Great video, I think you are right on spot. It's really key to emphasize that your bog must be sized correctly and that you have the right flow, otherwise it's won't work at all. I think that most of the time, people building their first ponds are looking for a pump with the most flow they can buy but if coupled to a bog that won't work at all. As you said the flow must be slow otherwise all the debris gets through and back to the pond.
Spot on. 👍 Nothing wrong with a high flow filter. Just incorporate sponges to trap sediments and don’t use rock and pebble. Use something like bioballs that allow really fast water to pass. Still no need to spend lots of money.
Things are progressing well with our pond. Last yr toooo hot to finish everything. After that I'll have some time to try to share our build setbacks and all. But full water and sunshine makes me so happy.... pollen finally stopped dropping so now to deal with all the extra nutrition load of pollen from trees. First yr going thru pollen season with pond so will be interesting
how long do you think the barrel will last? I've noticed when I leave certain plastics outside too long it starts to get really brittle, I know the barrel is much thicker but do you have any idea how many years it'll realistically last?
Thanks Kev another the great video. I have a 2200 gallon koi pond in a city setting I'm all out of space. I never really thought of a bog filter before i started watching your videos. Now I'm kind of obsessed to put one in. All my filtration is inside a shed. I might be able to put a 55 gl barrel type bog inside the shed no plants obviously. Do you think that would make any significant difference in my water quality since the bog would be so under matched to the pond water volume?
@Ozponds Kev please may I ask 2 questions .? I am removing the stones and rocks from my pond so that I can clean the pond and start again. A lot of the stones that have been lying in the water all winter next to the black pond liner,well they have all gone black on one side. Why is this ? But the main question is can I still reuse the stones for the new build.? The black seems to have removed the natural colour and is now part of the stone. It does not come off even with a jet wash ?????😢😮
I believe it’s caused by lack of oxygen. I’m an ecosystem guy and enjoy the natural processes. I can’t see why you cannot reuse the rock. If you are worried use a false bottom to allow water to move all around the rock and pebble.
Fan of your videos! Was hoping you could answer a question for me. This year I made a bog that’s about 7’x3’x1.5’, with 3 sequential tiny ponds (using PVC to channel the flow) before it enters a not yet completed main pond (7’x7’x3). I have the bog fitted with a pipe drilled with holes at the bottom to distribute water at the beginning of the bog, and 2 baffles to ensure it fills evenly before exiting. The idea was to filter gray water from our washing machine. My question: is there any reason why I wouldn’t be able to simply pump the pond water back into the bog to continue its circulation? Do you foresee any problems with that? It’s admittedly a pretty low tech design (from the book Gaia’s Garden). Thanks so much!
We followed one of your older videos and our pond was crystal clear most of last year. Did get blanket weed in the hottest part of summer. No idea why as the pond is in partial shade
Yes. The pond is 300l with a 90l heavily planted bog filter, plants in the pond too and 4 young gold fish. I’m used to running nature aquariums with emergent plants as filtration so tend not to overstock anything. No idea what caused the algae and guess we will never know. It died back a few weeks later
Is it a problem for the bog filter to be bigger than mathematically recommended? Also I have a small pond, about 250 gal, what size pump should I be using?
Bigger is better when it comes to bogs. Pump size is determined by many factors. Skimming action, waterfalls/ streams and filtration. For most backyard ponds with bog filter I recommend sizing the pump at 6x bog volume.
Hey Oz ponds, Great source of information on filters and has led me to half of my success with crystal clear water with bog filters, just wondering have you supported UV light usage in any of your videos? If yes , can you link me witch one, thanks mate 👍
I'm finding it hard to grasp the design.. Does it need it's own pump? Why have a water seal on the outlet from the barrel back into the pond When the barrel has no top? Add plants where to improve filtration?
Just want to confirm that the pump kev is recommending is superior in almost every way to most pond pumps which come up in a default google/amazon search. The usual suggested pumps (via search results) use A LOT more power, are not variable, and in some cases, have less throughput. I have, in the past, used a Half-Off ponds Hydroflow 3200, and a 1/2HP sump pump to move water (like an idiot). If you do the math, the Hydroflow uses, 192 watts to move 3200GPH. The pump kev recommends, uses 80, is the same price, and can be throttled. To put this perspective, you could run almost 3 of the Hyggers at the same cost / month/year. As an added bonus, they also support external-inline use, which the others typically don't. Initial cost is about the same, GPH is the same, Head is the same, power-usage is 1/3, has throttling, smaller size, significantly quieter, supports external-inline, and is easy to clean/disassemble. tl;dr The pump kev recommends is truly superior in almost every way to most main-stream pond pumps & will save most people on average ~50% on pump electricity usage (even more if you throttle it down to 40w).
