Designing a bog filter. Clear water every time! 

Thanks you so much for the knowledge and help me getting my pond crystal clear. That Bog Filter is amazing. Thank you for what you do for all of us. Aloha! Blessings to you, and be safe. Vern

Diagrammatic representation is excellent for understanding 👏 👌

I have to say this is the most informative and relaxing channel I've found on keeping eco in ponds here on youtube. I seriously love learning about how to do all this. I am making a pond next month. So excited to try some of these methods. Thank you so much. I subbed yesterday. God bless you brother xxoo

Thanks for a very informative video. I have a small patio pond (132 gals) with a bio-filter and 2 barrel veggie filters. As my fish grew I needed to increase my filtration. Last summer I added an under gravel series of PVC pipe for more bacteria to grow. I pull the water down through the gravel that covers the PVC pipes then back up into my veggie filters. After watching your video I am going to change to a 55 gallon barrel (or 2) for my veggies filters next year. I lost an old koi from a power outage and my pond syphoned dry. I learned a sad lesson. I now have check valves on all my water lines. Thanks again. Love your ponds!

Wetland filtration best explanation out there. Building my pond as we speak. Thank you

I have already completed half the construction for a grey water cleaning system . But this is very useful and still time to integrate.

super detailed and educational, as well as some beautiful ponds u have there. 10/10

Hi Kev! Thank you so much for teaching me all about what I need to do to get my pond crystal clear. I built a bog filter according to your ideas...and my pond cleared up in 5 days! I am a believer and wanted to thank you so much for all your info. I am grateful =D

thank you so much for sharing your knowledge. Beautiful ponds . 🥰

Your idea for a bog filter is absolutely amazing! We’re planning on implementing a bog filter for our new duck pond, but after using the calculations you gave in the building tutorial vs in this video we’ve come to a bit of a problem. Using the calculations in the other video we came to the conclusion a 1000l pump would be sufficient for a 250l pond, but after watching this video a 1500l pump would be necessary. I’d love to hear your opinion on what would be the best course of action in this scenario!:)

Great idea on having the skimmer and bog within the EPDM pond liner to prevent leak potential. How do you rout the bog clean out at the bottom if the filter is within the liner and the valve is at the bottom?

I built a bog filter with the help of your idea. Loving it! But I have never ending mosquitos nesting in it. Any advise?

Still totally enjoying your video's! This question pops up: would I need a bog filter if I make a 25 m long stream? It's going to be about 30-40 cm wide. about 20 m of the length is made of rock and pebbles and the pond (6000 ltr) too.

Hi Kev, can u explain in details how to stop siphoning our water from blog and getting it dried.? I did not understand it clearly where I need to put the hole? To have air rushing and stopping water from siphoning out..

Hi Kev, totally agree with bogs and mine worked amazingly until I did my back 7 years ago and couldn't remove excess plants. The fish population increased from about 20 fish to over 300 that summer because the babies could hide in the mess. I have the bog about 3rd size of the pond and a bio filter too which also worked brilliantly until this summer. The fish got big, some over 30cms. I can't cull them, I don't know who I should murder, lots of them have names and some are over 17 years old. Any ideas? I thought about adding an intake bay but would need an excavator as we are all rock here. The free rock was great but digging next to an established pond scares me and there's not much room. I'd like another pond but that won't go down well with the other half. Water changes and splosht is keeping the water within parameters but not for much longer as the fish get bigger. They are eating all the plants now too.

Does it matter where in the pond the pump is? Could you place it in the opposite end of the waterfall.. like the way you would in an fish tank. Or does it become negligible after a few turn overs?

Great video Kev. I'm about to start building a bog filter for my 700 gallon pond. Does the depth of the bog filters matter. I can build a fairly large one in terms of area. I was just wondering what sort of depth you would recommend. My pond is built out of railway sleepers, so I'm thinking of using the same for the bog filter

I want to have a bog filter by using a liner instead of a container. Do you have a video that shows this please? Thanks, Mark

Been wanting to make a swimming pond, so this video was God sent

With fish, or not, have you done any experiments with a bog filter where the pump doesn't run 24hrs/day? Certainly, without fish, it stands to reason that a solar pump running water through the non-draining system, ought to be completely sufficient.🤔

My pond is 3/4 acre with no real movement. Hoping something like this can help😊

Hi Kev! I’m really enjoying your videos. Is there a specific type of porous rock that you prefer?

Very nice, thank you for sharing the knowledge! One question, would this kind of filter be suitable for a turtle pond? I know turtles are way messier than fish, so would this filter handle cleaning the water?

If you live in an area with clay dirt, and have 1 duck, would the dirt and mud clog the bog filter?

