Liner Holes--Forwarded from another forum by request

I've been investigating the source of a leak for several weeks now this weekend I found some small holes in the liner in the shallow end. I have 2 issues stemming from this for which I would appreciate the advice of the forum users.

#1 - I would like for someone to run through the basics on patching a leak. I know this is elsewhere on the web but I think it would be useful to have at TFP, possibly as a sticky.

#2 - When the liner was put in, there were lots of places where the vermiculite/portland cement mixture was pushing against the bottom of the liner (see pic). The PB said the mixture had the consistency of coagulated sugar and would smooth out with pressure. For the most part, I have found this to be true but I noticed several of the pieces seemed a little harder than he described when I pushed them down with my foot although they did seem to break apart and smooth down as well. My question is whether these pieces could actually have worked through the liner in places and be the source of the small holes that I have now. Has anyone experienced this with an IG vinyl liner?

http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t...l/100_0867.jpg
http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t...l/100_0871.jpg

Thanks,

Kevin
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Foxx 18 x 36 IG Vinyl
TR60 Sand Filter, Pentair Whisperflow 1hp
Blue Pearl robotic cleaner

Burlington, North Carolina

if these hard pieces were in fact sticking up and not breaking appart, then it is alltogehter likely that your robotic cleaner or your manual vac or brush caught the edge of one and scraped the top off a couple enough to cause the holes, it really doesn't take much and judging from the liner pictures, some of those bumps look gravel sized.