Determining liner size

[joesandy1822]

This should be simple, but I am second guessing myself. Long day.

If I am considering purchasing a "pond kit" for a pond 16x21, and the included liner is only 20x25, to me that is not going to be large enough for a truly 16x21 hole if I am making the pond 3' deep in some areas and want a waterfall. All those things take more liner. So my question I guess is that if I get the kit that comes with a 20x25 liner, how can I figure how deep to dig my hole? I know it is simple math. I'd like to start digging while I wait for the kit to get to me, but I need to get this down first, obviously. I would take the length plus average (?) depth x2 and add a couple feet for overhang, correct (for length). And do the same for the width? How much do you have to add for the waterfall if it is only going to be about 2' tall? I know I am making this harder than it has to be, but.....

Thanks for not screaming,

Sandy

 

[HTH]

If pond kits are like aquarium kits much of what they contain is junk. If that is the case better to buy the bits you want.

You can use a rope or a garden hose to lay out cross sections of the pond you want to dig to see how much liner it will take, or if a specific profile will work with a given size.

 

[capewind]

Getting ready to install a 20 x 25 liner here ... 3 feet deep sides, saving 1' to secure with rocks or what not, will result in a pond surface area of 12 x 17 ... pond volume will be about 4500 gallons ...

WHAT is included in the kit?

 

[dieselplower]

To figure the size of the tarp you need, you add the width of the pond plus to times the depth of the pond, then add two feet for a one foot overlap on each side. The liner you have would give about a one foot depth.
I think 4 feet is a good depth so with a 20 by 25 liner I would subtract 8 feet for the sides and 2 feet for the over lap which totals 10 feet so your pond would be about 10 by 15. Helpful?

 

[dieselplower]

If you want 3 feet deep then add 6 plus 2 for the overlap, which is 8. You would then have a 12 x 17 pond.

 

[joesandy1822]

Getting ready to install a 20 x 25 liner here ... 3 feet deep sides, saving 1' to secure with rocks or what not, will result in a pond surface area of 12 x 17 ... pond volume will be about 4500 gallons ...

WHAT is included in the kit?

Thank you, everybody, for the responses. They are all very helpful. I had it down in my head right, just wanted to double check.

One question remains, though, pertaining to the waterfall. If I have to pull the liner up a couple extra feet to secure to the waterfall, that means I have to add that extra couple feet to the length of the liner, correct? Even though that's the only area that needs the extra length?

Here is what is included in my kit, and the warranties seem fairly decent. The items are supposed to be "professional" grade.

The 16'x 21' American Pro Pond Kit contains
• Biological Waterfall - 26" Waterfall with 2" bulkhead Lifetime Warranty
• Pond Skimmer - 9" Weir with Lifetime Warranty
• 5400 GPH Stainless Steel Solids Handling Waterfall Pump - 2 Year Warranty
• 2"x 33' Flexible PVC Hose
• 2" Check Valve Assembly
• 20'x25' Underlayment
• 20'x25' Firestone 45 Mil EPDM Liner w/20 Year Warranty
• Eco Start Treatment
• All plumbing needed
• Filtration mats
• Filter media bag
• Skimmer basket
• Liner Patch
• Easy to follow Instructions

I will have to get my own bio media. Will probably try to use the poultry fencing I've been reading a lot about. I could maybe save some money by buying the individual components, but how much is questionable. When you figure shipping on each component, and the hassle of ordering everything (local pond stores would not save any money....they are ridiculously high), it is just easier to get it all done in one shot. Unless I am missing something huge, and if I am somebody PLEASE set me straight.

Thanks!

Sandy

 

[HTH]

If you have you mind set on this get it. If you have doubts break down the kit and start making comparisons for quality and price.

 

[ididntdoit99]

well, you don't say the price of this kit in your post, but a quick google search leads me to believe they are quite high on their price, which is what i have found with most pond kits IMO.

