Bog filter in a stream| DIY Pond build

[@Photonutubia]

Don't sell yourself short; I think your sketches are perfectly serviceable. Thanks!

[@sandyl1899]

A BOG IS THE WAY!!! It’s that simple.

[@Ozponds]

✊

[@Fozz-e]

Your videos are great mate. Im in the uk and been watching hours of your videos tonight. My pond build will start towards the end of the year. You have taught me loads my man. Really appreciate it.

[@Ozponds]

Great to hear 😊👍

[@MarkHazen]

Thank you Kev for everything. Your tutorage finally paid off. My pond water is now pure and thriving with little to no work. 👍

[@Ozponds]

Great to hear 👍

[@stevechadwick85]

Looking forward to the intake bay video "papa smurf"! (harhar). You have inspired me to add a nice boggie and stream to my small koi pond. Kudos my friend, and good fortune your way!

[@benkauffman4222]

just built a stream bog filter for my ponds and i really wish i found this video first now i know how to fix it when i pull it all apart lol

[@Ozponds]

It’s no fun pulling apart hard work. Good luck 👍

[@benkauffman4222]

​@@Ozpondsthanks my own fault though shoulda did it right the first time lol

[@Ozponds]

@@benkauffman4222 live and learn 👍

[@stayawhileandlisten.3249]

Getting creative is a sign of invaluable experience. Well done buddy.

[@sandyl2493]

Kev, another great vid! I’m putting in a bog and this is most helpful! I think I way underestimated the needed flow….we shall see….I’m getting T’s and a valve. lol

[@Ozponds]

Yes slow flow.

[@garymorin4813]

Great video Kev, so much information in a short video. I think I will have to watch it 10 times. You have a great way of explaining things and making them easy to understand.

[@Ozponds]

Thanks Gary🍻

[@Lunitarium]

Once again this is fantastic content and great food for thought.

[@PYGolf]

Yooo wtf I've been in awe for 10 minutes, my guy is a fucking wizard!!! Absolutely crazy video. Holy rabbit hole down we go

[@scox7748]

Great vid. Clear. Concise.

[@Ozponds]

Glad you think so!

[@mattoriental]

Another clear and insightful video, thanks Kev

[@geoffj3191]

I made the bog in a barrel last year, and I think it works well, I have very clear water, but I get overwhelmed with string algae. The bog only contains rocks, lava rock and clay balls, and no vegetation. I think I'm going to clean out my pond, and then have a wall of elodea along the back side to try and suck the nitrates and other nutrients out before the algae can form. I'm also contemplating building some sort of skimmer to try and catch the leaves before they get a chance to decompose on the floor. Also, I will put gravel on the bottom too as you suggest.

[@Ozponds]

I often struggle with string algae for a few years. The rock I get is always very dirty and I don’t like to waste water. So all that clay is rich in nutrient. Eventually the nutrients disappear but it can take time. Plants can help and they can also hinder. As they grow they suck up nutrients but they can also decompose inside the pond rereleasing the nutrients. If the pond is small enough a drain and clean can work wonders. I’m also interested in trying a product called phoslock if it works well I’ll be sure to make a vid 👍

[@geoffj3191]

@@Ozponds I have a small 70 litre fishtank in my study, and it has some yabbies in it. They love peas, carrots etc., but I also give them bunches of string algae from my pond, scrunched up and attached to a small rock with a criss-crossed rubber band, They love it and chew through it in no time. Don't want them in my pond, however.

[@geoffj3191]

@@Ozponds Kev, I sometimes wonder if a bag of activated carbon in the top of the bog in the barrel would have any impact on nitrate reduction and make it tougher for string algae.

[@Ozponds]

Yes they love it! I’m like you to worried about holes I’m the liner if added them to a liner pond.

[@Ozponds]

Dunno if that works.

[@stevendouglas3371]

Anyway you can talk about rock placement/layout. Respect with the bigger rocks on the side or edge of the pond/stream

[@Ozponds]

Will do 👍

[@jmo2104]

Thank you for all the very good information!

