Bog filter overview and cleaning

A quick video where I try and explain some of the design features of a successful bog filter and how to clean them. Below are links to the videos I mentioned.
Some helpful products to add after cleaning a bog filter are Beneficial bacteria and a de-chlorinator. In the video I used maintain for ponds it contains both in one pump action container. amzn.to/3wLLHVZ (Amazon link, If you make a purchase I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you).
Everything I used to build my courtyard pond- • DIY POND| DIY FILTERS|...
Big bog filter for dream pond- • Building a large DIY b...
Mini bog filter- • Building a mini bog fi...
Bog filter built inside the stream- • Bog filter in a stream...
Breather pipe for bog filter- • Breather pipe for a bo...
Bog filter design and flow rates- • Designing a bog filter...

[@nailer65]

Another great video Kev. I used your past videos as a guide to making my own bog filter based on a 45 litre storage box that I keep hidden under some shrubs nearby. I made a couple of modifications of my own. Firstly, I have an old pressure filter that I bought a few years back to filter solids before the water gets to the bog filter. That way I can clean out solid waste more often without having to go near the bog. Secondly, instead of having a breather valve, I just drop the feed hose into the top of a wider pipe that then carries the water to the bottom of the bog. A bolt running through the downpipe prevents the feed hose from going too far down, so no risk of sucking out the bog if the pump fails. Keep up the good work Kev!

[@Ozponds]

Awesome. Love it! 👍

[@Sandra-Armstrong]

I got my first stock tank yesterday!!!! Yaaaayyyy... I can't wait to start building ponds!!!!! 🥰

[@Ozponds]

Awesome!! 👍

[@RyanDonnard]

Thank you for highlighting the need to clean out the bog filter top down. I had enough detritus caught in my bog barrel that it nearly overfilled. Will need to clean the debris found in the stone and top down spraying is exactly what I needed as well. Cheers, keep up the good work.

[@HEART2HEART-3]

You are very clever. Love your ponds. Thank you 😊

[@Ozponds]

Thanks Tracey 👍

[@michealadderley9081]

Thanks for sharing another video how the bog filters work so well keeping your various ponds so clear and natural looking and the ease of maintenance is surprising lot less than having to clean filter brushes . Media . Etc

[@Ozponds]

I’m pretty lazy by nature. I don’t mind putting in hard work to set it up but then I just want to enjoy it. Some people get enjoyment from tinkering around the pond cleaning filters etc.

[@RodCornholio]

Really appreciate all your content. About a year ago I made a couple of container bog filters based on your design. I used solar power for the pumps in one of them. Works great. No chemicals and pretty low maintenance.

[@Ozponds]

That’s great to hear 😊👍

[@davidgreathouse1604]

This is really helpful

[@Ozponds]

I’m glad 😊👍

[@johnbromell178]

Love the channel

[@Ozponds]

Thank you 👍

[@elmohead]

Just a small tip regarding colour: look up Disney's Go Away Green and Byebye Blue. Use these colours to make unwanted things blend away into the background.

[@Ozponds]

Thanks for the tips!

[@samchanning22]

Great update Kev will come in handy when I clean mine out in spring next year as we are just getting ready for winter but the bog is looking great after 6 months and my water is so clear even with the koi eating like crazy. Putting a bog filter in was best decision I ever made 👍

[@Ozponds]

That’s great Sam. Glad to hear the pond is doing well 👍. I gotta be honest I’m pretty keen for some warmer weather.

[@samchanning22]

@@Ozponds ye really good thanks just catching up on all the vlogs of your new pond build it’s looking good 👍 and not far of 25k subscribers now good to see the channel growing mate great stuff. We have had a really hot summer in the uk so I’m happy it’s getting a bit cooler now give it a month and are be wishing summer was back can’t wait to see everything in full bloom with your ponds 👍

[@Ozponds]

I think 2 weeks of winter is enough. I’m excited to see the gardens fill in this year too 👍

[@daleaxe1030]

Thanks pal🎉

[@DrJoeJoeHands]

Thank you

[@Ozponds]

You’re welcome

[@Kurozora]

Comment for support. I like your content

[@ansleybleu]

One thing, in my opinion, that you should add to your bog design is a clean-out valve for the intake pipe going from the pump to the bottom of the barrel. I just tried cleaning my pump and the intake pipe was so clogged with muck I had to rip it all apart. It was so frustrating. I still have to put it back together am not sure if I have burned out my pump yet or not either.

