How to Design and Build a DIY Bog Filter for Crystal Clear Pond Water

[@tamela.lyanka]

I made a bog filter for a pond that was getting so green you couldn’t see it. It took me a while to get the dimensions right since I am new to this. Within two days the water was clear. Now it’s been two weeks and the water is crystal clear. It’s like glass. You can see everything and the fish are so happy swimming around. It’s beautiful and I’m so glad I watched all your videos. Thank you for providing these videos! You’re a saint. ❤

[@Ozponds]

Wonderful to hear! That’s why I do it 😊👍

[@indelible14u]

Thank you so much for your excellent,simple to understand videos and information. I/we would never be where we are without your help. The reason I got into doing a pond and will soon add the other one I bought ( both basic large fibreglass kidney shaped ponds ) was because I was suddenly losing beautiful expensive gold fish from my 4' aquarium due to what seemed to be very high nitrates.As I had 2 big 14 yr old basic goldfish in there they seemed to be causing the problem. I then started buying Frogbit, Azolla and Foxtail but the fish were eating it very fast and people have gone overboard re selling plants $5 to $10 for a small zip bag.I then decided to grow my own in small clam kids sand pits and included Water Lettuce. To our surprise after 1 mth or so we found lots of tiny baby fish while transferring plants to the aquarium. I couldn't rehome them and the last thing I would ever do was kill them/flush them down a drain.So I decided to look for a s/h pond which was expensive but that day saw a very cheap one exactly the same thus bought it so the price was then good for 2 ponds. Started with small solar fountain. Went o/s with 94 yr old mum for 4 mths.Had watched your videos just in time and my daughter then watched and learnt from your excellent information and built a bog filter 160 ltrs and the ponds are 600 ltr so for now 1 is now completely set up with lots of plants and some goldfish are over 2 inches long and there are heaps of them in varying colours living a great life with 10 pond plants besides the frogbit etc. The only problem was it was set up early May and then only received sun from 2 pm to 5 ish but now its Spring it's sun all day so tomorrow the 70% type shade cloth for "spring/summer" is being installed then on cool days we will set up the other pond which from your figures a total of 1200 ltr being the 2 ponds should be fine with 160 ltr bog filter and all the plants,rocks and hiding places we have made for the fish. So again thank you so much. To show our appreciation I have made a donation.Im on DSP and my daughter has medical problems thus I can't afford more.Mum pays the o/s trips and we have accommodation in Spain and as you would know times are a bit tough.I'm a great believer that is everyone who has used your information and if so would of saved lots of money re buying filters that really don't do the job donated even $2 it would be nice as what you have supplied and saved us all is "lots of money" besides happy,healthy and beautiful fish,ponds,plants and a nice place to relax and watch everything working like nature intended.👍❤️😊 Kind regards from myself and my family.

[@Ozponds]

Thank you so much. Every now and then I wonder if I should keep making videos and then I receive a comment/ story like this. It makes me so happy when I hear from folks and thanks so much for the donation 😊👍

[@indelible14u]

​@@OzpondsYour very welcomed Kev.To be honest i am yet to see someone do such an excellent and user friendly site/videos/info etc to educate one in what one is researching.Thank you and all the best always.👍😊

[@Ozponds]

@ I try. 😊

[@thedirtprincess3293]

What a great channel. Ive searched for pond filtration before and never found you. No idea why. Subscription added!

[@Ozponds]

I hope you like it here. 😊👍

[@randyj4452]

Building my first pond and just binged a bunch of your videos! Easy to understand and follow! Beautiful ponds! Subscription earned my friend!

[@Ozponds]

Awesome! Thank you!😊👍

[@MrJmhess77]

you and me both

[@adrianl2745]

Awesome video and they work so well! Installed a bog filter using your design exactly 2 weeks ago and our fish now have crystal clear water to live in

[@Ozponds]

Great to hear 😊👍

[@Chilled_Mackers]

Thank you for all your videos, my Dad made a pond, just under a year before he passed away. It soon turned pea-green, so I started looking for filter options. Your videos came up during my searches - your calming presentations are perfect for me to follow. I created a mk1 'proof of concept' using a 25litre bucket and kitchen sink drain for a 1000litre (ish) pond (a mere puddle compared to your works of art) 18months ago, based on your videos. It epically transformed the water within about 4 weeks. I've now got most of the stuff to make my mk2, using a 80litre good quality garden dustbin (it seems really hard to find a 100litre good quality bucket here in the UK) this is just so I don't have to dismantle/clean the 25litre bucket every 4-6 weeks lol. I'm not lazy, I'm just economical with my energy. Honest. This time I am certainly adding a drain point at the bottom! Being able to spot the tiny white label on the pump from 10 feet away is amazing, compared to only being able to see the fish when they were feeding off the pea-green surface - it is like night and day difference. Thank you, for doing what you do, for doing it how you do and for sharing what you do for simpletons like myself to follow. I hope you and yours have a superb holiday season and a great new year. Thank you again.

