When i build my new pond, i was set on going the marbeleine route. The only issue i was facing was where you need to leave the pond for a month to dry after plastering which i was not keen on, i really don't want to keep my koi in a confined space for to long.

Anyway, was speaking to Steward at koialami yesterday, (decided to go see his place after seeing it in the koisa, nice place and an even nicer person) he spoke highly of hydroseal. Did not realize it is a cement type product that one paints on as well..... Which similar to how marbeleine is barring resin etc, which is the kind of waterproof surface i am after.

Has anyone any experience with hydroseal and can they pass those experiences on to me? Looks like a good product worth considering.

Thanks

I have used Hydro Seal on the goldfish ponds at my office both about 2500lt each.
The ponds are about four years old and I had no water leaks to date.
The only problem with Hydro Seal is that the pH reading is very high after application, and acid should be used to bring the reading down as is the case with marble-lite which is a “cement base” product as well.
A high pH prevents you adding the Koi to the pond, and it could take up-to two weeks to bring the reading down to an acceptable reading of between 7,2 and 8.

thanks Pieter, this is what I have been told by another source as well.

How long would you say to give the ph to know it has stabilized?

2 days......3 days at that reading?

Is there not a way to wash down the walls etc to speed up this process?

Just thinking if this were to take a few weeks then perhaps better to wait on the marbeleine route?

Another resource also told me his started peeling? just not sure how a cement product peels?

also, once it has stabilized, any chance it may spike there after?

Have been using it on various of my ponds and found it to be the best apart from fiber glass(if your budget allows)

Should not peel as it is a cement based product. The liquid that comes with it is latex based, so I suppose if you do not mix properly, the latex can peel but should be sucked into the plaster. If you paint on already sealed cement, it might peel due to the latex that can not be sucked in. The product should be used on raw cement, preferably shortly after you plastered.

You now also get a marble re-enforced Hydro seal which is a bit more expensive.

Th pH is not a major issue. I normally wash a bit with pool acid as Pieter suggested, fill to half, add pool acid, leave for a day, empty, fill again and two days later the pH is fine and I add fish.