Bog Gravel

[Crazyshot97]

Hello!

From experience in aquariums I know that certain types of rock can alter water chemistry quite a bit. I’m assuming that for a pond the concept is the same. So, is there a specific type of gravel used in bog filters to avoid drastic changes in water chemistry? I see the broad term “pea gravel” does that mean most bogs are using the general pea gravel found at Home Depot and the like? Thanks!

 

[addy1]

Yes that is what I used.

 

[JBtheExplorer]

I see the broad term “pea gravel” does that mean most bogs are using the general pea gravel found at Home Depot and the like? Thanks!

Yes! One thing I learned, though, is that there are different pea gravel sizes. When I was making my pond and bog, I bought the normal stuff at Menards, where the stones are roughly the size of peas. I needed more later on and had to go to a different store, I think it was Lowe's and their pea gravel was tiny, like cat litter. I feel like the finer stuff would be more likely to cause issues.

 

[Phaewryn]

Yep, normal pea gravel sold at any home/garden warehouse box store. You can buy it in bulk from the same store if you need large amounts and save a significant amount of money versus buying bags, but with bags you can buy a minimal amount and keep topping it off over a few month's period if the cost of gravel needs to be spread out over time to fit into a budget. It just needs to be tumbled (rounded) stone so it won't puncture the liner, that's why pea gravel is the preferred form. Most rock would work, but would risk puncturing the liner. There's some evidence that the roundness and size of pea gravel is the most optimal for beneficial bacteria growth as well.

 

[poconojoe]

A lot of articles I've read specify 3/8" pea gravel. Many insist it has to be that size.

 

[addy1]

A lot of articles I've read specify 3/8" pea gravel. Many insist it has to be that size.

Mine was not just 3/8 I bought a truck load then some more from lowes when the gravel sank a bit after running. It has not seemed to cause any issues. Used some of the garden center pea gravel some of the construction pea gravel (lowes) and a truckload of 38000 lbs.

 

[GBBUDD]

I intentionally did Not use all 3/8 peastone at all technically I used a mixture of 3/8 and 3/4 " gravel or River rock. in the aquarium trade they promote bio balls for surface area and drip method this air is abundant for the bacteria to thrive. using volcanic rock some use for media how ever it does allow for sediment to accumulate in the poures.
I have been pumping air down into my centipede in my large bog so the bvbacteria had all the air it needed to thrive. so far so good

 

[poconojoe]

I intentionally did Not use all 3/8 peastone at all technically I used a mixture of 3/8 and 3/4 " gravel or River rock. in the aquarium trade they promote bio balls for surface area and drip method this air is abundant for the bacteria to thrive. using volcanic rock some use for media how ever it does allow for sediment to accumulate in the poures.
I have been pumping air down into my centipede in my large bog so the bvbacteria had all the air it needed to thrive. so far so good

How do you pump air down there? Did you build an air line into the construction or just pump it down through the pvc clean-cut stack? Do you have the air running all the time? Is the air produced by an aerator? A compressor? I currently run two air stones off my aerator. I could tee off there again. Do you have an air stone down there?

 

[GBBUDD]

I have both types of blogs but the one I'm referring to here is a snorkel and centepede DYI I used 24" double lined culvert pipe. the clean out/ snorkel i have a air bladder/ rubber with pin hole punctures. 9 inch circle if i remember correctly. the bladder is at the bottom of the snorkel. now I am a firm believer in O2 being boosted for a process of bacteria to thrive. just like in my ref days. and after the first winter and I found baby fish in the centipede I decided to put in the air bladder and it almost immediately eradicated the hair algae I was getting in the stream. i believe it dropped the cow in the water column and replaced with 02 good for fish and bacteria. The gravel bog 2" PVC bog it's more like a venturi draw of air into the pump and it feeds into the bog. and I can see the air bubbles coming up from below.

 

[addy1]

i believe it dropped the cow in the water column

Wow cows in the water column!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[poconojoe]

Moo!
I'm assuming he meant CO2. Darn spell check!

 

[GBBUDD]

ah yeah fricking Microsoft cow better known in the scientific world as CO2