I have various barrels, rainwater barrels.. Does that open top of the barrel show above water level.? In the large version.. Is a section of pond dedicated to the bog filtration system without being physically separated? Bit Confused as the diagrams and film don't, in my brain, match!
Sorry. I’m not the best at explaining and showing stuff. I keep trying and hope to get better. The bog is in a barrel and seperate to the pond. Hopefully some of my other videos will bring more clarity, but don’t hold your breath 😉
Thanks for the video! I have a pond that I restored last year and there is an existing bog next to it that I'd like to restore this year. It's on top of a large mound, so it would waterfall down, through a small stream, and back to the pond. Do you recommend treating the bog or cleaning it in any specific way before I hook it up to the pond? It already has rocks and pebbles in it, but it hasn't been run in probably 15 years, so I'm assuming the bacteria inside is not "good"?
(subbed!) ok, so i'm revamping this bad filter setup this pond was left with. and the design i'm going with is basically what you're describing as a bog filter. in the meantime, before i can get that built, i changed out the filter media, etc...... QUESTION: the barrel is emptying too fast, and there isn't a reservoir of water so much as it runs right back into the pond. 2" pipe. should i put something to block off the hole a bit to slow it down so that it can fill? (i have some K1 on order that i plan to put in the bottom. i figure that media needs submerged in order to let the beneficial bacteria grow?
Hey Kev, thanks for your channel, do you suggest the inlet pipes should be flush with the bottom of the drum or raised a few cms above the bottom to allow for sediment to rest
I don’t really mind either way. I usually set it in the middle of the barrel and I guess the outer edges are slightly lower. It certainly is probably best practice to raise it slightly.
My big filters works a treat same pumps but not as fbig as yours extended cables ect all learnt from you. Thanks heaps. My water quality is absolute clear as buggery. But.... String algae is a major issue
You go from diagram showing barrel and plumbing to film of pond with no sign of the barrel and plumbing and pump.... Is the bog for large pond diagram sealed at all from the pond.? So where is the barrel on film? Is it covered over with rocks? "does the open top of the barrel rise above the water level? If so why can't I see evidence of any barrel on the film?
I understand now the flow rate. However, for example, pump A pumps 1 l/ hour. My pond is 1l. But by pumping 1l/hour, flow rate is too high for the bog. I dial it down. Does it affect the 1l/hour? I guess so. Does it matter? Would it be preferable to have pump B pumping 2l/hour for my 1l pond and dial it down to slow the flow rate and have a more effective bog? If I make sense of course 😅😅. Thanks Kev.
For the bog filter I just keep it simple and recommend 6x empty bog volume. If bog filter is 1000L pump approx 6000L through the bog. There are times when you want more flow for waterfalls, jets, more flow to skimmer or intake bay. The excess flow can be diverted to extra streams, jets or simply flow over the surface of the filter. Or you might even want to use different types of filters.
I'm building your barrel design. I want to use my existing pump which has a 1inch tubing. Id rather not but a larger one. Is it better to have 1 or 2inch piping for filter? I have a 800 gallon pond
Hi. Thanks for all the info you’re giving us however I have a question as even after watching quite a few of your videos several times I, I couldn’t wrap my head around requirements. I built a half barrel pond, mine is about 110 litres. I built a bog which is 30 litres (I had a spare barrel that was 30 litres so it worked out ok because I’m adding some fish) So question is: do I need to circulate the entire barrel (110 litres) every hour or every 4 hours. Atm my pump is on the lowest setting and I get 150 litres per hour flow so that’s about 137% of the barrel per hours. I get confused due to the “5 min” that you explained for barrels… Thanks
@@Ozponds haha. You’re absolutely right. I’ve one more question as I plant to build a bigger one (about 1-2k litres) at my friends house. Are there any signs that tell if the water is flowing too fast or too slow?
Installed a 60ltrs bog filter to my 6K ltrs pond some six months ago, it works perfectly well, water is crystal clear but I am finding out that lately it is getting bogged and loosing water because it over flows. I do hose down the muck on the surface and drain it through the bottom drain, not sure if it is normal or I done something wrong. Plants in the filter grow over night, it is unbelievable how healthy they look. Pebbles I used are 35mm all the way through. Any ideas please..
