Content
- Pond liner: how to calculate the right size?
- Basic dimensions
- Example fish pond
- Detail dimensions for the film
- Measure the detail dimensions
- pitches
- Limitations of grid-sized slides
- Complex grid dimensions
- Tips
It is annoying if too much or too little pond liner is bought
Pond liner: how to calculate the right size?
Pond foils are generally ordered directly in the required dimensions, and already welded together by the manufacturer to this extent. How to determine the correct dimensions and calculate the required size of the pond liner, and what should be noted, read in this post.
Basic dimensions
The three basic dimensions that play a role in a garden pond are:
At the same time consideration should also be given to the later intended use during planning.
Example fish pond
For example, fish ponds should always be provided with a depth of at least 1 m. In addition, the fish that you would like to accommodate in it, should also have enough space. How big this space requirement is depends on the type of fish.
Kois, which can often reach a considerable body length of up to 80 cm, naturally also need sufficient space in the pond. If you use the easy-care Moderlieschen that are only 9 cm long and like to move in swarms of about 15 animals, you need a little less space (but still enough to allow the fish to collect species-appropriate in the swarm).
In this case, find out in advance about the required dimensions that your pond should have, and then plan accordingly. The size of the pond sheet then results from the dimensions of the pond.
Detail dimensions for the film
A pond is not the same depth in all places, but has an embankment on each side. To take this fact into account, you have to be more specific. We show this with a small example.
The maximum length our garden pond should be 5 m. The maximum width (at the widest point) should be 4 m. At the lowest point our pond should be 1.50 meters deep.
Now the following formulas are used:
Slide Length = Maximum Length + 2 x Maximum Depth + Overlap
Film width = maximum width + 2 x maximum depth + overlap
As an overlap, you can always calculate around 80 cm. This means that the edge development and capillary barrier are already well taken into account.
Thus, the following required film size results for our pond dimensions:
5 m + (2 x 1.50 m) + 0.8 m = 8.80 m as film length
4 m + (2 x 1.50 m) + 0.8 m = 7.80 m as the film width
Be aware: this calculation is only an approximation. Above all, the embankment routes are recorded here only very imprecise.
Measure the detail dimensions
If you want very exact lengths and width dimensions of your film, you can also easily measure your pond:
Lay a measuring tape over the embankment and the whole pond, taking into account the capillary barrier on both sides. Your tape measure will give you a very accurate indication of how long and how wide your film needs to be.
pitches
You can also create a grid plan to more accurately calculate the film requirements, especially for irregularly shaped ponds. This helps you to estimate the film requirements reasonably well, where the length or the width of the pond varies.
When determining the grid dimension, an imaginary center line is simply drawn through the pond. At regular intervals, the width of the pond in this section is then measured from the center line to the left and right and entered on the plan as the grid width.
Especially with irregularly shaped ponds, this helps to get an idea of how much film you actually need and where the pond is at. Do not forget to take into account the required film length for the edge design at each measuring point (at least 50 cm on each side, better a little more)
As measuring distance you should do the best use the width of a film web offered by the manufacturer, This helps the manufacturer to proceed with the production of the film and the welding together of the films. Do not forget to draw the position of the center line on your grid plan and to label the distances left and right separately!
Limitations of grid-sized slides
You should bear in mind that slides that are made for you in the grid, the manufacturer can no longer be claimed later.
In addition, these films are often provided with a small surcharge (usually around 10%) to the actual square meter price for the garden pond film. They come through the grid dimension order so always more expensive. However, this usually pays off due to the lower waste compared to a film in a rectangular shape, which in this case you do not have to pay.
Complex grid dimensions
In ponds, it may happen that the side walls do not rise evenly, but are created in terraced form. Creating a so-called shore terrace is already recommended for most ponds.
To take these dimensions into account as well, you can extend your grid plan accordingly. Mark the width of each terrace and give the appropriate depth for each section. This makes it possible to calculate the film more accurately, since you need a little more film width and length than with an ordinary sloping embankment.
Tips
For very complicated pond forms with several terraces, you should leave the calculation for safety's sake to the manufacturer, who has more experience in it. Ask if you can simply hand over the pond sketch.