I bought the same size liner for a little over $200, underlayment is old carpet. I'm not sure what that pump costs, i run 2 pumps in my pond and paid less than $200 for the both of them.

So depending upon how handy you are, and whether or not you want to spend the time making your own filtration system, I would definitely buy separate. In the end you may find, as a lot of people before you have, the the filtration system that comes with this kit isn't adequate, and you would end up building your own anyway.

 

[joesandy1822]

well, you don't say the price of this kit in your post, but a quick google search leads me to believe they are quite high on their price, which is what i have found with most pond kits IMO.

I bought the same size liner for a little over $200, underlayment is old carpet. I'm not sure what that pump costs, i run 2 pumps in my pond and paid less than $200 for the both of them.

So depending upon how handy you are, and whether or not you want to spend the time making your own filtration system, I would definitely buy separate. In the end you may find, as a lot of people before you have, the the filtration system that comes with this kit isn't adequate, and you would end up building your own anyway.

Wow, my husband is originally from Waterloo, IA and I was raised outside of Independence in a little town called Littleton, Iowa! Small world.

Anyhow, it's not really that I have my mind set on a kit, but when I added up all the components, the $1,800 they are asking for the complete kit didn't seem out of line considering there is free shipping and it's all together.

The pump is a 5200 hybrid (energy saving) pump made by Anjon Monsoon. Does anybody have a comment on the pump? If it is not a decent pump, I'd like to know. Liners are not cheap either. Locally they are $1 a square foot. As I said, I'm not opposed to buying everything individually, but from what I've seen, it doesn't seem to save a lot of money. I could go on Craigslist and try to find free old carpet, but that's more time and then if there are staples in it, I have to worry about that. I could look around for pumps, but honestly I wouldn't know which one to get.

With the heavy rains the past couple days, part of the digging that had been done is washing back in. So every DIY thing I do that adds extra time might be costing me extra work in the long run. I would like to get it going, but I don't want to rush into anything I will regret.

Sandy

 

[HTH]

DIY can save a lot of green but it is not for everyone. Same goes for shopping around.

EPDM roofing rubber works and is cheaper then pond liners. There have been stories that it is not fish safe but in 20+ years I have not seen or heard where there was a problem. I have purchased roofing rubber 3 times from 3 sources with no problem. And you can drive down to the local roofing supply and pick it up instead of having it shipped.

EDIT: Want to add that I still have all the liner and some of it is 20 years old and moved twice.

 

[koiguy1969]

I KNOW I HAVE MAYBE $1200 TOTAL INVESTED IN MY POND... IN CLUDING THE 4 TONS OF STONE. PLANTS, FISH .EVERYTHING. THE MOST EXPENSIVE THING WAS THE LINER 20 X 20 45 MIL ... $250 SHIPPED TO MY DOOR .

 

[ididntdoit99]

Wow, my husband is originally from Waterloo, IA and I was raised outside of Independence in a little town called Littleton, Iowa! Small world.

Anyhow, it's not really that I have my mind set on a kit, but when I added up all the components, the $1,800 they are asking for the complete kit didn't seem out of line considering there is free shipping and it's all together.

The pump is a 5200 hybrid (energy saving) pump made by Anjon Monsoon. Does anybody have a comment on the pump? If it is not a decent pump, I'd like to know. Liners are not cheap either. Locally they are $1 a square foot. As I said, I'm not opposed to buying everything individually, but from what I've seen, it doesn't seem to save a lot of money. I could go on Craigslist and try to find free old carpet, but that's more time and then if there are staples in it, I have to worry about that. I could look around for pumps, but honestly I wouldn't know which one to get.

With the heavy rains the past couple days, part of the digging that had been done is washing back in. So every DIY thing I do that adds extra time might be costing me extra work in the long run. I would like to get it going, but I don't want to rush into anything I will regret.

Sandy

That is funny, I actually work in Independence, sitting at my desk at Geater Machining right now.