@@Ozponds in my first attempt I followed your instructions in regards to different size pebbles but in a fortnight it clogged up really bad due to the smaller size pebbles. So I emptied it all out and refilled with with the 35mm pebbles, it worked well for six months. The outflow I used 40mm pvc . And yes I watched all your videos and enjoy them all.
I’m glad you enjoy the vids. Is the flow slow? Is it the plant roots? Is the pump inside the pond or is it in an intake bay or skimmer? Is there a high fish load? Lots of leaves?
@@Ozponds the flow I adjusted to be slow (50%), pump is in the pond, not too many fish for the size of the pond, no leaves at all. Plant roots not sure, may be need to pull them up to check, what do you suggest?
I just re-read your initial comment. A 60 litre bog for a 6000 litre pond is massively undersized. You didn’t mention your flow rate (only that it’s dialled back to 50%). If your flow rate on a 60 litre bog is more than 360litres your moving too much water. That may be why you are getting clogged and overflowing. 6000 litre pond I would have my pump in a skimmer or intake to pre filter out any larger materials. But I’d also have a much bigger bog minimum 600 litres. Thinning out plants is a part of the maintenance of the bog so yes that must always be checked. Sounds like you’ve got quite a few things that need addressing. And I need to do a better job in my videos, if you watch them all these mistakes should be avoided. For that I am sorry.
Hi Kev just a quick question. I am running a 54 liter bog filter on a 250 litre bath tub pond. The water is nice and clear but the plants seem to end up with a thick coating of dark green algae on them all the time. I only have 2 smallish goldfish and I don't over feed them. The set up is over a year old. Thanks
Hey Kev I have a question. I excavated a 3/4 acre pond about 28,000 sq ft. Ultimately I had underground streams I tapped feeding through old tiling. Well I ended up replacing the tiling and my output flow doubled. I have so much water flushing through filtration is difficult. That said I wanted a bog filter. I ended with a berm about 14 feet tall, 12 feet across the spine at the highest point in the berm. This slopes to grade over a few hundred feet. Could I exchange square foot of bog surface area for square foot of artificial stream. My thoughts are building a small bog 10x12 on that highest point in the berm. Then an artificial stream along that spine about 70 feet from the end my berm has a steep spot that drops to grade and slopes to surface. My thoughts install a waterfall there and return following the slope of grade to the pond. This would mean the 10x12 to catch solids. Then 200 feet of stream, 6 foot waterfall, 100-150 feet of stream. I'm clay bottom but used geotextile and covered with stone. My ponds been quite clear considering the clay. The only time it gets muddy is from run off during rain hitting exposed earth. I'm not really after perfect water. I do want it as clear as possible. My biggest deal is I don't want solids breaking down and depositing over time. If you think of an L shape my overflow to settlement is where the lines intersect. My inlets are on the opposing lines starting points. My deepest point is at the intersection it's 15-16 feet deep. The short line would be 3-5 feet deep. The long line is 3-8 feet deep. This design is really good for flushing and preventing dead spots. However the natural design guarantees the deep spot at the intersection in front of the outflow will accumulate all solids over time. My thoughts is run a small bog in that space and take advantage of the berm slope and gravity. It gives me a sediment trap, increased filtration by the size of the stream, uV exposure, tossing and rolling of water and ultimately oxygenation. In my mind it works for addressing several issues. I hope I'm making sense.
You can contact me via my website. If you require personalised feedback I need to charge a fee as it takes time away from creating content that helps many people.
@@Ozponds i’m still in the experimental phase and I have this 6000 L above ground pool that has about 1000 L of green water resting on the bottom and my ambition is too fix up the appearance of that water and I see that as my initiation test before I even start lifting heavy and making my own pond. So roughly 2000 L of water with sediment on the bottom and green water. I use the similar blue drum as you did, 200 L. But I didn’t cut off the top, instead I put plastic crates on the bottom third and covered that with white felt, hollow bricks on top of that up to 2/3, laying them tightly as possible and then a layer of smaller rocks to fill in the gaps and the final third was large gravel. I use the 3000 L pump that feeds directly into the bottom of the barrel, the water rises and exits over the lip of the barrel. I left it going for about four or five days with absolutely no results. Simultaneously, to add oxygen I did a little mini set up inspired by David pagan Butler where a PVC pipe was embedded in a large crate of rocks and gravel and using a 50 mm air stone to create negative pressure and pull the water through the bottom of the gravel. These two are running at the same time, in Malaga Spain, in the sun with day temperatures of 26° and evening temperatures of 13°C. What am I doing wrong?