[@Ad_Astra_321]

So cold today in Vic, we might need some advice on iced ponds soon! =D Thanks, great vid, as always!

[@Ozponds]

😂👍

[@paulfennell2935]

Hi Kev love the videos and information. Can I just check that I'm clear on everything before i dig out pond. Pond size will be 5m x 5m x 1m I have calculated this at 25,000L it will be a formal koi Pond. So I need a bog filter of 50% so it will be 5m x 2.5m x 1m hope that's correct. Bog volume will be 12,500L so bog times 6 gives 75,000 so that's the flow rate of pump. Hope you don't mind question. Cheers Paul from sunny Ireland

[@Ozponds]

That sounds ok to me. I think you’ll only need 25% bog of course it doesn’t hurt to oversize. In a formal koi pond I’d also have some mechanical filtration.

[@patblack2291]

Great video, thanks! Would you also recommend a bog filter for a pondless stream / waterfall? Or would that not be necessary?

[@Ozponds]

Not necessary. Unless you created a pond inside the stream that you and you wanted to keep fish.

[@lellesunk]

A pondless stream is like beer without alcohol!

[@musothreads9069]

You have the best videos man. I appreciate that you get to the point immediately and dont show off. Just informative and well presented. Im trying to built a bog filter at the end of a v drain to trap sediment from yard water that runs off when it rains hard. Im using a 200L poly drum and let that water run into the pond beneath where the waterfall will be in the hope that itll push the leftover fines over to a second bog filter/ skimer on the opposite side 5 meters away of a 5 by 7 meter 800mm deep oval pond. I wouldve diverted the runoff away but im not the person who decided to have the drain run into the pond. Then to a 3rd bog that will be what the waterfall comes from. I was thinking of using poly drums for the first 2 and an IBC for the third. Do you reckon that is a bad idea and i should just send the v drain away all together? Im on the tightest budget possible but already have the drums and IBC. The v drain drum is already buried too but others arent buried yet. Pond is already dug ofcourse.

[@Ozponds]

I say give it a go! If it doesn’t work you can divert the water and you have an incredible filtration system in place.

[@musothreads9069]

Yeah i was leaning heavily towards that way of thinking. But you know how there are nay sayers who dont have vision/ enthusiasm and possibly just lack knowledge of the idea of all this bog filter stuff.

[@Ozponds]

Prove them wrong 👍

[@musothreads9069]

@@Ozponds Hell yeah .... ive done that my whole life

[@valmikii4013]

Hi Kev I’m still planning my first pond/stream. Your videos and articles are my bible and I am exceedingly grateful to you for all your effort creating your channel and website. I look forward to your further progress on this latest one. I’ll be sure to donate, if I’ve any money left, when it’s all done ;-) Anyhow, I wonder if perhaps you know the answer to this one: Any length of wire from the transformer to the 12V pump causes some drop in voltage. I found out how to calculate the drop. But do YOU have experience with signigicant voltage drop (>4%) and what that does to the pump? I asked a nice man with Pondteam, and he said they don’t know what may happen, because ”it’s not linear” and the pump is not built for it. Kindly, Morten (in Denmark)

[@Ozponds]

Yeah I’m not sure either. I’m not an electrician but I know a couple. Seems that the voltage drop isn’t significant when the wire is oversized. That’s what I did on mine. Plus the pumps are variable speed and I’m not running them at capacity so I think that helps.

[@traceyennor1336]

Hi Kev, so from what I saw, you put textile liner, then black plastic liner, then a second textile lining topped with rocks and pebbles? What does the second textile liner do, please?

[@Ozponds]

Just added protection for the liner when moving around the big rocks.

[@aquariumlifestyle]

Thanks for the great Infos! Did you experiment with solar panels to run the pump to not rely on elextricity at least in the Sunny months? Maybe excess Energy Could even be stored with modern Power kits like the ones from ecoflow?