[@Ozponds]

Thanks so much for your kind words. Hearing stories like this makes doing videos so rewarding. I hope you and your family also have a great holiday season. I’m so glad you get to enjoy your Dads pond 😊👍

[@Chilled_Mackers]

@@Ozponds As I am now a live-in-carer for my Mum, I am certainly doing my best to keep the house functioning and the garden presentable. Having your superb videos to help with the pond is a massive help. One other 'problem' we encounter with the pond is 'Nelly the Elephant' (ha, my Dad named the water feature thing) keeps getting clogged up with tiny dark red/brown 'worms' - gazzillions of them. Nelly is a plastic elephant, fed by a pump and water comes out of the trunk. The worms are tiny, less than 3/8" 10mm long at the absolute most. From a distance, it looks like one gooey mass which builds up and pretty much stops the flow of water. I clear the tubes when it happens and it will take a couple months to come back. I added some sticklebacks and roach to the pond to compliment the carp which slowed it down. It doesn't happen during the winter. Just curious if you have ever heard of such a thing? Not sure if they are a lavae or bloodworms. I fix classic cars, I'm not a worm guy. I totally understand if you do not have these things in your country.

[@Ozponds]

I’m not sure what the worms are. I would assume you don’t need to feed the fish if they are present.

[@adrianzmajla4844]

Possibly Tubifex worms? They like to live in drainage water, sewers and ditches etc. Water birds spread them on their travel. ​@UkMackers

[@adrianzmajla4844]

And yes they clump together.

[@richardchargin7552]

Happy New Year, Kev! Im building 3 bog filters for a 15,000 liter pond im constructing, and I refer to your videos constantly! Thank you again, so much! Peace, Rich. Santa Cruz, Ca

[@Ozponds]

Happy New Year Rich 🍻👍

[@silicondave2797]

I really like this concrete stock tank. Has a nice charm to it. Happy 2024 !

[@Ozponds]

Thanks Dave. You too 🍻👍

[@blindkimberly1360]

I’m getting excited yet feeling overwhelmed thinking about my bog filter for my frog pond! I can’t wait for hubby to come home to tell me where all the pipes are. My sarassa comet pond had parrots feather in the bog filter. Naturally it got out of hand. I cut it back in the pond part one day. Evidently the fish decided they were yummy. No more over growth of parrot feather. They are some eating fish! I’m sticking to wild frogs now. And I’m having a grand time catching up on your videos! 🫶🏼😎🫶🏼

[@worldwidetv123]

you are a good natural designer

[@Ozponds]

Thanks 😊👍

[@Kugadream55]

happy new year to you and all your subscribers🎉🎉

[@Ozponds]

Same to you 🍻👍

[@pietskiet247]

Just built my Bog Filter today I might need to add a second one due to pond size but first want to see how it works Thank you for your videos they are great too watch and learn

[@Ozponds]

I wish you success 😊👍

[@pietskiet247]

@Ozponds I am so glad I followed your advice on your videos My pond water are clear as never before Just hope to get it stay like that and the good bacteria need to grow quickly in the bog filter Need to add some plants to help with the NH3 and NH4 process

[@Ozponds]

@ great to hear 😊👍 Spread the word 👍

[@indelible14u]

So many great reviews,comments,money saved,happy fish, beautiful ponds etc etc but I haven't seen any donations after lots of scrolling down all the comments. This gentleman has done an absolutely brilliant job which has taken lots of time and effort besides all the replies which he makes so it would be nice to see a few more people making a small donation of even just $2.A coffee is $5 and a beer at the pub $10 so rather than just words of praise a small donation to show ones appreciation would be nice but of course there is no obligation.I'm on DSP but a few $$'s isn't going to make any difference to me or my life so I made a donation.Every little bit helps and the information and the way it is shared would actually cost a lot of time and money if one had to find it all out themselves and / or get a professional to help re anything to everything.Food for thought folks ! 👍😉😊 Ps.I was going to have to spend hundreds of $'s on a filter for the pond which would have been nowhere near as good as the bog filter my daughter built which cost far less than $100 in total including the pump ! To be honest unbelievable value and performance which I'm sure very few people wouldnt have known where to even start ! Pss.Of course this is just my personal opinion and has nothing to do at all with Oz ponds..I'm not involved with him/them in anyway other than watching the videos and using the information.No conflict of interest what so ever ! 👍😊

