Bog building, also called upflow filter, eco filter, wetland filter

[Meyer Jordan]

Which all require a dense substrate, correct?

Not sure what you mean by "dense substrate".

 

[MitchM]

Clay/garden soil, as opposed to washed pea gravel.

 

[Meyer Jordan]

Clay/garden soil, as opposed to washed pea gravel.

They will grow well in pea gravel provided that it is deep enough to accommodate the root system. Reeds and rushes are very difficult to thin and may not be convenient to work with. Sedges, however, do not have such a deep root system and m ay serve your purpose better.
What Hort. zone are you in?

 

[MitchM]

I am in zone 3.
I actually found a local pond plant dealer this afternoon.
It looks like they can be a big help.

 

[Meyer Jordan]

Great! Considering the number of natural wetlands in Canada, I would imagine that there would be a variety of native plants that you could use.

 

[addy1]

Mitch I have rush, sedge and grasses in the pea gravel, they all are doing great. The roots are deeper and denser than the other bog plants

 

[MitchM]

I have a yellow sedge in the pond right now, it's rated for zone 5.
Thanks.

 

[budgenator]

....
Aaaand I need to corral the plants in the tub. I underestimated how happy the mini cattails and watercress would be and they are spreading like crazy. The cress roots are encasing the gravel so when I pull some out the gravel comes too.

Should I tuck some kind of basket in the gravel to restrain the cress? I left too much dirt on the cattails too, so I will rinse them off and pot before replacing them. What about lemon bacopa instead of cress?

Anyway, I finally got some more plants for the main pond, so after I redo things it should all settle down and find it's happy place. The fish are loving it.

I had watercress growing in the gravel in my old waterfall, just bought a sprig at the grocery store and plunked it in, stuff spreads like crazy, and my fish loved to eat it any escapees. Good luck trying to corral it.

 

[DeepWater]

I enjoyed this sticky bog building thread, but it's been quiet for the startup of this year's pond building season, so here's a little rejuvenation effort. There are some interesting articles in POND Trade Magazine, one even new last fall.

All of these articles are available on their web page and in the magazine PDF format:
http://www.pondtrademag.com/category/issues/

November/December 2016 - Wetland Filtration Offers a Simple Path to Clear Water
http://www.pondtrademag.com/wetland-filtration-offers-simple-path-clear-water/

July/August 2015 - Bog Water Filtration
http://www.pondtrademag.com/bog-gravel-filtration-water-cleaned-by-mother-nature/
http://www.pondtrademag.com/planting-a-bog-filter/

May/June 2014 - So you want Crystal Clear Water
http://www.pondtrademag.com/so-you-want-a-crystal-clear-pond-a-nearly-maintenance-free-system-for-clean-beautiful-water/

 

[Meyer Jordan]

I enjoyed this sticky bog building thread, but it's been quiet for the startup of this year's pond building season, so here's a little rejuvenation effort. There are some interesting articles in POND Trade Magazine, one even new last fall.

All of these articles are available on their web page and in the magazine PDF format:
http://www.pondtrademag.com/category/issues/

November/December 2016 - Wetland Filtration Offers a Simple Path to Clear Water
http://www.pondtrademag.com/wetland-filtration-offers-simple-path-clear-water/

July/August 2015 - Bog Water Filtration
http://www.pondtrademag.com/bog-gravel-filtration-water-cleaned-by-mother-nature/
http://www.pondtrademag.com/planting-a-bog-filter/

May/June 2014 - So you want Crystal Clear Water
http://www.pondtrademag.com/so-you-want-a-crystal-clear-pond-a-nearly-maintenance-free-system-for-clean-beautiful-water/

Great post, but reader should be cautious if thinking of incorporating UG filtration (May/June 2014 article above) in their pond.

 

[bobchapman]

I'm relatively new to ponding. I have all the mechanical work done: pond, bog, pumps, electrical. This year is for installing plants and goldfish. Right now in Northern NJ I have the most lovely green pond. I have dosed it with algae-killer from the local pond-and-garden-center place. After a couple of days, I added their packaged bacteria as well. After a week since making the last of these additions, it's still the same intensity of green.

Any suggestions? Thanks
Bob Chapman

 

[addy1]

Plants and time, test the water see what your levels are. Do you have the pump running?
A lot of people install UV lights to remove the green. My plant filled bog keeps the pond green free.

 

[bobchapman]

Plants and time, test the water see what your levels are. Do you have the pump running?
A lot of people install UV lights to remove the green. My plant filled bog keeps the pond green free.

Thanks, Addy

 

[Meyer Jordan]

This is a normal and natural occurring event. The is re-establishing the natural food chain. This 'green' provides food for zooplankton which in turn provides food for fish. Given time, the pond will clear on its own. The use of algicides will only prolong the problem. Patience!

 

[bobchapman]

Thanks, Meyer, from one geezer to another <grin>

And, Yes, Addy, pumps are running. And so is heavy rainfall today --- some flushing of the pond/bog going on out there!