[@Ozponds]

That’s no good. I don’t glue most of the components, so should be easy to pull apart, although I’ve never needed to. I think it helps that all my water flowing to the bogs is pre-filtered by the skimmers or intake bays.

[@danielfinch2611]

Hi Kev, just found your channel and love the content, keep it up👍 I’m interested in converting an unground swimming pool into a pond/swim pond and was thinking your bog in a barrel would be a good filtration option as it is scalable. Love to get your thoughts on this or to see a video maybe for some future content. Cheers mate

[@Ozponds]

It’s definitely scalable 👍. If I were to do it on a pool I’d be looking at IBC’s or stock troughs. Unfortunately I don’t have a pool to personally try it on.

[@matth4520]

Great video, just curious if you loose lots of water to evaporation, if you do do you have a top up?

[@Ozponds]

None of my ponds have auto top ups I prefer to do it manually, although one does get topped up with rain water off the roof. In summer I usually need to top them up.

[@SzerdzsoCortez2]

What is the function of the void space above the bottom of the bog (above the centipede modul) build from pallets, crates or aquabloxes? Does this bottom trench where the centipede modul lies essential? You have none of these. These only make the bigger bogs easier to clean?

[@Ozponds]

I use the bottom trench but not the aquablox or pallets. I still want a void space where the water enters and solids can accumulate. My bogs are narrow so I feel the aquablox/ pallets are unnecessary. If I were going wider then I would most likely incorporate them. So yes the void space is mostly essential for cleaning, it does also play a part in allowing the water flow to spread out. I hope that makes sense and answers your questions.

[@moomoon1410]

Thank you for this amazing video! Couple of questions please: when to know filter needs to be cleaned? Can a dirty filter explain a sudden change of the quality of the water? Does the distance between the pump and filter matters? I would appreciate your feedback. Thanks Kev!

[@Ozponds]

I tend to clean mine when I do notice a change in water quality. Distance between pump and filter doesn’t matter so much from a filtration perspective. Having said that you want to position the pump on the far side from where the clean water returns, this improves your circulation. The further the pump is from the filter the more pipe work you need and that can reduce the amount of flow the pump can produce.

[@moomoon1410]

@@Ozponds so if I understand you well, a slower flow is best. Right?

[@Ozponds]

That’s what I find. There’s plenty of margin of error room.

[@Shmaybe]

Get video once again. Regarding the breather valve, could you use a swing check valve? or could build up stop it from functioning.

[@Ozponds]

I find they fail after a while. This filter initially had a check valve then I replaced it with the breather.

[@Shmaybe]

@@Ozponds good to know thank you. I was wondering if they got all blocked up.

[@mingv4151]

Hi Kev, I see you use solar around your pond. Can you do a video to show how to set up a pond pump using solar power please? Thank you. Ming

[@Ozponds]

Those are just cheap solar pumps. Nothing to set up. My latest pond will run entirely on solar. I will show the set up once I work out what I’m doing 👍

[@NopeAndYep]

Great video Kev! Do you have a channel for your plant nursery?

[@Ozponds]

No. We sort of tried one based on propagating plants for profit but it was a bit of a flop and took to much time. I really love ponds so it’s easier for me to create content around them. I also love when people reach out and tell me that a certain video or design helped turn their pond around. That makes me smile 😊

[@NopeAndYep]

@@Ozponds I understand that! I love plant propagation, but many equate it to watching paint dry.

[@inthikhabfarook478]

Hey, I am pretty impressed with your sensible approach. I would like to build a 1/2 acre, swim pond in Sri Lanka, would you like to visit,help me build it? Thanking you in advance!

[@Ozponds]

😂 I’m a simple man I don’t even own a passport. Thanks for the offer though 👍

[@marnez390]

I did this method with a large olive barrel sized container and I've had it running for about a month now but my water is still dark green. The water coming out is almost the same color as the water going in. My pump is small enough to make the water coming out have a slow flow. What am I doing wrong? Do I have too many small fish? My pond is about 300gallons and I have 1 turttle and about 1000 feeder fish in there.