[@Ozponds]

Thanks Mum 😂! Just kidding 😉. Thanks so much for your kind words and the donation you sent, it means a lot and really does help support what I try and do. Thanks again 😊👍

[@indelible14u]

😂🤣😂🤣..besides so much educational material that you supply you have a brilliant sense of humour.I'm just a little confused regarding the flow rate we should have.My late acknowledgement of your reply and thanks is due to a week bed bound re bad back so with meds etc I've not been online since my last comments etc. as not too clear in my thinking.Basically Kev...640 ltrs pond,8 small but getting bigger goldfish since birth 9 plants in pots,Frogbit and Azolla and 160 ltr bog filter with Azolla and Frogbit completely covering the water in bog.Very soon 70% shade cloth to cover most of the day for coming summer.At present 600 ltr pump and 2 small solar fountains.Having algae starting to spread too much thus thinking of UVC lights to go inside bog intake.Your view re lph of pump.Had trouble with it clogging re algae so followed your instructions re shade cloth with rubber bands which is helping.Was thinking of another seperate 600 ltr pump but I'm confused re your example of your 1000 ltr pond and 5 min to 15 min flowing through the bog and your example it flowed at 10 minutes.Thank you and all the best always to you and your family.👍❤️😊

[@Ozponds]

@ I’ve tried to simplify the formula for bog flow rate. Just 6x the volume of the bog. So a 100L bog filter = 600L pump. You will lose some flow to head etc but that’s ok. That formula should always put you in the ball park. Hope you’re feeling better.

[@zebrobertson]

Hi, Kev! Glad to see another vid! I've been watching long enough so when you show the different ponds in your yard I already know where the bog filters, pumps, and pipes are and how you built and maintain them... haha

[@Ozponds]

Thanks for the support mate😊👍. Most people don’t watch all the videos.

[@zebrobertson]

@@Ozponds Your content is always useful and easy to follow... much appreciated!

[@muzzhaji]

​@Ozponds I just used your videos to create my pond. I also did the bog filter . I'm from India so it was interesting to set up.

[@KathySousa-ik2nn]

Thank you so much for your step by step explanation; I had a very small pond years ago and am relearning all this. Just bought a 20 gallon tub to create my first bog filter for my little preformed pond, will make a little short stream from filter to pond, and your videos are giving me the confidence to do it! Getting nothing else done! :) Like Randy said earlier, binge watching all your videos. And your pond is breathtakingly beautiful!

[@Ozponds]

I hope you create something that brings you tons of joy 😊👍

[@KathySousa-ik2nn]

Thank you! It is already! 🐠

[@buffalojones341]

Hey Kev, I really enjoy your videos and plan to make a bog filter pond sooner now, because I just learned something that you may want to mention to your viewers. I wanted to make a pond that would be big enough for my kids to use as a small pool, so the cost of the liner was preventing me from moving forward. But, I remembered that we have clay soil here where I live, and so I asked a friend of mine who is a soil engineer and he said it shouldn’t be much of a problem to go without the heavy duty pond liner. I have an additional advantage as well, I am in the country and pay for Canal water to service my house. There’s no meter and it’s gravity fed, so if I lose a little bit more water than expected, it doesn’t cost me a dime.

[@Ozponds]

Great to hear 👍

[@ren2ski]

Love your channel Kev!!!

[@Ozponds]

Thanks 😊👍

[@2654tyrepower]

Kev Bog filters are effective and very easy to clean I'm converted based on my experience with NOW crystal clear water

[@Ozponds]

Once you go bog you never go back 👍

[@X_Springer]

Nice vid, thanks for sharing. The stock tank seems to be filled rather high with substrate, curious on the reason.

[@Ozponds]

It has a false bottom kind of like an underground filter in an aquarium. The idea is that water can flow all around the substrate, sort of like in a river. It should act as additional filtration so I can really keep lots of fish in this pond.

[@raymondmichielini6021]

I always thought plants were really important in a bog filter but i see its more about the bacteria on the rock.

