Restore fibreglass pond or buy new?

[littlefish]

Hi there, hoping there's some experts about to help please!
We're just preparing to create a new pond in the garden, having previously used flexible liners. We've been gifted a 675ltr Atlantis fibreglass pond, but it's not in perfect condition, and we're not sure whether to take a chance on it or buy something new (and probably smaller given our budget) instead.
The main area of wear / damage is around the top rim, which we'd be covering with slate & plants, but there's also a small chip 3/4th's up the side. It's only a few mm long, and not currently leaking water. Also got that 'dirty' look, despite my cleaning efforts, and fairly scratched all over.
Could this pond be restored with any sort of fibreglass paint products?
Would love to use it - nice shape and size - but a tad nervous it'll let us down!
Thanks for reading

 

[Mmathis]

Welcome!

 

[littlefish]

thank you

 

[addy1]

Welcome to our group!

If it holds waters I would use it. I put a inch hole in our stock tank, fixed it with a small piece of liner and pl roofing compound, found at home depot. It is still holding 3 winters later. So if you have some ?'able areas I would patch them, most likely you will be just fine.

I would not worry about scratches etc, over time the liner will get covered with algae, dirt etc. you will never see it.

 

[littlefish]

Thank you addy1. Actually had a similar convo with the pond chap at the local garden centre this afternoon, came home and decided to fill it up and see how it holds. We're meant to be checking for leeks, but the 5 year old came home from school, saw what he thought was a mega new water table on the patio, and is now emptying the contents all over the garden! We'll try again tomorrow when nobody's here to disturb it, but so far so good. I was a little worried about it looking a bit grubby once filled, but as has been pointed out to me, even a shiny new one will soon have that 'pond' colour to it in no time. Thinking we'll save forking out a fortune and use what we've got

 

[addy1]

Great! post some pictures

 

[RobAmy]

Welcome, sounds like it will work out as is for you. Post some pictures if you can