Bog Question

[nos870]

Afternoon all,
I have a question regarding the brown detritus/dirt guck sitting ontop of the rocks in my bog filter.
Should I just try and gravel vac it up? leave it? Raise the rock level? Its just sitting on top and is mostly just unsightly, but curios to hear peoples thoughts.

Basic info on my pond is its a 40000Litre pool converted, pumped to a 1000Litre bog as seen in the pics. The top layer of rocks are around 20mm in size but the
majority is 12 inches of pea gravel over pvc pipe with slits in it. However I made the mistake originally with the inlet being at the bottom and not over the top and down to the bottom, so I don't exactly have a "wash out" method as I've seen others do. Water is fine apart from some algae here and there, fish are fine etc and as here is Australia it is starting to warm up I am prepping everything for this spring and summer.

Any advice or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Cheers
Sean

 

[Lisak1]

Two suggestions: 1. Leave it alone and 2. Get more plants growing.

 

[GBBUDD]

That detritus may not be the way we like the picture to look . And it depends on your own system whether or not to remove it . That fine particles are home to all kinds of creatures and is also a ozze of bacteria that will help keep the pond stabilized. To me in my thinking it's showing that the bog maybe too small. Too many gph are being pushed through.
I would cup my hand over the end of the pond vac and clean it up. Using my hand as a screen.

 

[Mmathis]

What everyone else has said…. Think of it as part of the ecosystem.

 

[netvine]

My undersized and over powered bog has this as well on all of the gravel that is below the water line. Adding pea gravel until it was above the water level like it is around your taro helps give it a cleaner look if thats what you would prefer.

 

[addy1]

i always have that stuff and always have enough plants you usually don't see it. I ignore it. The tads love it.

 

[bagsmom]

I don't have an answer for the gunk but look at how clear that water is! Something is working right!!!!

 

[nos870]

Perfect thankyou all !