[@Ozponds]

Correct 👍

[@suzannemoran7281]

Hi Kev , I really like this video it is very easy to understand. The mistake I made on my last bog filter was using invasive plants on the top of it. They completely took over and the flow stopped and overflowed whilst I was on holiday. My pump fell over and luckily stopped whilst my fish still had 6 inches of water. They were all alive when I came back home because of a vast amount of water lettice I had that reduced the ammonia and nitrates . Another mistake was putting the pump at the bottom of the pond and not putting in a T piece to stop back flow. So if I follow this video to the letter when spring comes I should be ok. My pump is very strong though 4500 Litres per hour . My pond holds about 1200 litres. I was going to buy an old wooden whisky barrel for the bog filter .It is said to hold 200 litres of water and be water tight. So if I follow your advice , I could use an overflow system because of the pump being too strong ? I need to stop the pump pulling in baby fish , please could you explain a bit more the type of cloth you used over the pump and how you tied it on to the pump. Thanks very much. 😊🐟🐠🐡🐋🐔🐝🌻☀️🤶🎅

[@Ozponds]

Yes you could direct the excess flow out through the breather pipe, over the surface of the bog. Or you could divert the flow to some underwater, or surface jets to help with circulation. The cloth of the pump was regular shade cloth (like used in the garden). I simply folded it around the intake part of the pump (the cage is still on) and used cable ties to secure it in place. Hope that helps. Have a great New Year 😊

[@suzannemoran7281]

Yes that helps a lot . Thank you Kev. Have a fantastic new year. I must add that your ponds are becoming more beautiful every year . ❤

[@applesauce2710]

Just finished with DIY bog filter for only 600L pond. Not gonna win an award for prettiest (probably the ugliest) but wanted to get the basics right. I gotta admit my DIY skill was very limited and half of steps were unfamiliar, so at least I learnt something new. I was most afraid of getting uniseal step wrong as I couldn't find them from Bunnings and instead bought them from eBay. I would need to wait another week if I make a mistake. Huge thanks for convincing me to DIY a bog filter. Sub earned! (BTW I'm also from SE suburb, likely closer to Melb)

[@Ozponds]

Well done for giving it a go 👍

[@applesauce2710]

Near 6 months update: Water is definitely clearer! A lot of gunk that were sitting around pond plants have disappeared. However string algae remained an issue. I knew from the start my pond is overstocked which likely caused it. I guess it has to do for now.

[@MandyJane123700]

Excellent advice. I'm probably going to need a new pump in the next few months. It's always good to remember not to put it on the bottom of the pond. Also, I love my ugly bog filter!

[@Ozponds]

What sort of pump will you get?

[@MandyJane123700]

@@Ozponds I've been using a pool filter pump (because I already had it), but I think when this one wears out I will get a proper pond pump. I probably need one about the same size as the one you used in this video. My pond is 300 gallons, so that's pretty close to 900 liters.

[@Sea-cucumber1151]

I have been using the tetra ( big green) solid handling pond pump. I have had ponds for 27 years now or so….It doesn’t clog and the suction stays even. In the other ones if they clog in an area the suction is greater on the other side. So sadly I had baby turtles get their legs sucked up and they drowned. I have never had that happen with the tetra solid handling one. Only time I use the others is if the water is sucked somewhere else like in a skimmer etc. I have one that sucks from the skimmer to the bog and the tetra one sucks directly from the pond to the filter then bog. That way I have double the cleaning, the bog and the filter but it all still flows up through the bog. Just. Thought. Never had problems with them.

[@Sea-cucumber1151]

And far less maintenance on the pump, no net bag is needed. They are amazing.

[@MandyJane123700]

@@Sea-cucumber1151 I will look into getting one of those. I don't know anything about which brands and styles of pond pumps are good.

[@RaiSinghJio]

Thank you very much, in the video you mention other video to learn how to flush bog filters even if they're ground level, could you please share that? thanks again.

[@Ozponds]

Cleaning/ Flushing a DIY BOG FILTER kzbin.info/www/bejne/qnXNqX6ChZlomZI

[@Pixrex]

Man ,great channel to find .. Havnt done a pond in many years .. finally got it done , and built myself a bog filter today too

[@Ozponds]

Nice work 👍

[@9019]

I did something different, I put the hole filter inside the pond submerged and put the pump inside the filter then room the out pipe if the pump and put it on a raised surface and let it drip back in the pind to originate the water

[@9019]

Although my pump started to slow down a bit after 2 months or so of continuous working, I think it's either I didn't put enough fine filters to filter out the solids, or just simply the pump was cheaper

[@Ozponds]

It’s always fun experimenting. There’s multiple ways to filter water.

[@patrikolsson2737]

Thank you so much for all the good advice. Just a question; is there any type of stones/bricks/rocks that should not be used in the barrel? I was thinking that the material could disperse some kind of chemicals in case it is not natural rocks. I would like to decrease the overall weight. Stones of light concrete or leca blocks (if it is called so in English) would decrease the weight considerably and also provide more surface.