[@Ozponds]

Probably. Filtration is always a balancing act between bio load and bacteria (or something else that will deal with the nutrient produced). I personally wouldn’t stock 1000 fish of any size in a 300 gallon pond, unless I was willing to perform water changes and regular filter maintenance.

[@JUST-UK-JAY]

excellent ... subbed

[@Ozponds]

Welcome aboard 👍

[@deanvanlaarhoven1413]

If I allow rainwater from a roof gutter to replenish the level in my pond, will I be washing away too much bacteria?

[@Ozponds]

Nah they grow on wet surfaces, not so much floating around.

[@thechaddad1609]

I currently have a 200 gallon horse trough that I'm using as a pond. The koi in it are outgrowing it and so I'm considering digging an in ground pond next to it and coverting the trough to a bog filter. How big of a pond can I make?

[@Ozponds]

Around 2000 gallon.

[@thechaddad1609]

@@Ozponds Awesome. Love your content.

[@reefworldromania]

@ozponds how often do you flush the bog filters?

[@Ozponds]

Once or twice a year on mine

[@dianachern4234]

Hello, can I put inflow at the bottom of the filter using Uniseal? My bog filter will be inside of pond.

[@Ozponds]

You can. Just think about how are you going to prevent the muck flowing back out the bottom of the filter if the pump shuts off.

[@dianachern4234]

@@Ozponds good question! 😁 How about something like one way flow pipe? Is something like this exist in Australia? I also live in Australia 🇦🇺

[@Ozponds]

I’ve tried one way check valves from Bunnings and aquascape Australia, both failed on me. That’s why I come in over the top and use the breather pipe.

[@dianachern4234]

@@Ozponds oh really! Bummer. Thank you for letting me know!

[@omeromer9300]

Can i apply this bog filter method to my cannister filter for my 30gal tank ? Would it work as same effective ?

[@Ozponds]

I would make a seperate filter. The canister would act as a good pre filter.

[@omeromer9300]

@@Ozponds sadly i dont have that kind of space.Wouldnt it work if i remove sponges from canister box and put sand and gravel as you mentioned.If its workin on pool-whic it is - why it wouldnt work on tank ?

[@Ozponds]

Aquarium canister filters usually have a high flow rate through them. Bogs need slow flow. You are more than welcome to experiment and see what works for you 👍

[@omeromer9300]

@@Ozponds Oh right i almost forgot flow rate sorry about that.

[@renewallin8517]

Hi Kev a Swede here, enjoy your vids and learn a lot, but a tad too late or..? Now I'm evaluating a different filter coz the one I have does not work. Pond is in its second year and about 8000l (no fish...yet), Now (or finally as you would say in a vid) comes my question. BOG filter or bio media filter? If a BOG is the answer I´m thinking a IBC, and if Biomedia, two 200l with K1/K2. Pros and cons would be interesting also to know, been searching for a comparison without luck.

[@Ozponds]

I’m biased I like bog. But both work. Bog advantage is slower flow rate means less energy consumption. Also different oxygen zones so the potential to have the nitrogen just gas off. Maybe I should make a vid 👍

[@renewallin8517]

@@Ozponds Okey. I took some notes and 10% of pond volym and x 6 for the pump for a Bog. However, my plan is to use the same pump that moves the water from bottom up to the now decided Bog, which is about 2m in height and 10m long 50mm hose. The pump is enough and I are able to adjust flow rate. Any insight of using same pump? (it is the most energy efficient I can come up with)

[@Ozponds]

I always add a breather pipe and this will allow more flow from the same pump. You just need to adjust the flow accordingly so you still have a nice slow flow moving up through the bog. You can move as much water as you want over the bogs surface. Breather pipe for a bog filter kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZmSynmxqe8xonZY

[@rideathome]

What do you use your solar panels for?

[@Ozponds]

I’ve got some solar pond lights and a few small solar pumps that help push water out of some of the areas where debris gets trapped.

