Pond repair?

Question

Our pond appears to be leaking somewhere. How do I find such a small hole and fix it?

Answer 1

On personal note this is my hobby and everything I know has been by research of garden ponds. I was 62 when I began the dig .
I did the whole thing myself including setting in the skimmer and electrical.
I have finally worked up to about 2000 gals.
I use Xavan liner an geo/text underlay.

Sometimes your hoses develope leaks so check that source first. If no leaks make sure if you have a fountain that it is level and the wind is not blowing it out. If you have a water fall make sure no leak s ther check the it to see if you can spot any water sepage in between the rocks if so fill up the space with the black foam. There are so many reasons for a drop in the water level it might just be an easy fix, if your do the steps first leading to the pond itself and then go to the pond.
GOOD LUCK!
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If you have a EPDM or XAVAN liner use seam tape or a patch kit.
Product Name Price
Firestone Pond Liner Repair Kit $17.49
Black Foam / Seam Tape
http://www.azponds.com/pond_liner.htm
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I could write the instructions but then I could omit something important , so I'll give you the links to assist you.
PS
I MIGHT ADD IF IT'S A LINER AND YOU DONT HAVE A GEOTEXTILE UNDERLAYMENT GO TO THE EXTRA TROUBLE TO TAKE IT OUT AND PUT ONE IN.
Premium Geotextile Pond Underlayment, 15' x 15' Protect your waterscape from rocks and marauding plant roots using the Premium Geotextile Pond Underlayment. This unique protective material is made from a nonwoven, synthetic fabric that protects pond liners from punctures. more ... Sellers Found: 1
Available Since: Feb 23, 2006
Lowest Price: $39.99
http://www.nextag.com/500626039p/zz2zB4z23/prices-html?nxtg=b6960a24050c-C5B2277106E71C63
How to Find A Pond Leak!
http://watergarden.com/finding-pond-leak/finding-pond-leak.html
For fast leaks you can try putting some milk in a squirt bottle and spraying into the water at the edges of the pond. The milk will cloud the water where there is no hole. It will flow toward the hole, if there is one. This method will not work for slow leaks.
Leaking pond ordrop in pond water level
Identifying and repairing them can be a thankless task, especially if there is no leak to be found - Yes, phantom leaks do exist!
http://www.pond-doctor.co.uk/longleakingpond.html

Answer 2

1) fill the pond to the max
2) let the leak leak until the water level stabilizes, just above the new waterline would be where the leak is located
3) if you suspect more than one leak, repeat steps 1 and 2 after fixing the first leak.
4) most leak are in the streams or waterfalls so steps above may not help (except to rule out a leak in the pond itself). If you suspect a leak in stream water fall area, try to divert water from your pump to the head of the stream
5) let it run for a while, if there is no lowering of pond's water level, move the diversion upstream a bit and let run, repeat until water level declines (this is how I discovered my leak after many months of searching)
Good luck (also you may need to rule out normal evaporation as the cause of an apparent leak,--you can do this by half submerging a bucket in the pond with water in the bucket filled to the ponds waterline--they should both lower at the same rate due to evaporation.).
Patching will depend on the type of pond--concrete or liner. Non toxic quick hardening epoxy putty is what I used on cement pool but cement would work too. For a liner, there are patches and glues that are recommended for the particular liner u have--see the liner's manufacturer's website or call them--if you don't know the manufacturer of the liner, snip off a small piece and take it to pond/pool/hardware store for assistance.