[@Ozponds]

I use anything I can get. It’s just surface area we are after.

[@MrChisni]

Hi Kev ,i have been watching your videos and am amazed at how easy you make things for us laymen(& women).Thankyou very much for that👍.I have built a small Pond with a water fall(9000Ltrs)and have constructed a bog filter as you have explained .Perfect Thanks .Clear water and happy fish.But recently i have noticed that i am getting stringy algae ,,What is causing this and how can i control it? Thanks Regards Charlie Melbourne

[@Ozponds]

It’s very normal in a new pond. I have other videos showing methods I’ve used when I experience the same issues. Overtime it will find balance.

[@NicolasDesmet-i4h]

Thank you so much for all the amazing videos! I started my pond journey with David's organic pool pdf. So i have a air pump to move the water. So far my regeneration zone is not large enough and it all turned green here in Phoenix AZ. I do not have enough room to expand it so i was hoping use hybrid version of your bog filter design. So i was wondering if I can make your bog filter with this type of pump? or does it not have enough pressure? My idea was to pump water from the bottom of the pond with an air lift to bog filter and it will fall in to into a larger diameter pipe (not connected) that goes to the bottom of false bottom of the bog filter, water will rise as it is being filled in the bog filter and the water will return to the pond with the water fall effect back in to the pond being lower than the water air pump delivering the water to the bog. Wow I hope that makes sense. Thank you again for all that you do for this DIY community!

[@Ozponds]

Theoretically I think it could work. The issue I see is that you want to get the flow rate through the bog within a ball park figure. A variable speed pump just makes it so easy to adjust and find optimal flow. You could turn it off when you swim as to have no electricity inside the water if that’s the concern.

[@ryanwood439]

Great video! Lots of useful information and straight to the point. I'm having trouble understanding the, "breather pipe" that prevents siphoning. It seems like it's just an open T and water being pumped down to the bottom of the bog would just escape rapidly on the way in from the pond. When the bog is being used and water is being pumped to the bottom of it. How does it not escape out of the breather tube? Thanks!

[@Ozponds]

Sometimes it does and you might need to add an elbow fitting and a vertical pipe.

[@ryanwood439]

​@@Ozpondsthanks for the quick response! I still don't understand. If the pump is supplying enough pressure to push water up through the bog, how does it not? Just find the easiest way out through the breather tube and 100% of it. Just rush out of that open pipe. How can it be a pressurized system in any way if there's an equal size pipe just open there? What about another option like a backflow valve?

[@Ozponds]

It just works. Try it. Or do it another way you think will work. I don’t know how to explain it adequately but I’ve got many bog filters in use.

[@TexasJoeHotdog42]

Love your videos, very informative! I have a 100 gallon pond with a 1800 GPH pump and a 27 gallon plastic tote to use as the filter. If I have a 3/4 inch inlet and a 1-1/2 inch outlet, can I plumb the outlet into a 1 inch hose line to run to my waterfall feature about 5 ft away? The filter will be uphill slightly from the waterfall and everything will flow downhill. just wondering if there would be enough pressure to get from the outlet to the waterfall with the size reduction. Thanks!

[@Ozponds]

You won’t need to reduce it. If it flows downhill it will just flow downhill, better to keep it larger. The smaller diameter won’t create more water, that’s all that matters when creating a waterfall, the amount of water. Smaller diameter outflows from the bog run the risk of not allowing enough water to escape.

[@danmick8645]

@Ozponds Kev, is there any problem with using broken-up aggregate concrete (driveways/sidewalks) as some of the space-taker/bacteria surface in a bog filter? I'm building my second, and having trouble finding appropriate river/granite-type rock to use up the space; I've got 4-5" stone and pea gravel for the top two layers, but I need something larger in the bottom. Will the broken concrete, "urbanite", suffice?

[@Ozponds]

I’ve never personally tried it, but I think it’ll be ok. 👍

[@deegenette2383]

Do you need a breather pipe if you use an in-line Sump Pump Check Valve between the pump and the bog?

[@Ozponds]

As long as it stops the siphon that’s fine.

[@deansiddall3729]

Thanks for the good videos kev. quick question, i was thinking about fabrication a bog filter but have iot in 2 stages, going through mechanical filtration first then into a bog filter before back into the pond. would you think this would be pointless and the bog filter alone would suffice?

[@Ozponds]

I’m actually thinking of making a video on this. It really depends on your goals if you want the pond super clean the more filtration the better.