Well your experimenting so you need to expect variable results. If you want to try my method then follow it exactly, if you want to try David’s method follow it exactly. I understand experimenting is fun I do it all the time and I get variable results. For me, personally, I get clear water every time (yes every single time) I create an upflow bog that is appropriately sized to the pond and fish load, along with an appropriate flow rate. I also wouldn’t start off with sediment, if there’s a thick sediment layer I would remove that. Mulm/ detritus is ok (it’s light and fluffy), thick heavy gunk isn’t. And you said it’s been 5 days, where’s the patience?
@@Ozponds haha i’m not being patient enough? My set up is very similar to what you did with that cylindrical cement thing, both in size and execution and I seem to remember that you got results rather quickly there. Realistically, how long until one would see results when making a system from scratch in an already green pond? It’s not a very thick sediment on the bottom, but it does seem to be impossible to completely get rid of no matter how much I try to gather it up with a net. I would start over from scratch but in my mind it’s like, if I manage to salvage this water it’s a proof of concept and that I’m doing it right so I don’t want to give up hope but I would love to hear what you think is a realistic timeframe to see results. I was also considering using a flocculant.
😂I don’t know why you are getting agitated. The cylindrical setup you talk about, the video went live two weeks ago. I showed exactly what I did. Yes the water is nice and clear, but now it’s in its algae growing phase (string algae, not green water). In that video I used a flocculent. You say you are thinking of using a flocculent. I said I’m using a 1000L pump, which I said was a little oversized, but I’ve got the breather pipe letting some water go over the top. You say your pump is 3000L. You didn’t say if you had fish, this pond currently has no fish. So as you can see there’s just 3 variations, maybe two if you have no fish. I’m just trying to help people by showing what I do. I get heaps of emails and comments from people that can’t believe the results they get after creating a DIY pond filter. Unfortunately your not one of them, that’s ok, I’m realistic enough to know that no one can please everyone. Anyway my thoughts follow instructions to the letter and wait longer than 5 days. Yesterday I finished work on a video that talks about how long a bog filter takes to work, it goes live October 14. Spoiler alert in the video I say 2weeks to turn green water clear, again provided it’s sized/ built correctly. I wish you luck 👍
I bought a $400 filter and tried and tried to get my pond clear. I tried to get a refund cause I build a bog in a barrel and now I’m stuck with the filter.
Thanks! for all your videos. We will apply some changes to our pond.
Saludos from Mexico.
Thanks so much for your generosity. I’m glad my videos are helping 😊👍
Great video, I think you are right on spot. It's really key to emphasize that your bog must be sized correctly and that you have the right flow, otherwise it's won't work at all. I think that most of the time, people building their first ponds are looking for a pump with the most flow they can buy but if coupled to a bog that won't work at all. As you said the flow must be slow otherwise all the debris gets through and back to the pond.
Spot on. 👍
Nothing wrong with a high flow filter. Just incorporate sponges to trap sediments and don’t use rock and pebble. Use something like bioballs that allow really fast water to pass. Still no need to spend lots of money.
Thanks again for another very informative video!
You’re welcome
I’ve watched many DIY videos on this subject. YOURS IS THE BEST!
That’s very kind of you to say 😊
Things are progressing well with our pond. Last yr toooo hot to finish everything. After that I'll have some time to try to share our build setbacks and all. But full water and sunshine makes me so happy.... pollen finally stopped dropping so now to deal with all the extra nutrition load of pollen from trees. First yr going thru pollen season with pond so will be interesting
True, true such a small thing like pollen can have a big impact.
aha! great explanation. pond = green IF not enough beneficial bacteria to eat through the raw materials.
how long do you think the barrel will last? I've noticed when I leave certain plastics outside too long it starts to get really brittle, I know the barrel is much thicker but do you have any idea how many years it'll realistically last?
I’m not sure exactly how long I’ve had some of these olive barrels outdoors for over 10 years now.
