Cheap pond liner?

I'm looking to build a small buried pond for aquatic plants out in the garden (like the Nympoides cordata I recently received), in an attempt to keep the temperature a little lower than what it would be in the rubbermaid bin I'm currently using. (It gets in the mid-upper 90s here in August). I'd also like to keep a few fish in there (e.g. bluefin killies) The "pond" would be relatively small (perhaps 3 feet wide-ish), and since this is a rental house, it doesn't need to last for years.

Pond liners that are sold as such are somewhat expensive, and probably bigger than I need. Does anyone know of another material that I could use that would be UV resistant? Sort of like some sort of poly sheeting? I know it would be short term, but even the dishpan that I use to keep my pitcher plant pot wet with degrades within 1 year, breaking apart. Maybe something that would last 5 years? Home Depot sells a $12 small pre-formed pond, but I think it would be even better if I could make one with sloping sides (mouse and frog escape routes...)

Couldn't you just dig in the rubbermaid bin? Even digging it in half-way would help moderate the temps, then the soil you dig out could be placed around the bin to further shield it, if'n you didn't want to dig the whole thing out that is. I will be doing this with three large storage bins as soon as I need more backfill for my big pond/retaining wall project.

I thought of that, but it isn't really the shape I want. Plus, I'd like to have varied depths to accommodate a couple different things (the rubbermaid, when full, is really too deep for the N. cordata). I can put bricks on the bottom to raise pots, but again, not ideal as they can fall over. And it's a bit small. Also, not sure how long it would last in the sun?

You can use that black PVC that painters and builders use as a dropcloth. Ken McKeighen gave a talk at the 2000 convention about his ponds in NM, and he said it lasts for a few years.

You can use that black PVC that painters and builders use as a dropcloth. Ken McKeighen gave a talk at the 2000 convention about his ponds in NM, and he said it lasts for a few years.

Good idea. I will look into that.

I got an unplumbed, never used, white, hot tub off Craig's List for $35 to make a "small" pond last year, but alas and alack, my son claimed it as a "swimming pool" so I'm still searching for pond material. $12 bucks is tough to beat, couldn't you just add driftwood for escape routes? The trouble with sloped is it invites Raccoons.

I goggled Home Depot and couldn't find a preformed pond for $12, or any price close to it. Are you sure you were at Home Depot? (I want one!)

Edited by mander, 09 June 2008 - 05:31 PM.

I got an unplumbed, never used, white, hot tub off Craig's List for $35 to make a "small" pond last year, but alas and alack, my son claimed it as a "swimming pool" so I'm still searching for pond material. $12 bucks is tough to beat, couldn't you just add driftwood for escape routes? The trouble with sloped is it invites Raccoons.

I goggled Home Depot and couldn't find a preformed pond for $12, or any price close to it. Are you sure you were at Home Depot? (I want one!)

I'm pretty sure it was Home Depot. Either that or Lowes. Interestingly, if I search either of their websites, they don't show most of the preformed ponds. Actually, Home Depot doesn't show any of their preformed ponds. But I think the one is the same as the one in This Kit, minus the pump, fountains, etc. I may wind up going this way.

I've picked up a couple used bathtubs for free recently. See if you have a FreeCycle group near you: http://www.freecycle.org/ Bathtubs are already deeper at one end than the other, and you could set it in the ground at an angle to accentuate that. Light color would help with temp control. One of mine is destined for a utility sink in a future fish room (talk about a nice big sink!), but the other will be a tiny pond for raising fry of something or other.

Plastic bathtubs are surprisingly light -- easy to pick up for one person.

Edited by jase, 10 June 2008 - 08:58 AM.

What an excellent idea! I don't own this house, so it is a bit big to rip out when we eventually move, but definitely something to keep in mind when we buy a house!!!!!

I've picked up a couple used bathtubs for free recently. See if you have a FreeCycle group near you: http://www.freecycle.org/ Bathtubs are already deeper at one end than the other, and you could set it in the ground at an angle to accentuate that. Light color would help with temp control. One of mine is destined for a utility sink in a future fish room (talk about a nice big sink!), but the other will be a tiny pond for raising fry of something or other.

Plastic bathtubs are surprisingly light -- easy to pick up for one person.

Bathtubs work great for ponds. I used one for years as a growout tank for fish I spawned. The only thing I didn't like was the glaring white color.

Bill F.