[@Ozponds]

I’m always experimenting. Solar powered pond and stream| Update kzbin.info/www/bejne/fXWak2h3jM2ordE

[@aquariumlifestyle]

@@Ozponds super cool! 🤯🤯

[@MrMicahjc]

Where do you get the red flexable pipe that is shown in this video? Or what is it called as the aquascape black flexible pvc pipe is pretty expensive in Australia... getting all my materials ready to start my first pond trying for around 4mx5mx1m with a bog incoperated into the river/waterfall. The dream is that it can connect into a big swim pond 15m x 20m x 2m. But I'm going to start "small" and learn first.

[@Ozponds]

I think I got it at a place called the hose factory. But I can’t remember what it was called.

[@kathrinepet7623]

Thank you for the information If I understood correctly the different size stone have to be 30 cm each? If it's less will there be a problem?

[@Ozponds]

No that’s not the case.

[@kathrinepet7623]

@@Ozponds OK,thank you

[@raqeebali2442]

Hey Kev, I have a question regarding garden ponds. I just finished building my 12x10 feet garden pond and I wanted to know what I need to do before I add fish. Would it be adding plants, beneficial bacteria, or even dechloronator? Can you please help. Thanks

[@Ozponds]

It doesn’t hurt to add some bacteria. The chlorine should already have dissipated (only takes a day or 2). Plants are good but not essential. You could add a few fish. It’s good to build up the fish numbers slowly. Say you wanted 20 fish. You might add 5 to start. 5 a month later and so on.

[@raqeebali2442]

@@Ozponds ok thank you !

[@edenconstruction1802]

Hi quick small but important question. Where specifically is the breather T hole fitting located in the main pond water, or in the bog water area?

[@Ozponds]

In the bog.

[@adiadri6886]

Hy kev! I was thinking on doing a venturi efect on the pipe that goes into the bog filter... i would like to know your opinion on that. Do you think aireation help the water to be cristal clear?

[@Ozponds]

Like I mentioned in the vid, it helps get air down there but it can cause a sucking sound that I find annoying.

[@stayawhileandlisten.3249]

By the way, I had a question. Are there any setbacks to making the wetland filter a small waterfall? I keep seeing it being designed to flow, but never to pour into the pond. Thanks.

[@Ozponds]

Absolutely. You just need some height 👍

[@geoffj3191]

Also, the higher above the pond the wetland is, the bigger the pump you'll need.

[@LampWaters]

I made a mistake building my pond regeneration bays. I'm currently correcting. I had lots of extra felt so put felt under my rocks. But also didn't have enough void space for water, everything too packed in and felt liner everywhere and the rocks I put in never washed clean of mud let alone help filter. I used an old pipe I had on hand and it gets clogged. Just not enough movement in the entire bay ontop of the felt just caused issues with water. So.... pulled everything out of one regeneration bay, removed felt, new piping, and create more space for volume before putting rocks back in. Using less gravel more larger rock this time. I had some blocks I used to create tiers along the sides but had issue with a few dead zones so I'm running pipe behind my dead zones for more flow and less rocks and easy access to throw an aerator into the pipe when needed. Only minor tweaks. Glad most the rock I put into this bay I put into mesh produce bags so pulling out the rock to make changes was easy. I used bagged rock and just top dressed it. So once I'm done fixing up my problem areas I can make just move the bags back in easily.

[@Ozponds]

Well done. There’s always something. Glad it’s all fixed 👍

[@navyblue12]

Hi Kev, one question: if one were to use a closed box, high-flow filter, for the biological filtration, which obviously has mush less underwater surface for the nitrifying bacteria to colonise, what type of flow and pond turnover would he have to achieve so that the bacteria in the box have enough "personal time" with the volume of water to do their thing and provide the same clean water output as a wetland filter? Hope i've made my question articulate enough....

