Garden pond Leaking

by Rev. Thomas Ross
(Elgin, SC)

I have a molded garden pond that had a leak. To save money, because I loved the shape of the pond, I had been using a pond liner that was given to me. Well, that obviously has a hole in it also. My question, can I use black plastic instead pond liner without it harming my fish? Thank you for your time.

Doug says that "it depends". If the plastic has been treated with an algaecide or fungicide in its manufacture then those chemicals will leach into your pond and can indeed kill plants. Some leaching chemicals can also kill fish. Now, if the plastic wasn't treated - you're good.

The problem we all have is that we don't know until we use it.

Or we use fish-safe, plastic liner material that is sold as pond plastic. I know folks who have used plain old plastic without problems, and I know folks who tried and got burned with a ton of dead stuff.

Bottom line. You can try. But my solution is always the one most folks don't want to do. Fix the original plastic liner - find the leak, do it right the first time and then you know you have a solution that works instead of constantly jerry-rigging it and not having a good foundation to grow on.