"Home" Test Tank - What if it is too small?

Anyone got any thoughts on making a simple but long Test Tank which can go out in the garden as a temporary or permanent feature? (The bath is not quite long enough)

(I know Brian A made a suspiciously deep garden pond but I am looking at something which is easier and maybe less permanent. My hobby is NOT garden ponds.)

David

That sounds like a good idea and maybe one side of the tank could be a wall?
What material are pond liners?

Hi

Plastic ground sheet may not be UV stable & cause trouble in the medium term.

I would opt for a proper pond liner.

Also the carpet need to go up the sides of the pond/tank.

I would be cautious of putting it against a wall unless it is well below the damp course.

Ponds take very little maintenance - I have a big one in the garden, gets hoovered for mud every other year.Why not make it permanent? - few plants in pots can be removed for testing & the fish will hide. Actually might not be quite deep enough for fish.

The extra effort & cost involved will be relatively small.

ATB
Rob

what size are you talking about david?

Well about 5 feet long and about 1 foot wide and deep. (Note the "Imperial" units!)

I see your point about a damp proof course but I was intending to use a garden wall.

It could almost be a long thin raised bed with occasional insertion of a pond liner and water. (And it could be "sold" as a raised bed to her who is "indoors and outdoors"!) I think the water could be syphoned out easily, Richard.

We only have a small garden which would not really take a traditional shaped graden pond.

David

Miniature water lilies would go nicely..... pretty. I would go a bit deepersay 15-18" then less obvious what it is realy for.

ATB
Rob

Hi David F

Go for a 8x4 sheet of shutter ply, some angel iron for the corners, a sheet of damp proff, some rope and water,
have the ply cut to your size, fix the bly to the angel place the dpm in ply box, run the rope around the outside of your ply box to keep the sides in place, add water. you now have one test tank.

Fred

A swimming pool plastic liner is 20ml thick and can last several years. The liner can be glued together with vinyl liner glues and easy to work with. I use it for making custom jetted bathtub liners before tiling.
Kind regards,
Giovanni

Thanks for that suggestion and all the suggestions.

I will go for some type of membrane in an enclosure. All of which can be removed and stashed away after "commissioning".(Which should please "her outdoors".)

I can't do any trials at the moment unless I want a miniature ice rink!

Yes John and Nigel have just suggested that too:

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/3650921/Trail/searchtext%3EPOOL.htm

I would have to throw the mother and children out first!

Nigel suggests that you just leave it full during the sub season and then maybe just throw it all away when it is green and slimy. (Maybe retaining the mother and children?)

David

See this link post 279 http://www.modelboatmayhem.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=33589.250

works well 6 foot long will also take kids and granny maybe at the same time from Argos all of £14.00 not supposed to use a compresor with it but I aint paying £25.00 for a pump that compreses the air first plenty deep enough as well you can fill past the fill mark because you aint putting bodies in it (are you David??)
when finished with you just deflate and store until needed next time wife can then have the garden all to herself again

Regards Mark

Just found the link to the cheaper one David http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/3652709/Trail/searchtext%3EPADDLING+POOL.htm

do`s the job and the kids can use it as well.
I think they ripped me off for £2.00 though.

Regards Mark

Many thanks for the tip. I will get my order in now that spring is on the way.

David

Stop that Richard got a mental picture now going to have nightmares ha ha ha

Right then, a double order it is. Paddling pool + Speedos.

Just wait for the video!


David

now look what you have started Richard