[@Ozponds]

If you watch the latest vid it should help answer that question for you 👍

[@navyblue12]

@@Ozponds "Turnover of the pond's volume once an hour or more". Thanks a bunch!

[@Ozponds]

The more the better 👍

[@charley7173]

Hi Kev, thanks for the information, very interesting and helpful. Just a question I have an existing mud bottom dam 40x50m (estimated 300 m3) that I swim in it is the colour of tea and gets lots of leaves from surrounding trees. It has a basic fountain pump to help aerate and would love to turn it into an ecopond. I am wondering what the cheapest approach would be as I would love to build what you have? Any thoughts would be much appreciated.

[@Ozponds]

The tea colour is from all the leaves. It’s the tannins. It’s awesome and natural. You can remove tannins by circulating water through activated charcoal, but for your pond size that would next to impossible. I actually like the tea coloured look. If the water is clean and healthy and you feel good after swimming in it I wouldn’t waste money on pumps and filters. You can always re create what I have in a lined pond by binge watching my content 😉

[@charley7173]

@@Ozponds Thanks Kev

[@12vLife]

Here in Sunny Florida. I've got a giant sandy hole in the ground and I want to drop in a 300 gallon tank. I'd like to build a pond and keep it clear enough with only solar, no batteries and minimal maintenance (at most once a month). Possible?

[@Ozponds]

Dunno. I’m in the process of planning my solar only system.

[@LL-fb8wz]

Hi Kev, I have the bog dug out and am acquiring the materials, since I have not been able to get the bottom half pipe you recommend do you think this will work it is 12 in. x 9.75 ft. Corrugated HDPE Culvert Pipe from tractor supply? I think this may be better than messing with PVC that large. Its made out of HDPE (Plastic) . I tried posting the link but I don't see it, so maybe KZbin does not allow it.

[@Ozponds]

That’ll work you just need to cut out slots to disperse the water.

[@OVHabitats]

Is black ABS Pipe fish safe or should buy black PVC fittings to help hide piping?

[@Ozponds]

I’m honestly not sure.

[@OVHabitats]

Question: Do you cap the ends of the leach pipe at the bottom of the bog?

[@Ozponds]

No. Just locked everything in with rock.

[@lauralindsay2813]

We have a 1300 gallon pond, what size bog in gallons do we need? If we use a smaller bog than 10% will it work?

[@Ozponds]

Something is better than nothing.

[@cindyhmcdaniel4977]

At least 10 - 15% would be great. I drain about 90 gallons from bog curving around 1000gallon circular stock pool. Water is beautiful clear. Southwest Louisiana

[@horsey123]

Hi Kev, can you please explain a couple of things. If using a container for a bog, can the pipe coming from the pump go straight in the bottom of container or does it need to go up and over container and down like iv seen? Also if using a liner for a bog, the pipe obviously has to come up and over and down into bog, but I'm unsure how to clean. I know you attach an extra pipe that sits just above bog but if there are no cleanout taps like on a container, what does forcing water down the pipe actually do? How does the waste and muck come up through all the gravel? Thanks

[@Ozponds]

The vertical clean out pipe on this filter allows me to put the pond vacuum down to the bottom of the bog to fully drain it. That’s how it is cleaned not by forcing water through that pipe. In a container the pipe work goes over the top so you can have a breather pipe, this stops the water from siphoning out if the pump stops. I have two seperate videos that will explain this in more detail. Search: “cleaning a bog filter” & “adding a breather pipe”. Hope that helps 👍

[@ChrisShortyAllen]

Avoid a bottom inlet. More likely to fail and siphon back.

[@renaissancewomanfarm9175]

Have you ever done a pond that would require solar or wind power to run the pump? Where I would like to put my pond is quite a distance from where I have electrical service. When I search for solar powered pumps on the internet, all they offer are very small one that pump around 360 gallons per hour and I don't believer that would handle the size of pond that I want.

