I have a couple of small dry ponds that won't hold water and I'm sick and tired of wasting $ and labor on bentonite. I'm considering liners. I remember when my latest pond first filled. I checked alkilinity and found almost none. I then learned that alkilinity comes from the soil and has to leach into the water. Rain water is neutral. How does this work when using a liner? It sounds like it becomes a big aquarium where water quality would have to be constantly monitored like a swimming pool or a gold fish bowl. What are the waste build-up considerations? It seems like you would have to keep livestock away from it and maybe wildlife. I can imagine a heron or egret puncturing it. What other considerations are there? What kind of site preparation is needed?

Thanks
Dave