Nick:

The guarantee is if it's exposed to sunlight. It will last forever if covered with 12" of dirt. Fish/plants will need the substrate to spawn in and grow, and the dirt helps grow plants/bacteria which will be your biological filter for the pond.

Talk to Mike about how to cover the liner without poking a hole in it, or have him do it after he recovers.

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3/4 to 1 1/4 ac pond LMB, SMB, PS, BG, RES, CC, YP, Bardello BG, (RBT & Blue Tilapia - seasonal).