Hello Kev, how many inches of rock/gravel do you recommend?

Gday Kev, love your videos- so informative! am embarking on my second creek/pond and this time going to put in a bog filter. Does it need to have continuous water flow or can I turn it off overnight? Was only planning on running 1 pump (I know you recommend a separate one) to circulate through the bog filter and also return the water to the head of the creek?

Hi Kev i am big fan of your videos and has helped me a lot. I have a 3500 g pond constructed with stone and cement with concrete flooring. And we have a fish load of about 20. Due to space constraint i cannot have the bog outside the pond so can i have it inside the pond and lesser in size than 10% recommended ? Please advice Instead of a barrel can i use a rectangular tank which i can keep outside the pond ?

Hello Kev. I just found your channel today and I am interested to your opinion. I am looking to do a pond as a natural holding tank for the rain water and my grey water to be used for watering vegetables garden and the swimming pool... Can a bog filter will work with the small amount of nutrients? Does your system have a musquitos problème ? I see the bog filter as a decorative features in my yard. What do you think of this application? Thank you for you help.

How to reduce mosquitoes in a bog pond filter ?

In your dream pond is the big filter level with the pond it’s self or did you build a burm area

Hi Kev is it possible to use a layer of river sand in the bog filter to trap finer particles or will it compromise flow rate, I was thinking about layering sand between two courses of 9.5mm gravel

Thank you very much for your videos! Please, so if my hose from the pump coming into the filter is 1/2 inch, I can still use 1 inch for all the filter pipes like you do in the video right? Then I just put the hose from the pump into the bigger pvc pipe from the filter and all goes well right? Haha sorry i am still a little bit confused, and about to start my build. Thanks again

Where can I buy the half drain pipe from? In US, cant seems to find anything similar online

Hi Kev! Can a bog filter clear up green water or should I clean it out first ?

🥱 Nice pond

Hi Kev , I did comment on your anoxic filter you set up because I found my bog didn’t remove my nitrates , I have 500ltr patio pond and the bog is half large wine barrel (quite big) but I think my bog runs to fast. Is it better if I slow this down as much as I can? Will a trickle of water going back into the pond enough to aerate? That is what I was worried about. I have 3 large goldfish in my pond so quite a bio load as they are now almost 15cm or so long. I was thinking to changing it to a anoxic bog with baskets. Or do u think I should try slowing the flow instead, if I can, will the trickle aerate the water enough or maybe add a extra aerator. ? Thankyou for your videos 🥰👌🏾 Edit - my hubby set up the bog well so the water flows into the bottom of the bog up through medium gravel and then a smaller baked clay zeolite through the top levels before it goes back into the pond, and looks pretty much exactly like your little picture of your bog you mention in the video. my pond is always crystal clear no algae etc so it works beautifully apart from not reducing my nitrates. I feel it is plenty big enough but I’m still Water changing weekly to reduce nitrates from around 40-80 ppm very high. Also my wine barrel noes not have a liner would this be a issue, it does not leak at all but would the barrel be leaching anything ? I am happy to remove everything a reset everything if need be.

Doin research at the moment. Its going to be a duck pond. Will need fish and plants. Filtration is crucial

Nice info! I never would have considered the siphon issue with a power outage; super important reminder!

Hey OZ ponds. What a God send to find your library of pond and filter approaches. I have been googling things like bio filter and plant pond filter. Very happy to find your labors! I am in Thailand so hope to show the villagers how to have a clean pond.

so psyched to build one of these! I just finished building my main pond, and I'm glad I found your channel BEFORE finishing the rest. Now I can incorporate the filter into my pond pretty seamlessly rather than trying to shoehorn it in...

Hey keV. Please how to direct the excess water flow? 5:20 ? Do you have a video about the topic? Thanks.

Can the inlet for the water go directly into the bog container through the bottom side instead of over the top then down?

Absolutely gorgeous Pond. I agree with you. It does the same thing as a Wetland Filter. 👍😊❤️

Kev, thank you so much for these fantastic videos! I built my pond with bog filter to your specs and 9 months later it is going strong. Clear water! Healthy fish! No mosquitos! Just sent you thankyou money on Paypal.

Allen Melissa Perez Steven Robinson Angela

Johnson Thomas Thomas Ronald White Lisa

Slm. Hocam. Eğim betonu izalasyonculara anlatamıyorum. Bilgi ve birikiminizi insanlığa aktardığınız için müteşekkirim. Isı aktarımını engellemek için. Strafor üzerine keçe ve grebeton meyilli olarak yapsam, ve en son uv li olarak fileli çimento esaslı yada poliüretan sürme yapsam doğru bir uygulama olur mu

An extremely helpful video, especially about the hole at the top to prevent a siphon.