[@rideathome]

@@Ozponds I have a small stock tank pond that I hooked up with a panel and battery. It works pretty well so I was wondering if you did something similar. Great video btw!

[@Ozponds]

Sounds cool.👍 Thanks mate 🍻

[@DanilloMagalhaes]

the down stream could work as the whole bog? or this specific one is too small for the pond and u built a barrow bog to flow then to the stream then to the pond?

[@Ozponds]

Sorry I don’t understand the question. Streams will provide some filtration, just not as efficient as a dedicated bog. Hope that helps.

[@DanilloMagalhaes]

@@Ozponds im a pond newb that been searching a ton and learning even more from ur channel. if i'm not wrong i saw a video exlpaining how you can build a bog in the shape of a stream that can have the end of it as a waterfall, so all the bacteria on the rocks and pebles, plus plant roots filtrating while the water flow throught the long stream. i was dreaming of building a decently deep pond with an intake bay at the edge, then take most the dirt dug out to the side and build a taller stream shaped bog kinda circling around the pond to a waterfall on the oposite side of the intake bay. just one pump system, completly natural filtering. would that be a possibility? or the bog would need to be shaped like minipond at the start to filter from down up with layers of rocks and pebbles before moving downstream?

[@Ozponds]

This video might help- Bog filter in a stream| DIY Pond build kzbin.info/www/bejne/hHXVgHikorB6l80

[@DanilloMagalhaes]

@@Ozponds ty! i've had watched that one previously, but on the first watch i didn't pay much atention to the bog piping part, gotta admit it still confuses me. from what i see u use one pump at the intake bay, and another pump on the bog? i was thinking that one pump on the intake bay getting the water through the pipes to the bottom of the bog, then up the rocks and pebbles then down stream would do the trick. i personally have trouble to visualize piping properly ^^' a video of you draining that specific bog and cleaning while explianing the flow of water through that pipe system would be awesome!

[@Ozponds]

Only one pump for the bog. Both ponds are inside the intake bay. One supplies the bog the other the headwaters of the stream. When I clean the bog I will make a vid 👍

[@hopefisher6549]

Mine takes me hours. I take everything out and put it all back in after a Clayne it'

[@Ozponds]

Need a better design.

[@hopefisher6549]

How big bog filter need to be for a 1500 pond

[@Ozponds]

A good starting point is 10% so 150. But it also depends on what the pond will be used for and what kind of water clarity/quality you want to achieve.

[@kimfroman2023]

Is the pump solar powered?

[@Ozponds]

No.

[@saaaaauce]

So this is done only once a year?

[@Ozponds]

That’s all I do.

[@saaaaauce]

@@Ozponds i recently bought a house and it came with a big pond... It's dry at the moment, but your channel is very informative and I'm feeling way more confident to get it running again. Seems to be the type of pond that you like as well 👍

[@Ozponds]

Awesome 👍

[@MattStryfe]

Kev, what kind of pants are those?

[@Ozponds]

I’m not sure which ones you are referring to. This video should give you the answer Plant ideas for in and around a backyard pond kzbin.info/www/bejne/f6jRioOQbq19l7M

[@MattStryfe]

@@Ozponds Oh no, I genuinely was wondering what brand of pants those are. I didn't mispel plants =) Tough to find things that fit in the US if you don't skip leg day.

[@Ozponds]

😂 Nice! Never skip leg day! The pants are a brand called TRADIE

[@stayawhileandlisten.3249]

First

[@NopeAndYep]

Ok Deckard Cain 😆

[@Ozponds]

🏆 👍

[@cosmoswatching4007]

My bog filter outlet pipe got clogged and all of my water drained out overnight. Thank god i don’t have fish yet. What’s the best way to avoid this?

[@Ozponds]

Well that depends. Why did it get clogged?

[@cosmoswatching4007]

@@Ozponds rocks blocked the pipe thst feeds through to my waterfall feature. I’m thinking I need to build up a barrier a bit better to avoid thst from happening. I was thinking about a screen on the outlet pipe to avoid anything from getting pulled into it.

[@Ozponds]

Usually I drill a bunch of holes in the outlet pipe. Let’s the water and fine debris pass through but not any rock or pebble. Always test it before walking away, just to make sure it drains freely.