[@deansiddall3729]

@@Ozponds. i want what would be best for the fish really but clean is nice also. i am a fabricator so i was thinking i should just make an all in one, didn't know if there would be a down side to it. thanks for the reply, much appreciated.

[@Ozponds]

No downside only upside 👍

[@bdags1996]

For the larger stones at the bottom of the bog, would large chunks of lava rock be OK? I'm building my first bog for a 300 gallon pond in my garage and I'm second guessing my design.

[@Ozponds]

I’m ok with that.

[@DrJoeJoeHands]

Thank you

[@Ozponds]

🍻👍

[@MrJmhess77]

I just thought I would share I have purchased the PDF checklist for the cost of a coffee from StarBucks and it was the best little investment I have made so far for my first "pond building adventure". I went to Home Depot tonight after work with my PDF and got everything I needed to build the bog starting tomm. Thanks Kev! Glad I made the purchase as it's going to help a ton! Tip: I used one of these online volume calculators to do all the math for me. I'm an artist/creative so I love math for what it is/does but hate doing it. HA HA! Happy Ponding 🐟

[@Ozponds]

Thanks for sharing mate 😊👍. Good luck with the build.

[@pet0r]

Thanks for another inspirational vid Kev! I wanted to get your opinion - I have a 100L pot pond with ~10 white cloud minnows and a 20L bog filter on top following your design. A canister filter powers it. I want to temporarily remove the bog for some modifications, any chance of a cycle crash from this? The canister will remain in place

[@Ozponds]

You’ll be fine 👍

[@daprip456]

Great video, have watched it a number of times when making my own. I’m not sure if I have the glow rate right, bog filter is 75 litres, free standing pond is 440 litres and flow rate is 360 lph is the flow rate too much?

[@Ozponds]

No it’s fine 👍

[@alanzurliene461]

Happy New Year Kev! I installed a bog filter 6 months ago and the water is sparkling clear. Unfortunately, I am having a problem with green moss on all the sides of the pond. Do you have any ideas how I can reduce the moss growth? I am so thankful for your great videos and I have learned so much. Thanks again Kev 😎

[@Ozponds]

Algae or moss? My first piece of advice for algae in a new pond is always patience. You can scroll through my previous videos and see lots of different things I’ve tried over the years. Algaecides, encouraging good algae, beneficial bacteria, hydrogen peroxide. Every pond is a bit different so you kind of need to find the solution that works best for you. Hopefully those videos will help you make a more informed choice 👍

[@alanzurliene461]

Thank you Kev I will cruise through your previous videos. It is winter here where I live so I will prepare for a Spring solution. @@Ozponds

[@burnerjack01]

If the breather pipe doesn’t have a vacuum breaking one way check valve, what forces the water to the bottom and not just out the breather pipe?

[@Ozponds]

The water seems to prefer to travel on a straight line. If it is an issue use a valve or an elbow. I have other vids showing both set ups 👍

[@bamfrides44]

Just put my bog in a barrel together, thanks to you. Quick question, do you still need the breather pipe if you installed a check valve from the pump? I put my breather pipe too low and now just want to cap it, figuring I’m fine since I have a check valve anyways.

[@Ozponds]

If the check valve works you’re good.

[@adrianzmajla4844]

Check valve will eventually fail.

[@martijn6505]

like your video's, and i believe that bog filter are great for natural pond. Myself i got a 57000 liter koi pond and dont think a bog filter can take this over. Its not that it it can not filter it, but it has to be extreemly big to do the same as my "modern filter with modern materials".

[@Ozponds]

Stick to whatever works for you 👍

[@skewbinge6157]

thanks a lot you helped me alot

[@Ozponds]

Glad I could help!😊👍

[@kennethmoore117]

I have a koi pond about 8,000 gallons that goes to a 55 gallon sand filter that my brother made pump is round 4500 I got another pump 5,000 gph to old smaller pond about 4x4x12 that is big filter got 1inch pipe along bottom with holes drilled in got it tee off goes to 20 gallon barrel bottom fed with same rock set as you show that spills into waterfall into bog then bog spills into big pond. Also have big barrel split to feed 20 gallon barrel all have flow valves. Big has around 8 inches of pea gravel and lava rocks also 20 gallon barrel plus filter and bio balls. Only problem is I can't drain my bog don't really want to dig an 8ft long trench pond also has concrete bottom with lots of rocks. Can I get any suggestions with pictures on how to clean maintain it please, also put liner on top of concrete. Thanks

[@Ozponds]

Did you check out my other bog filter vids?

[@kennethmoore117]

I seen a brief note about it but I'm little slow to catch on need little more direction some more equipment more specific to my dilemma don't have much imagination.

