance will keep your water garden pond water within range to eliminate water problems.

Choosing a Location for your Pond

Choosing a location for your pond takes some careful consideration. Read our tips below to make sure you pick the perfect place in your garden.

1. Install your pond on level ground with good drainage.
2. Plan the most direct line possible between the house and pond if you will be needing electrical wiring for pond pumps or filters for example.
3. Contact your local municipality to determine if a permit is required.
4. Make sure the site isn’t directly over any underground pipes, cables, wires, sprinklers or septic systems!
5. Being near an outdoor faucet so you can add water to the pond from a garden hose would be very helpful.
6. The more sunlight the pond gets each day, the more choices of water plants you have. If adding fish to your pond, a balance of sun with some shade during the hottest part of the day is best. Try adding water lilies or lotus pads, reeds, shrubs and grasses as additional shade options.
7. Avoid choosing a location for your pond near large trees or in open windy areas. Falling leaves and needles contaminate the water and collect on the bottom of the pond.

You’ll find many products for your pond within our online pond supply store. Read more on our blog on How to Dig a Pond https://www.pondh2o.com/2019/07/03/how-to-dig-a-pond/ and Installing a Pond Liner https://www.pondh2o.com/2019/07/03/installing-pond-liner/.

Call 811 from anywhere in the country a few days prior to digging, and your call will be routed to your local one call center. Tell the operator where you’re planning to dig . Your affected local utility companies will be notified about your intent to dig and will send locators to your dig site to mark the approximate location of buried lines with flags or paint.