Spreading bentonite

[The Dougster]

As a result of a stock tank that doesn't hold water... leaking to the formation, I recently bought 3 tons of granular bentonite to spread in the bottom of my stock tank... a mega job... I unloaded (dumped) the bentonite in the bottom of the tank and then spread it as evenly as possible using my FEL... afterwards, I used my disc plow to work it into the soil.
While doing all this, I thought there must be a better way and suddenly it occurred to me. This suggestion is for those who have the same problem. If I had to do it again, I'd load the bentonite into a PTO powered fertilizer spreader and use that system to distribute the bentonite. Bentonite is expensive, mine cost $235 per bag ( 1 1/2 tons each)... Using my suggestion, I could have saved money on bentonite.
Hope this suggestion is useful to someone.

 

[jonyyuma]

Bentonite,I haven't used any of it, but considered it for our farm. 1 1/2 tons, how many cubic feet is the bag? We have a shallow pond , that failed there. I take it you used it like you would use soil-cement? That is till it in for about 4 inches all along the bottom areas? I did seal one crack in the stone with regular portland and the level raised 6 inches above the patch. The other pond is completely dry..Jy.

 

[MicroPilot]

Is this a permanent solution to a leaking pond? Is there any literature that explains how and when this is best used?

 

[schmism]

Is this a permanent solution to a leaking pond? Is there any literature that explains how and when this is best used?

virtually all "leaking pond" problems are solved with bentonite or a similar expanding clay.

 

[jinman]

Doug, how big is your stock tank? Did you select 3 tons based on a calculation or just a SWAG? At the cost you stated, I might just do that on my ponds I'm building as insurance against leaks. I'm thinking that for my 3/4 acre of water surface, the 3 tons might be about right. I might go to 4-1/2 just to be on the safe side. $235 per bag is expensive, but no more than a load of good clean washed gravel. After spending thousands to get a pond/tank dug, a few hundred dollars is not going to look like much extra. If it makes the pond hold water, it's a bargain.

 

[Western]

Hey Jim, Have you thought about a liner? I don't know what the current cost is right now, but one of the Golf courses I go to in AZLE, put one in a probably 10 acre holding pond! been over 10 years. Seems to last quite awhile.

 

[jinman]

Dennis, I have not considered a liner and can't imagine how I would put that down by myself. I can spread bentonite, but me and poly don't seem to get along too well.:confused2: I figure by the time I paid for a crew to help me, the liner wouldn't save any money over the bentonite. Something about a liner makes me think of oil field salt water evaporation pond, and that just turns me off. Bentonite clay just seems like a perfect "natural" solution.

 

[impdaddy]

they make a liner called Akwaseal (sp) that is a liner with bentonite in between the plastic. Seams are welded with loose bentonite. worked on a 7 acre pond. :thumbsup:

 

[Western]

Dennis, I have not considered a liner and can't imagine how I would put that down by myself. I can spread bentonite, but me and poly don't seem to get along too well.:confused2: I figure by the time I paid for a crew to help me, the liner wouldn't save any money over the bentonite. Something about a liner makes me think of oil field salt water evaporation pond, and that just turns me off. Bentonite clay just seems like a perfect "natural" solution.

True Jim, They do seem to take some of the aesthetics (sp) away, but they sure hold water.

 

[slowzuki]

Seems so strange, as soon as we dig a hole in the ground anywhere here it fills up with water, even in the heat of summer!