Thanks Kev another the great video. I have a 2200 gallon koi pond in a city setting I'm all out of space. I never really thought of a bog filter before i started watching your videos. Now I'm kind of obsessed to put one in. All my filtration is inside a shed. I might be able to put a 55 gl barrel type bog inside the shed no plants obviously. Do you think that would make any significant difference in my water quality since the bog would be so under matched to the pond water volume?
You should always size any type of filtration to the needs of the pond. That said something is better than nothing. Just don’t expect miracles.
Awesome video as always, all hail the pond god
😂 just trying to help others.
All your tips are gold. Keep them coming. This might be the best outdoor pond related channel here.
Thanks. I appreciate your support and encouragement 😊👍
Cool vid kev
Thanks mate 👍
Great video. Thank you Kev for all of this information. ❤🐡👌
Hope it helps 👍
@Ozponds Yes it does help. I think without a doubt the bog filter is the best form of filtration for Ponds. 😊
Me too 😉
@Ozponds Kev please may I ask 2 questions .?
I am removing the stones and rocks from my pond so that I can clean the pond and start again. A lot of the stones that have been lying in the water all winter next to the black pond liner,well they have all gone black on one side.
Why is this ? But the main question is can I still reuse the stones for the new build.? The black seems to have removed the natural colour and is now part of the stone. It does not come off even with a jet wash ?????😢😮
I believe it’s caused by lack of oxygen. I’m an ecosystem guy and enjoy the natural processes. I can’t see why you cannot reuse the rock. If you are worried use a false bottom to allow water to move all around the rock and pebble.
Fan of your videos! Was hoping you could answer a question for me. This year I made a bog that’s about 7’x3’x1.5’, with 3 sequential tiny ponds (using PVC to channel the flow) before it enters a not yet completed main pond (7’x7’x3). I have the bog fitted with a pipe drilled with holes at the bottom to distribute water at the beginning of the bog, and 2 baffles to ensure it fills evenly before exiting. The idea was to filter gray water from our washing machine.
My question: is there any reason why I wouldn’t be able to simply pump the pond water back into the bog to continue its circulation? Do you foresee any problems with that? It’s admittedly a pretty low tech design (from the book Gaia’s Garden). Thanks so much!
I don’t see a problem.
We followed one of your older videos and our pond was crystal clear most of last year. Did get blanket weed in the hottest part of summer. No idea why as the pond is in partial shade
Have you watched the older algae vids?
Yes. The pond is 300l with a 90l heavily planted bog filter, plants in the pond too and 4 young gold fish. I’m used to running nature aquariums with emergent plants as filtration so tend not to overstock anything. No idea what caused the algae and guess we will never know. It died back a few weeks later
Good to hear it couldn’t sustain itself 👍
Is it a problem for the bog filter to be bigger than mathematically recommended? Also I have a small pond, about 250 gal, what size pump should I be using?
Bigger is better when it comes to bogs. Pump size is determined by many factors. Skimming action, waterfalls/ streams and filtration. For most backyard ponds with bog filter I recommend sizing the pump at 6x bog volume.
Thank you so much for your quick response it was very helpful! God Bless!
Hey Oz ponds, Great source of information on filters and has led me to half of my success with crystal clear water with bog filters, just wondering have you supported UV light usage in any of your videos? If yes , can you link me witch one, thanks mate 👍
I don’t use them, don’t own one. So sorry no supporting videos on them from me.
I'm finding it hard to grasp the design.. Does it need it's own pump? Why have a water seal on the outlet from the barrel back into the pond When the barrel has no top? Add plants where to improve filtration?
Just want to confirm that the pump kev is recommending is superior in almost every way to most pond pumps which come up in a default google/amazon search. The usual suggested pumps (via search results) use A LOT more power, are not variable, and in some cases, have less throughput. I have, in the past, used a Half-Off ponds Hydroflow 3200, and a 1/2HP sump pump to move water (like an idiot).
If you do the math, the Hydroflow uses, 192 watts to move 3200GPH. The pump kev recommends, uses 80, is the same price, and can be throttled. To put this perspective, you could run almost 3 of the Hyggers at the same cost / month/year. As an added bonus, they also support external-inline use, which the others typically don't. Initial cost is about the same, GPH is the same, Head is the same, power-usage is 1/3, has throttling, smaller size, significantly quieter, supports external-inline, and is easy to clean/disassemble.
tl;dr
The pump kev recommends is truly superior in almost every way to most main-stream pond pumps & will save most people on average ~50% on pump electricity usage (even more if you throttle it down to 40w).
