I would suggest u not add lime and Bentonite together. The lime causes the Bentonite to flocculate, which causes the clay particles to separate and reduces the clay particals of bonding tight together. And will increase the fluid loss of the bentonite. In some of the forum here it is said lime will help clear the water of a new pond. It's because the lime flocculates the clays an causes them to sink to the bottom.
Tracy
Tracy, I'm not understanding what you are meaning. Hydrated Lime (Calcium Hydroxide) can clear a pond, because it has a positive ionic charge and attracts suspended colloidal (negative ionic charge) clay particles, causing them to clump together and sink. Ag Lime (Calcium Carbonate) is essentially inert and will dissolve and neutralize acids, slowly raising the overall pH along with reducing (buffering) daily pH swings.
I'm not sure either lime, Ag or hydrated would break down the Sodium Bentonite, but it would need to sink anyway to help seal any leak.