[@pansepot1490]

Use two pumps? If regular power supply is unavailable I would use solar panels to charge a battery so that the pump can also run during the night. I think you should ask an electrician to set up a system tailored for the pump you plan to use. Possible to diy if you have some knowledge of electricity or willing to do some research.

[@Ozponds]

Nope I haven’t. I’ve run air lines and low volt pumps over large distances before.

[@renaissancewomanfarm9175]

@@pansepot1490 That is one of the things I have been wondering about. I've also been thinking about a passive wetland filter, then would just need to worry about the aeration. I've also looked at windmills but they just look like yard toys rather than something that could do the job.

[@johndoyle3148]

@@pansepot1490 Jo

[@fishbone5868]

Hi Kev I have already built my bog but there one thing I didn't do was make a clean your idea is sweet but is there any way to make a clean out for a existing bog. My bog is 12 inch deep it would be a nightmare to pull everything apart to build your cleanout any help would be greatly appreciated .

[@Ozponds]

If the bog is an up flow system you could possibly put in a t piece and valve in the low side near the pond. It would be possible to siphon the entire bog if the t piece/ valve is below the deepest part of the bog. Otherwise unfortunately it’s probably a tear down and rebuild.

[@fishbone5868]

Ty would it be possible to lay that drain pipe without digging a trench to place the drain pipe into and use your method or would that be a waste of time wish I new live and learn lol my bog is small it hold about 300 gallon. Just so you known I pre filter my pond water before it goes into my bog

[@Ozponds]

If you can create a void down in the base of the filter (that you can access) that should still work.

[@WhoopityScoop]

whats it the name of the tall plant during the start of the bid like 00:29

[@Ozponds]

Tassel cord rush

[@DrJoeJoeHands]

Thank you

[@Ozponds]

😊👍

[@EliMooner]

How far below water level do you have the pipe entering the bottom pipe? Or does that not matter with the breather tube

[@Ozponds]

I’m not sure I quite understand. If you mean the breather pipe hole, I prefer it at water level or slightly above.

[@EliMooner]

@@Ozponds yeah I worded that weird😂 but how far above the bottom of the hole do you have the pipe from the pump feeding into the perforated pipe? I’ve been planning mine for the spring and how I would keep the big from draining but I assume the breather pipe would make it so this doesn’t matter

[@Ozponds]

That’s exactly the purpose of the breather pipe 👍

[@EliMooner]

@@Ozponds gotcha thanks, I was thinking of adding a shutoff near the top so I could just close it if the pump stopped working or I needed to turn it off

[@sthgippsland]

Hi Kev where do you buy the hex cell sheets?

[@Ozponds]

A store called G-Store they supply lots of energy efficiency things.

[@sthgippsland]

@@Ozponds I think G Store went into liquidation last Friday?

[@Ozponds]

@@sthgippsland oh no. I think the company that manufactures the panels is called aus drain.

[@JustAboutAnything66]

How do you clean it out?

[@Ozponds]

Through the clean out port. It’s the white pipe with the cap on the vid.

[@OVHabitats]

After several hours of research all point to the same answer. "ABS is perfectly safe for aquarium. There is no algae killing ingredients etc. The only difference is that it is not rated for pressure. Aquarium returns do not typically produce enough pressure to worry about."

[@Ozponds]

Awesome. Thanks for the info John 😊👍

[@Rusureabouthat]

Interesting

[@Allgood784]

I have been looking into solar water pump set ups. You will need batteries. Just running panel to pump will kill the pump. Batteries equal maintenance with monthly (at least water top off). Here it is hot so batteries would need cooling and maybe aircon. I give up. Calling an electrician.

[@Ozponds]

Good idea 👍

[@Lee-re1by]

🐟🐟👍🏻

[@Ozponds]

🐸🍻😊👍

[@dianachern4234]

I couldn’t understand much here. A book that explains step by step would be much better.

[@BitsOfInterest]

Lucky you, he has a website and a PDF you can buy with all the formulas.