I was the same. Never again. 👍
I have various barrels, rainwater barrels.. Does that open top of the barrel show above water level.? In the large version.. Is a section of pond dedicated to the bog filtration system without being physically separated? Bit Confused as the diagrams and film don't, in my brain, match!
Sorry. I’m not the best at explaining and showing stuff. I keep trying and hope to get better. The bog is in a barrel and seperate to the pond. Hopefully some of my other videos will bring more clarity, but don’t hold your breath 😉
Thanks for the video! I have a pond that I restored last year and there is an existing bog next to it that I'd like to restore this year. It's on top of a large mound, so it would waterfall down, through a small stream, and back to the pond. Do you recommend treating the bog or cleaning it in any specific way before I hook it up to the pond? It already has rocks and pebbles in it, but it hasn't been run in probably 15 years, so I'm assuming the bacteria inside is not "good"?
You definitely want to flush it out.
(subbed!) ok, so i'm revamping this bad filter setup this pond was left with. and the design i'm going with is basically what you're describing as a bog filter. in the meantime, before i can get that built, i changed out the filter media, etc...... QUESTION: the barrel is emptying too fast, and there isn't a reservoir of water so much as it runs right back into the pond. 2" pipe. should i put something to block off the hole a bit to slow it down so that it can fill? (i have some K1 on order that i plan to put in the bottom. i figure that media needs submerged in order to let the beneficial bacteria grow?
The media doesn’t necessarily need to be submerged. The bacteria just need wet surface area and oxygen to work their magic.
Hey Kev, thanks for your channel, do you suggest the inlet pipes should be flush with the bottom of the drum or raised a few cms above the bottom to allow for sediment to rest
I don’t really mind either way. I usually set it in the middle of the barrel and I guess the outer edges are slightly lower. It certainly is probably best practice to raise it slightly.
My big filters works a treat same pumps but not as fbig as yours extended cables ect all learnt from you. Thanks heaps. My water quality is absolute clear as buggery. But.... String algae is a major issue
I assume you’ve watched my vids on types of treatments?
You go from diagram showing barrel and plumbing to film of pond with no sign of the barrel and plumbing and pump.... Is the bog for large pond diagram sealed at all from the pond.? So where is the barrel on film? Is it covered over with rocks? "does the open top of the barrel rise above the water level? If so why can't I see evidence of any barrel on the film?
I understand now the flow rate. However, for example, pump A pumps 1 l/ hour. My pond is 1l. But by pumping 1l/hour, flow rate is too high for the bog. I dial it down. Does it affect the 1l/hour? I guess so. Does it matter? Would it be preferable to have pump B pumping 2l/hour for my 1l pond and dial it down to slow the flow rate and have a more effective bog? If I make sense of course 😅😅. Thanks Kev.
I’m sorry I don’t understand the question.
@@Ozponds it is advisable to have a bigger pump than what is needed, in order to reduce the flow but yet circulate the right volume per hour?
For the bog filter I just keep it simple and recommend 6x empty bog volume. If bog filter is 1000L pump approx 6000L through the bog. There are times when you want more flow for waterfalls, jets, more flow to skimmer or intake bay. The excess flow can be diverted to extra streams, jets or simply flow over the surface of the filter. Or you might even want to use different types of filters.
@@Ozponds thank you Kev!
Any tips for the breather pipe so the water doesn't come out it, instead of going into the bottom of the bog?
Use a valve. Then you can regulate how much comes out the top.
Super nery nice video pozdrawiam 👍
😂👍
I'm building your barrel design. I want to use my existing pump which has a 1inch tubing. Id rather not but a larger one. Is it better to have 1 or 2inch piping for filter? I have a 800 gallon pond
The barrel is undersized for your pond. If the existing pump has 1” tubing there’s no reason you can stick with that. Just oversize the outflow.
Sorry, not sure what is meant by oversize the outflow?
The pipe where the water exits the filter.
Hi. Thanks for all the info you’re giving us however I have a question as even after watching quite a few of your videos several times I, I couldn’t wrap my head around requirements.
I built a half barrel pond, mine is about 110 litres. I built a bog which is 30 litres (I had a spare barrel that was 30 litres so it worked out ok because I’m adding some fish)
So question is: do I need to circulate the entire barrel (110 litres) every hour or every 4 hours. Atm my pump is on the lowest setting and I get 150 litres per hour flow so that’s about 137% of the barrel per hours.