[@kennethmoore117]

I do find your videos very helpful

[@joshuamitchell2275]

Hi Kev, u have been doing this alot longer than i have so i feel like a bit of tit for pointing this out, but the pipe opening u have to prevent the siphoning effect when the pump is off seems to greatly reduce the pump flow which reaches the bottom of the filter. Simply because a portion of the pump pressure is lost at the siphon opening. What i think will fix this is if you add an air admittance valve. This would only allow air in one way, i.e the direction that breaks the siphon, while preventing that precious flow from leaving before it reaches the bottom of the filter. Clearly the filters still work, but perhaps one can get away with a much smaller pump if this is done or improve the filter potential.

[@Ozponds]

Maybe. I’m always happy for people to experiment. Nothing I say is set in stone. I just show what had worked for me and try to be helpful.

[@edgardoolivera5721]

Hi there. Excellent video. Just a question, is there a flow rate you would consider 'too slow'?

[@Ozponds]

I’m sure I’d know it if I saw it. I’m not sure how I would explain it. 🤔

[@edgardoolivera5721]

I am doing a bog filter following your videos for a 1600ltrs pond. So I put 160 LTRs water in a tank to know where to cut it. And then drained the water with the pump I have. It took 40 minutes to get rid of the 160 LTRs...will that do or bigger pump? Thanks.

[@Ozponds]

I’d give it a try and see what happens. If you already have that pump it doesn’t cost you anything to try. Changing the pump over in the future is easy if necessary.

[@edgardoolivera5721]

@@Ozponds Will do. Thanks a lot for your time

[@StephenS-f7l]

So if i used a barrel/water butt as a bog filter. To clean it would just be a case of opening the valve to empty it whilst filling the barrel with water rinsing it through until the water coming out is clear? If that makes sense 😂 thanks

[@Ozponds]

Sounds good 👍

[@InvertsandOi]

Has anyone tried carniverous plants like Utricularia or venus fly traps in a bog filter? If you had smaller stone toward the top, and the proper substrate on top of that, I think it would create the right conditions. The only thing I'm concerned about is there might be too much nutrients for them.

[@geoffj3191]

Kev, when the filter is operating and there is some resistance to the water flowing into the bottom of the filter, what stops it taking the easy path out through the breather?

[@Ozponds]

I’m not sure exactly. If you watch when the pond was built I actually talked a bit more about the breather pipe and how you can add a vertical pipe if too much water comes out the breather. For some reason the water prefers going down the straight pipe into the base of the filter as opposed to taking a 90degree turn. But if the filter is becoming clogged and it’s hard for the water to pass through the media in the bog more water will definitely come out the breather. I’m sure there’s a way it could be calculated but it’s too much for my brain.

[@adrianzmajla4844]

​@@OzpondsNormally I could explain this, HAHA, but on this night at this time? I'm too boggy. Ha pun intended, happy new year everyone.

[@mollycalhoun9787]

Is there a reason that you can't just put the inlet near the bottom of the barrel? Vs having all the piping going up, just to go down.

[@Ozponds]

Yes. It makes it too hard to prevent siphoning.

[@mollycalhoun9787]

Ah ok. Would a one way valve suffice to avoid the siphoning then?

[@Ozponds]

@@mollycalhoun9787 I find they fail or don’t work in low flow applications. That’s why I come over the top and have a breather hole. But feel free to experiment 👍

[@mollycalhoun9787]

@@Ozponds ah ok! I'm just getting back into having a pond and need to get a filter sorted out :) I also just enjoy learning, and my brain comes up with questions it needs answers too lol.

[@reitairue2073]

So if I set up my bog filter in a place where we get harsh winters, should I drain the bog so it doesn't crack when the water freezes?

[@Ozponds]

If you make it out of material that would crack I’d say, yeah.

[@reitairue2073]

@@Ozponds Thanks, after reading it again, my question kinda answers itself. Lol

[@WorldRobotNews]

Love your videos do you get everything for the bog filter from Bunnings

[@Ozponds]

You can get most of it from Bunnings. Not the uniseals, olive barrel and I wouldn’t buy the pump there. But all the plumbing- yes.

[@Fredward1986]

Be careful when you buy PVC pipe and fittings from normal hardware stores as they usually sell DWV pipe which is not compatible with PVC pressure pipe fittings and uniseals. I bought pipe, elbows, tees from Bunnings then ordered a tap/uniseal online, they are different OD's even though they are all 32mm.

