Pond from used cold water tank???

[loug0412]

Hello to all
Has anyone got any advice for how I might use our old plastic water tank from the loft I would love to make it into a small pond, but don't know if the size is right. It is 26 inches in diameter and 20 inches high. I would have to buy a liner as it has holes where the pipes went in. I know I would have to make some shelving inside it, with bricks etc, but would it be a problem that it is free standing? I don't want fish or anything but would love frogs/toads and maybe the odd dragonfly

Hoping for some suggestions soon

Louise

[Billabong Karen]

Hi, not sure what you mean by free standing - if you want frogs and toads to use it you will need to dig a hole and put the tank in, otherwise amphibians wont be able to access it! But I am sure it would work well. Now is a good time to set it up, then let it fill naturally with rainwater if possible over the autumn/winter, put some plants in in the spring, and wait to see what arrives!! Yes, different layers are important - and you will need to make at least one sloping side so that animals that fall in can get out again... Good luck! And have fun with it. Digging my pond was the best thing I have done for my garden...

[loug0412]

Thank you Karen, I probably should have said, I have nowhere to dig it into the ground I have some patio areas I could site it, and maybe put some pots in staggered sizes around it to make 'steps' not sure it would work, but really would love some water in the garden. Louise

[Billabong Karen]

I think Kayleigh said she had a half-barrel pond - bet she would be able to give you a few tips on how to make it amphibian-friendly.

[Tursiops2]

Hi Louise and welcome to the forum.

That sounds an interesting, and perfectly feasible, little project; although, as you've correctly surmised, because it's small and free-standing, you won't be able to create the same range of conditions that you would in a pond, so think "wildlife-friendly water feature" . Kayleigh's barrel "pond" is an excellent example of what it's possible to achieve, I'm sure she'll be along soon.

I've not built anything like this myself, but if I were in your shoes, this is what I'd try:

As you suggest, use old house bricks round the perimeter to make shelves, but put them in before you line it. Make shelves at varying depths below the water level; say, -5cm down to -20cm. Put a layer of underlay over the bricks (garden membrane/old carpet/carpet underlay), then line with butyl liner.

The formula for calculating the area of liner needed is ((2 x depth) + diameter + 60cm) x (ditto). I've allowed a substantial overlap because this will help protect the tank (which I presume is polyurethane) from UV damage. Fix the liner down with something durable - duct tape?

Next, get some old pairs of tights and cut the legs off. Fill these with sand (sharp- or play-sand, not builder's) to create "sausages" and tie the ends off. Lay these along the shelves, and cut slots across them at roughly 5cm intervals. Fill the tank up with rainwater, and plant into the slots.

Use native species - download this pdf. NE27 - Garden ponds and boggy areas: havens for wildlife from Natural England for a list of suitable plants. Don't use too many varieties or it will look crowded. I would suggest: 1 oxygenator, 1 floating leaved (Frogbit), 1-2 emergents, 1-2 marginals. Choose from the species indicated as suitable for small ponds.

You could, perhaps, fix a strip of log-roll round the outside to make it look prettier.

It's a good idea to create access up the outside - frogs are good climbers, but the more help you can give them the better. Planters in a stepped arrangement would probably do, but you could supplement with rocks or logs piled around the back. Choose plants for the pots with an emphasis on dense foliage to create cover. You could plant one of the small-leaved Ivy varieties and train it round the edge of the tank to provide cover and create a more "natural" look.

My one concern would be the setting for the pond. Bare patios or paving are hostile environments for newly-emerged froglets, they need to get under cover as quickly as possible to avoid predation and/or dessication. If at all possible, site the pond in a reasonably sunny spot close to established ground vegetation. Photos of the tank and your proposed location would be helpful.

As I say, I've not done this myself, but I'm sure somebody will correct me if any of the above is impractical.

HTH
T2

[Kayleigh]

Yes my barrel is on a patio but there is a raised bed next to it so I planted ivy in the wall so it trails over the barrel the frogs use this to climb up into and there are bricks in the top of pots to higher the level for the frogs to leave.

[tom00_uk]

you could seal the hole with aquarium grade silicon sealant, Make sure its safe for tank construction as most cheap sealants have additives that will leach into the water.

you can use the same sealant to add shelves made from acrylic offcuts picked up for free or next to nothing from a glazer into the tank and create a means of getting in/out and a place to put things, with out losing to much water by using bricks etc

[loug0412]

Oh Thank you so much everyone

I will have a think where the best place would be, I don't have the sunniest garden, but will try to position in the sunniest spot I can. The log roll idea is fab I will take some pictures, of my tank and things I have to hand, and then maybe post updates as things progress. Pouring down with rain right now, but I will calculate my liner size and maybe order on the internet? when I put that in, I assume it will be okay to overlap it, to fit into a round container. I have old carpet I am sure, and bricks etc. So all I will need then is the plants, sand, and the rainwater Already have lots of frogs and toads around

Louise

[King Edward]

Originally Posted by tom00_uk

you could seal the hole with aquarium grade silicon sealant, Make sure its safe for tank construction as most cheap sealants have additives that will leach into the water.

I think this sounds like the best idea - I suppose you could cut small discs from the acrylic offcuts or similar material and use the sealant to fix these over the holes. Apart from anything else, you then don't have to worry about sharp bricks (or roots) damaging the lining.

If you do go with a liner, LDPE (e.g. Flexi-liner) is pretty cheap, much less than Butyl or synthetic rubber (EPDM). You'll have to overlap it, as you say.