I get confused due to the “5 min” that you explained for barrels…
Thanks
You’re overthinking it. Your pump will work just fine 👍
@@Ozponds haha. You’re absolutely right.
I’ve one more question as I plant to build a bigger one (about 1-2k litres) at my friends house.
Are there any signs that tell if the water is flowing too fast or too slow?
If your solid material just blasts up through the bog and returns to the pond, it’s too fast.
@@Ozponds got it, thank you!
Installed a 60ltrs bog filter to my 6K ltrs pond some six months ago, it works perfectly well, water is crystal clear but I am finding out that lately it is getting bogged and loosing water because it over flows. I do hose down the muck on the surface and drain it through the bottom drain, not sure if it is normal or I done something wrong. Plants in the filter grow over night, it is unbelievable how healthy they look. Pebbles I used are 35mm all the way through. Any ideas please..
In my bogs I layer the different sizes of pebble. I also oversize the outflow. Don’t you watch all my vids? 😞
@@Ozponds in my first attempt I followed your instructions in regards to different size pebbles but in a fortnight it clogged up really bad due to the smaller size pebbles. So I emptied it all out and refilled with with the 35mm pebbles, it worked well for six months. The outflow I used 40mm pvc . And yes I watched all your videos and enjoy them all.
I’m glad you enjoy the vids. Is the flow slow? Is it the plant roots? Is the pump inside the pond or is it in an intake bay or skimmer? Is there a high fish load? Lots of leaves?
@@Ozponds the flow I adjusted to be slow (50%), pump is in the pond, not too many fish for the size of the pond, no leaves at all. Plant roots not sure, may be need to pull them up to check, what do you suggest?
I just re-read your initial comment. A 60 litre bog for a 6000 litre pond is massively undersized. You didn’t mention your flow rate (only that it’s dialled back to 50%). If your flow rate on a 60 litre bog is more than 360litres your moving too much water. That may be why you are getting clogged and overflowing. 6000 litre pond I would have my pump in a skimmer or intake to pre filter out any larger materials. But I’d also have a much bigger bog minimum 600 litres. Thinning out plants is a part of the maintenance of the bog so yes that must always be checked. Sounds like you’ve got quite a few things that need addressing. And I need to do a better job in my videos, if you watch them all these mistakes should be avoided. For that I am sorry.
I made bog it not doing very well this year help me
Is it sized correctly? Flow rate, right? Easy to clean? If it is it should work. If it isn’t there’s your problem.
Hi Kev just a quick question. I am running a 54 liter bog filter on a 250 litre bath tub pond. The water is nice and clear but the plants seem to end up with a thick coating of dark green algae on them all the time. I only have 2 smallish goldfish and I don't over feed them. The set up is over a year old. Thanks
What’s the question?
@@Ozponds Hi Kev sorry I meant to say what can I do about the green algae
Have you watched my vids on algae treatments? There’s plenty of options some natural, some not so much.
have you tried light weight high surface area material like pozzolan?
No I haven’t.
@@Ozponds I was thinking to try it; maybe in bags as it has a large surface area and is not expensive.
Hey Kev I have a question. I excavated a 3/4 acre pond about 28,000 sq ft. Ultimately I had underground streams I tapped feeding through old tiling. Well I ended up replacing the tiling and my output flow doubled. I have so much water flushing through filtration is difficult. That said I wanted a bog filter. I ended with a berm about 14 feet tall, 12 feet across the spine at the highest point in the berm. This slopes to grade over a few hundred feet. Could I exchange square foot of bog surface area for square foot of artificial stream. My thoughts are building a small bog 10x12 on that highest point in the berm. Then an artificial stream along that spine about 70 feet from the end my berm has a steep spot that drops to grade and slopes to surface. My thoughts install a waterfall there and return following the slope of grade to the pond. This would mean the 10x12 to catch solids. Then 200 feet of stream, 6 foot waterfall, 100-150 feet of stream. I'm clay bottom but used geotextile and covered with stone. My ponds been quite clear considering the clay. The only time it gets muddy is from run off during rain hitting exposed earth. I'm not really after perfect water. I do want it as clear as possible. My biggest deal is I don't want solids breaking down and depositing over time. If you think of an L shape my overflow to settlement is where the lines intersect. My inlets are on the opposing lines starting points. My deepest point is at the intersection it's 15-16 feet deep. The short line would be 3-5 feet deep. The long line is 3-8 feet deep. This design is really good for flushing and preventing dead spots. However the natural design guarantees the deep spot at the intersection in front of the outflow will accumulate all solids over time. My thoughts is run a small bog in that space and take advantage of the berm slope and gravity. It gives me a sediment trap, increased filtration by the size of the stream, uV exposure, tossing and rolling of water and ultimately oxygenation. In my mind it works for addressing several issues. I hope I'm making sense.
