Why Fiberglass Koi Pond Liners Are Often Best

Fiberglass koi pond liners are both versatile and strong. You can join them together to make a variety of shapes and sizes.

The preformed parts are made of durable fiberglass that has a UV resistant gel coating on the interior finish. This is the same material used to construct boats and other marine items. It is waterproof, sturdy and has a life expectancy of 30 years plus!

Fiberglass pond shells are easy to install. Just excavate, level the shell on 2″-3″ of sand base, install any plumbing you are going to need and then backfill around the pond.

Complete assembly and installation instructions are provided for you if you purchase a koi pond kit.
Fiberglass pond liners have several advantages over ponds with flexible liners, and even cement koi ponds, which are often considered to be the most permanent.

First, fiberglass lined ponds are not prone to cracking due to minor ground movements and settling like cement ponds are. They can also be safer for your koi since they are chemically inert and don’t cause changes to water chemistry and pH.

Unlike flexible liners, fiberglass is not subject to rim erosion and punctures, making it much sounder structurally. Thus it is a more permanent and durable solution.

It also resists root damage and sabotage from burrowing animals. These sometimes cause extensive damage to other pond lining materials.

In addition to this, fiberglass is much easier to repair in the event that it is damaged.

Although cement is the choice of many, and flexible liners are the least expensive, I personally favor fiberglass koi pond liners!

Alan Deacon
KoiCareBasics.com

The Koi pond liner is one of the most important pieces of equipment will get for your pond. It’s main purpose is to prevent the pond water from leaking into the surrounding soil.

There are numerous types of liners available. Concrete, fiberglass, rigid plastic and flexible liners are the most common and every pond liner has positive as well as negative features.

Knowledge of the positives and negatives of each will help you determine the best Koi pond liner for your pond.

* Concrete pond liners used to be considered the longest lasting liners. People who were building a permanent Koi pond used concrete to line their ponds. Some of the drawbacks that have been discovered with concrete include the leakage of toxins from the concrete into the pond and the higher price of purchase and installation.

* The fiberglass Koi pond liner is considered one of the best pond liners available. The average lifespan of this type of liner is approximately 50 years. They can be installed easily and they expand for ice without cracking. Their only disadvantage is an unnatural look and the extra care needing to be taken with the landscaping to disguise it.

* Rigid pond liners are considered the cheapest in the category and they have a natural look. They are considered good resistors of sharp roots as well as rocks but their drawback is installation problems. These pond liners can not be installed easily. It is very difficult to dig the right size hole to lay the liner in. But it is a great choice for Koi enthusiasts in warm areas. They are rated highly in terms of controlling leakage.

* Flexible pond liners have a minimum lifespan of 20 years and are believed to have a firm resistance against weathering and cold cracking. They are completely non-toxic and you can get them for a fraction of the cost of concrete pond liners. These pond liners are best for almost every climate. Due to their wonderful flexibility you can install them with great ease. This particular type of Koi pond liner is probably the most often purchased.

Prior to installing a Koi pond liner you must decide upon the location where you want to place the pond. The procedure is to outline the shape and size with chalk and colored string. Following this is excavation of the soil from the marked area.

If the hole is deeper than three feet you will probably require a permit from the municipal department in your town or city.

Finally you will fill the bottom of the hole with sand and salt to bring the bottom level. Now the excavated area is ready to accomodate your carefully chosen Koi pond liner!