[@Fredward1986]

Be careful when you buy PVC pipe and fittings from normal hardware stores as they usually sell DWV pipe which is not compatible with PVC pressure pipe fittings and uniseals. I bought pipe, elbows, tees from Bunnings then ordered a tap/uniseal online, they are different OD's even though they are all 32mm.

[@Ozponds]

Bunnings also sell pressure pipe. Good tip though, household plumbing (DWV) is different to irrigation (pressure). You can use either for the bog filter but it will change the uniseal needed. Rob bobs backyard aquaponic shop has a great little chart that shows what uniseal you need for the different pipes and sizes.

[@Fredward1986]

@@Ozponds You must have different stock in AU compared to NZ, they only had DWV in my Bunnings and it was double the price I ended up paying for pressure pipe and fittings from an online retailer. If anyone from NZ reads this, try irrigation express (does limit you to 1m lengths of pipe). Also Kev, one day I'd love to see more detail about how you fit your flexible hose to the pressure pipe. I know you sort of explained it in this video but I couldn't find the right fittings. I ended up putting an elbow on the top of the downpipe and jammed the 25mm hose in. It does work but your solution looks cleaner.

[@dougreformed8956]

Can you use a bog filter for a backyard swimming pool?

[@Ozponds]

Yeap

[@mattstar1440]

Can you have too big a bog filter? I want to use a 300L bathtub asa bog filter for a 500L pond

[@Ozponds]

I’ve got no problems with oversized bog filters 👍

[@overcomer8993]

Oz I just built a bog but where the water goes into the bottom of the bog I noticed lots off air bubbles only at one end at the intake. Is that a bad thing ?

[@Ozponds]

I don’t think so. Probably just air getting sucked in via the breather pipe.

[@overcomer8993]

Thank you

[@user-eb3qd4go8y]

What can ypu do to keep frogs and snakes away from above grpund ponds

[@Ozponds]

Remove the pond.

[@9catlover]

rewatching this. i wish i'd subscribed earlier. we put our filter right at the bottom, yes muck get's stuck to it a lot...and once our outlet was attached to a flimsy metal to hold it in place and all our water drained and 98% of our koi we had for over 10 years died. i was so furious with my Dad (the koi pond is really his baby) Gonna change a lot of things this summer including adding a bog filter.

[@Ozponds]

Maybe an intake bay or skimmer also.

[@chamaradhanushka5365]

I need help. My pond water coming out from the breather pipe before it going to the filter

[@Ozponds]

Add a vertical pipe. 👍

[@epjtam]

thanks much

[@Ozponds]

You're welcome

[@tamela.lyanka]

Hey guys. OK. This is so funny. Since I created this crystal clear water, and it's fall here now so this might be more of the reason, a raccoon has come for about 5 nights in a row and terrorized my pond. He ate a majority if not all of my fish. Now I'm looking for a safe and pretty way to have a net or gate over the pond so the beasts don't come in when I put more fish in. Can you do a video on keeping predators out?

[@Ozponds]

😔 this is the problem of a clear pond, the predators can see everything! I’ve done a few videos on my approach. I’ve still not found a way that works and looks natural.

[@tamela.lyanka]

@@Ozponds Thank you. I'll look for the videos.

[@VTK72]

🙏🙏 ❤❤❤

[@donna-marielee5271]

I paid for the PDF but never received it.

[@Ozponds]

If you aren’t re-directed when you pay you need to send me an email. Follow the instructions on the website and I’ll fix it up for you 👍. I can’t do it from KZbin.

[@donna-marielee5271]

@@Ozponds How do i find your email? "Get in touch" on your website just has a donate option and a KZbin link.

[@donna-marielee5271]

@@Ozponds I also sent you my email via facebook messenger, but never heard back.

[@ashscott6068]

I don't understand the diagram. It looks to me like water would stop rising through the filter medium, as soon as it became easier for it to just exit directly from the breather pipe onto the top of the bog. Edit. Ah...I was thinking of the pond being dug into the ground, and the barrel being sat on top of it.

[@_big_man_69_]

I'm still confused by this

[@peterpullen958]

Inlet piped water is under pressure.

[@PowellAlexia-i3p]

Lopez Charles Hernandez Michael Perez Michael

[@YoungMerle-f6v]

Moore William Jones Donna Taylor Kevin

[@garrett2156]

*Promo sm* 🏃

[@Ozponds]

Not sure what that means..but thanks for the comment 🍻

[@BenthamSheila-c8o]

Harris Betty Walker Margaret Robinson Brenda

[@MarekLabrenc]

.

[@Ozponds]

🍻

[@daprip456]

Thank you

[@Ozponds]

👍