Hi Kev, just wondering the size of those olive barrels you use. Approximately 80cm high and 200L?

Does it have to be above the pond? I need to make one for a pre-formed pond, and I was thinking of doing it more horizontally. I have to drill holes in the side of the liner, for bulkheads to pass through, so I don't want to be messing around with the pipe work too much. I was thinking of digging space for the bog next to the existing pond, down to a depth of maybe a foot. Then lining it with flexible liner, drilling a 30mm hole through the preform, a foot below the surface, and using a bulkhead to pass a PVC pipe through the rigid and flexible liners. Then at the other end of the bog, I'd make a sump to put the pump in, to pump the water back into the pond nearer the surface, back through the flexible and rigid liners. That way, I can keep everything at ground level, and the only pipe work can be straight. But every other bog filter i see people making, seemes to be elevated above the pond. The only problem I see with the way I'm planning on doing it, is that the sump might run dry if the water doesn't move through the filter fast enough, but it makes more sense to me to have the pump in the cleanest possible water. Am I missing something?

Love your videos. We dug a small pond last year - no fish - we are trying to attract dragonflies. We live in the northern hemisphere where it freezes in winter. How do you handle bog filter in winter? Turn off pump and drain it? I would love to bury a 55 gal barrel so it’s hidden but then can’t have a lower drain outlet. Been binge watching your big videos all night - my guess is you don’t have freezing winters down there?

Thanks kev I am planning a large swimming pond (with fish) project that will utilize rain water from my roof with DIY bog filters along the pathway and solar powered pumps to corculate the accumulated water back up through the bog on sunny days.. its a big project but excited to see it all come together..thanks again for your knowledge sharing.. i am looking at many designes and plans before making my own system..

Thank you for this! My pond is much better now!🐠

Question. I have a 3.3 acre pond (a lot larger than the pond you have shown. We have added bottom aerators to add oxygen. However, we have string algae issues and some unwanted plant growth issues sub surface. I have been debating on dying the pond to help with the algae issues. Then add in some beneficial bacteria several times. The water is a greenish/brown color. There are carp and bullhead catfish, along with many other types of fish. I know those two specific fish can cause turbidity issues. Thought about adding gypsum also for that. Am I on the right track? Any advice is appreciated. Thank you

Hi is it ok to turnoff the pump every night?

Well unfortunately, I didn't find this video until after the fact. With that being said how can I utilize what I have. A 10000 gallon skimmer pump and bio falls at one end. A 3000 gallon skimmer and biofalls at the other, along with a 24000 oase screenmatic gravity filer with uv light. Which I recently purchased. Question is can you possibly have a video for those who already have a system like mine and how to set up your waterfall bio. Should you just add a bunch of gravel to it instead of bio balls and go from there.

Curious if when filling a bog filter if I can use batting in addition to lava rock or other rocks? Also what about using sand ? So I was thinking large rocks, stacked to smaller, then a layer of batting and maybe the sand on the very top. Wasn't sure if that would function correctly though. I'm asking because I already have these materials on hand. And if I can use sand does the type matter? Play sand or construction sand?

I have a 5 acre pond about 5’ deep. Can I use a 500-1000 gallon tank as a bog filter setup? 😅

Question. You said the plants we should put in are "marginals". I don't know what "marginal" plants are, how many of these plants do you put in the filter, and where do you put the plants? Do you just float the plants on top? I presume these plants don't grow in soil? Thank you!

Hi Kev, I am creating a 350 liter indoor pond. My idea is to use a small child’s pool. Do you see any problem with that? I love the idea of a bog filter.

Hi Kev, i'm about to start digging my wildlife pond mostly for birds and a couple goldfish later on. I´m gonna do an undergravel grid attached to an Airlift. The Grid under gravel will have some sort of "diy aquablox" to protect the pipes from getting clogged. My idea is that the bottom of the pond is somewhat a BOG filter... Do you think that this type of idea might need a real bog filter? The pond will be about 2x3m (6mts2) and 1meter in the deepest area. Could i send you a drawing to explain it better so you get the whole picture.

I'm just at the final stages of building my pond. I wish I had seen your channel BEFORE now!

What about a larger pond? Mine is closer to 1.8 million liters. Just filter what I can and forget the rest?

so the bog worked great but know i have parasites and its hard to kill them because of bog its hard to get them all any suggestions?????

How did you keep the your fish from eating the water lilies in that pond? My goldfish decimate them.

I am looking to make one in Southern Wisconsin, how to I decide and find what plants to use?

