Clay Fish Pond

[charlo_86]

Hi, we started constructing our pond today, intending to dig a hole, use a liner, fill with water, simple! However, we struck a natural spring which makes me wonder if we can take a more natural approach. The surrounding soil is solid clay and at present appears to be holding the water very well however once the water reaches the top where it turns to topsoil/clay it may risk seeping out into the surrounding area. Is there a way of reinforcing the uppermost level? I know that mixing lime with the clay and then packing it onto the existing soil would do it but I fear this might be harmful to fish (we plan to have mainly goldfish but a couple of koi). Would using just clay have the desired effect, i plan to pack one layer, dry and then pack another and make a pebbledashed effect with gravel and larger rocks for a neater look. Apologies for my ramblings, you may have noticed this is all (potentially bad) theory ! If anyone knows about this subject your advice would be appreciated!

[paddywak]

Last year I watched the forestry people make a pond on the reclaimed pit tip I walk Max on and this was lined with a clay, which looked to be ordinary clay, but wether it was a special mix I couldn't tell. If you do a bit of googling you should soon be able to get the info, if someone on here doesn't know, but the idea is certainly feasable after al the navvies who built canals all over the place didn't have plastic liners