Pond question, please help

[Douchebaggette]

I put in a small (50l) pond last year using a preformed liner and hoping to just leave it for the wildlife. It's planted up and settled in but seems to lose about an inch of water every 3-4 days. It's not really in full sun and its obvously been quite cool lately, so this seems like a lot for evaporation, but what do I know?

Does this sound normal or is there a leak in the liner, do you think?

I regularly keep topping it up using tap water that has had a chance to evaporate the chlorine and am reasonably sure my water company doesn't add chloramine. Is there any other reason why I shouldn't do this? I try to do it every couple of days so that I am adding a little bit often rather than a lot all at once and 'shocking' any water parametres.

Trying to decide if it's worth taking the whole thing up and relaying with a flexi liner to remove any leak (if there is one)?

Sorry, 125l (not 50!)

Ours loses the same amount - I think it must just be natural, albeit high-level, evaporation!

Ah, that would be good (ish) if it's normal and I don't have to mess with it, now that it's settled.

Do you just top it up from the tap can I ask?

Yep mine loses alot too, don't top it up if it's for wildlife and let the rain do its thing. Some creatures need the warmth of shallower water and its normal for smaller, natural ponds to almost dry out.

Be aware that your pond is likely to go green in a few weeks time too as the algae increases due to warmth and increased sunlight, you might want to put some barley straw in now or use a treatment although it eventually sorts itself out.

Thanks @HPandTheNeverEndingBedtime - I am expecting the bloom. I used to keep fish so have some basics of water chemistry and the nitrogen cycle (inc impact on algae) but I'll definately have a look at some barley straw to help. Appreciate the tip.

I shall also try to let the rain top it up (I find it hard to see the exposed sides of the pond/plant pots when the water level is lower ).

Good to know this is normal evap.

We top ours up from the water butt in the 'proper' summer, but for now just leave it up to the weather!

I know, the first year we had the pond I topped it up as I didn't like seeing the sides, and I'm in Norfolk where we regularly go 6-8 weeks without a good downpour so it gets really quite low but I left it last year and the water level topped right back up with the rain we had in September so I'm leaving it this year.