Hello. Do you use pvc or vinyl to connect the pump to the bog input? thanks

can I have the inflow of water connected in the bottom?

Is the pump placed in the pond?if so how do you not get electrocuted?

Hi Kev, when making your ponds and calculating water volume do you take into consideration the weight of the rocks?

A few comments on what I'm doing on a similar project and some ideas I've found on how to expand this idea. What he built here is called an 'Aquaponics' system, the fish drop fecal matter and pee in the water which provides the minerals/nutrients the plants need with the help of the bacteria (see below). A perfect symbiotic system. It works better if there is rough (3/8" gravel) in the area the plants roots grow into. That way the Bacteria can grow on the rocks and stay bio available to the plants. This process is called Nitrification (see reference below). I am building a 26' Dome Green House on my property in August 2022, and will have several Aquaponics setups in it along with normal organic soil beds. I will grow lots of different edible plants, including vines on raised lattices, cucumbers, beans etc. and a few fruit trees as the dome height will be 16'. The Dome will also have a pond with waterfall for a great place to relax, especially in the winter, as it will be like summer inside. I will have an air cooling system by running a tunnel under the dome to pull air through, thus cooling the air to regulate temperature inside the growing area. One thing that can also be done in soil, to make it much more fertile, is mixing hard wood charcoal, chipped up into the soil at a 15% ratio Biochar to Soil. That creates a home for the mycorrhizae fungi that makes the soil more fertile. That system was first known to be developed in the Amazon jungle by burning plants to clear jungle for growing food. The Biochar was then called Terra Preta and makes plants grow faster, bigger and produce much more fruit/vegetables. My plan is to have plenty of organic food for the family as well as enough to sell to organic restaurants, that way I can write off all the expenses. I will also have a large pond on the property with a bio area (place for water plants, some edible) will grow and when I pump water from the pond into the bio area the water will be filtered by the plants roots and cleansed by the bacteria. All totally organic, no chemicals. I'll have Bass, Crappie, Perch and Catfish in my pond for food we eat. I will have a cable running over the pond with a feeder so I can set it up to be easily fillable and a motor to spread the food pellets on the pond. The pond will also have spawning areas for the fish to keep the pond in balance. With the clean water the pond will also have a sectioned off area for swimming. Most people use Tilapia in Aquaponics systems for that very reason. The Tilapia is a great food fish. Some people create a food trap to let the fly's lay eggs that turn into larvae and then those can be fed to the fish. I have seen a few examples where the table scraps are tossed into a 4" deep tray/bucket, and the flies lay eggs in the food. The larvae crawl up an escape ramp (a bit rough for traction) the ramp goes up, then down. The down side is smooth so the larvae then slide down into a collection jar. Free food for the fish... I will make a video once I get all that up and running. I also will be 'trellising' my fruit trees in another area, similar to grapes, by tying limbs on the fruit trees to heavy wires to run horizontal instead of growing high. That way the fruit is easy to pick because the trees will be wide not tall. The trick is to run the trellis' north/south so the trees fruit will get even sun east/west and have the best flavors... But that's another story. References: www.theaquaponicsource.com/what-is-aquaponics/ and mycorrhizae.com/how-it-works/ and en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terra_preta en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nitrification For more information on the Bog Filter Nitrification check out this video that discusses that issue: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-3d_dx0Drn04.html ll also have a large pond on the property with a bio area (place for water plants, some edible) will grow and when I pump water from the pond into the bio area the water will be filtered by the plants roots and cleansed by the bacteria. All totally organic, no chemicals. I'll have Bass, Crappie, Perch and Catfish in my pond for food we eat. I will have a cable running over the pond with a feeder so I can set it up to be easily fillable and a motor to spread the food pellets on the pond. The pond will also have spawning areas for the fish to keep the pond in balance. With the clean water the pond will also have a sectioned off area for swimming. Most people use Tilapia in Aquaponics systems for that very reason. The Tilapia is a great food fish. Some people create a food trap to let the fly's lay eggs that turn into larvae and then those can be fed to the fish. I have seen a few examples where the table scraps are tossed into a 4" deep tray/bucket, and the flies lay eggs in the food. The larvae crawl up an escape ramp (a bit rough for traction) the ramp goes up, then down. The down side is smooth so the larvae then slide down into a collection jar. Free food for the fish... I will make a video once I get all that up and running. I also will be 'trellising' my fruit trees in another area, similar to grapes, by tying limbs on the fruit trees to heavy wires to run horizontal instead of growing high. That way the fruit is easy to pick because the trees will be wide not tall. The trick is to run the trellis' north/south so the trees fruit will get even sun east/west and have the best flavors... But that's another story. References: www.theaquaponicsource.com/what-is-aquaponics/ and mycorrhizae.com/how-it-works/ and en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terra_preta en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nitrification

Is adding sand or charcoal to bog filter a good idea 💡???