Sounds like a fun project you’ve got there. I can’t really visualise what is happening. But it sounds like you’ve got it all worked out in your head 👍
Do you have an email I could send photos too??
You can contact me via my website. If you require personalised feedback I need to charge a fee as it takes time away from creating content that helps many people.
I’ve tried this so many times but can’t get the water to clarify. 😢
That’s no good. Tell me all about your setup.
@@Ozponds i’m still in the experimental phase and I have this 6000 L above ground pool that has about 1000 L of green water resting on the bottom and my ambition is too fix up the appearance of that water and I see that as my initiation test before I even start lifting heavy and making my own pond. So roughly 2000 L of water with sediment on the bottom and green water. I use the similar blue drum as you did, 200 L. But I didn’t cut off the top, instead I put plastic crates on the bottom third and covered that with white felt, hollow bricks on top of that up to 2/3, laying them tightly as possible and then a layer of smaller rocks to fill in the gaps and the final third was large gravel. I use the 3000 L pump that feeds directly into the bottom of the barrel, the water rises and exits over the lip of the barrel. I left it going for about four or five days with absolutely no results. Simultaneously, to add oxygen I did a little mini set up inspired by David pagan Butler where a PVC pipe was embedded in a large crate of rocks and gravel and using a 50 mm air stone to create negative pressure and pull the water through the bottom of the gravel. These two are running at the same time, in Malaga Spain, in the sun with day temperatures of 26° and evening temperatures of 13°C. What am I doing wrong?
Well your experimenting so you need to expect variable results. If you want to try my method then follow it exactly, if you want to try David’s method follow it exactly. I understand experimenting is fun I do it all the time and I get variable results. For me, personally, I get clear water every time (yes every single time) I create an upflow bog that is appropriately sized to the pond and fish load, along with an appropriate flow rate. I also wouldn’t start off with sediment, if there’s a thick sediment layer I would remove that. Mulm/ detritus is ok (it’s light and fluffy), thick heavy gunk isn’t. And you said it’s been 5 days, where’s the patience?
@@Ozponds haha i’m not being patient enough? My set up is very similar to what you did with that cylindrical cement thing, both in size and execution and I seem to remember that you got results rather quickly there. Realistically, how long until one would see results when making a system from scratch in an already green pond? It’s not a very thick sediment on the bottom, but it does seem to be impossible to completely get rid of no matter how much I try to gather it up with a net. I would start over from scratch but in my mind it’s like, if I manage to salvage this water it’s a proof of concept and that I’m doing it right so I don’t want to give up hope but I would love to hear what you think is a realistic timeframe to see results. I was also considering using a flocculant.
😂I don’t know why you are getting agitated. The cylindrical setup you talk about, the video went live two weeks ago. I showed exactly what I did. Yes the water is nice and clear, but now it’s in its algae growing phase (string algae, not green water). In that video I used a flocculent. You say you are thinking of using a flocculent. I said I’m using a 1000L pump, which I said was a little oversized, but I’ve got the breather pipe letting some water go over the top. You say your pump is 3000L. You didn’t say if you had fish, this pond currently has no fish. So as you can see there’s just 3 variations, maybe two if you have no fish. I’m just trying to help people by showing what I do. I get heaps of emails and comments from people that can’t believe the results they get after creating a DIY pond filter. Unfortunately your not one of them, that’s ok, I’m realistic enough to know that no one can please everyone. Anyway my thoughts follow instructions to the letter and wait longer than 5 days. Yesterday I finished work on a video that talks about how long a bog filter takes to work, it goes live October 14. Spoiler alert in the video I say 2weeks to turn green water clear, again provided it’s sized/ built correctly. I wish you luck 👍
I bought a $400 filter and tried and tried to get my pond clear. I tried to get a refund cause I build a bog in a barrel and now I’m stuck with the filter.
Just sell it on marketplace. Someone will want it.
@@Ozponds I have, just waiting
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