Hello, thanks to your videos I have built a simple bog filter though I have another problem with floating debris falling into the pond. Do you happen to have a design integrating both a bog filter and a skimmer using one submersible pump?

My pond in Thailand is clean and crystal clear.

Will it work for a duck/goose pond?

1:58 what if the pump would suck water from the bottom of that gravel/plants filter and pumping it up to a waterfall ? Will it still do the job? I also have to mention that my gravel filter is in the pond itself, arround the deep swimming area

Hi, just wondering what pump you are running in your dream pond bog filter. I have a 40k litre pool which I have turned into a pond, with fish, and a l out a 9k litre bog. According to your calculations my big is too small I need to be running about 50k litres an hour. Is that realistic?

What are alternatives for the everhard pipe for bigger bogs. There is nothing like that in the netherlands. Making my bog 1m by 1m and 1m deep. Suggestions are welcome. Thanks

What rocks do you use for bog filters

Do I need to remove my UV bulb from my pump in order for the science behind a bog filter to work?

Hi Kev great timing just about to start on my bog filter in the next week or so just buying all the bits to get started now winter is nearly over 👍

What type of pump we need ?

Hi from Spain, thanks a lot for all your videos. I have a cuestion, I´m gonna do a 5x4x1m pond with more or less 10.000L. I´m going to use your instructions for the bog filter. So i will need a 3,333L bog filter, i will use 4000L and i need a 24000L/H pump??? is not too much L/H? thanks and keep going with the videos they are great!!

Tyler Jordan Alex - Great Video to start your understanding of pond life.

Finally...someone gives a ratio...Cheers Oz

Do u do phone consults?

Is it okay to do a bog filter that is 4 ft deep if I do the clean out system

Alternately you can make a filter using a 55 gallon water barrel with pea gravel or lava rock and sand. This can also be hooked up to a rain gutter. Very cheap very effective.

Mega helpful video 🙏🏻

I have a 30k litre pond, fed up of green water and not able to see my fish. I decided to fill it in but one last shot post into a UK Facebook group before I filled it in. Due to the size of my pond, the members suggested a large bog filter. Your name and channel came up numerous times so here I am watching from the UK. I no longer wish to fill in my pond! I’m going to design a bog filter thanks to your video. Great channel bro, I’ll be sure to watch them all. Wish me luck!

Hi, Kev, will it be a problem to use a solar powered pump, so flow would only run during the day? I live in Hawaii, so it's almost always sunny... but I don't want to run an extension cord from my house to the pumps in my yard. Thank you for your videos. I can't believe you don't have more subscribers... youtube algorithm not doing it's job.

Could i possibly use the aquarium filters using materials such as fiberglass hollow perbleles and carbon, in addition to this in order to accieve an even better effect? And one more question. How hygienic safe will be for a person to swimm in it? Just in case. I wouldnt like to use the usual pool chemicals if possible. Can i have the same result?

Hi, I want to add a bog to my existing pond, yet I want to do it with out starting fresh on the old pond, meaning draining and getting a larger liner. Is there q way to add the new bog and overlapping the liners with out the water seeping or wicking between the two liners? The end of the pond where I want to add the bog is slightly curved has the liner folded over itself (I hope this makes sense). I can not see how I could glue the new liner to the old with out the water wicking through the fold areas. Any help would be appreciated. Thank You

I put your video in my watch later file.....but I hit the like button already because I know I will fr👍👍👍🤭🤭😎🛐✝️🐣🍟🐧🌵

Thank you Kevin. Your videos are a mine of information... I will keep viewing all your videos and taking notes. I am thinking about what we want to build and you are helping me realize what I am (& not) capable of doing ;o)

How do you calculate the amount of water through the regulator valve?. My waterfall is 30 inches wide 900 gph is what's needed for my bog according to your calculations.

Hi. I have a pond with about 17,000 liters and no fish. How small can the bogfilter be? Thx for really great videos. :)

I have an idea to pump the water up to the little hill that surrounds the pond then create a bog filter channel/artificial stream which does a few switchbacks down the hill then goes back to the pond. Any feedback on this idea? Its a pretty big pond so I figure I need max surface area.

Great Job !! I bought a home with a pond(man made) It has no circulation and it is green on top can't see in water at all. I'm putting a waterfall in. Any suggestions to clear the green bacteria?

Hi, so could I pump water from the intake bay together with water from the "sump" deep down of swim zone, into bog?