My add-on bog build

[poconojoe]

I finally did it! I joined the bog club!
The bog is approximately 14 feet by 5 feet and about 12 inches deep.

I know my 1600+ gallon pond has been overpopulated due to my fish reproductive rates!

Last year the water never cleared up to my liking. I figured my two pressure filters and my in-pond bucket filter filled with lava rock were just not cutting it.

I started out by taking apart my rock waterfall and temporarily relocating all the plants behind it. I live in Mount Pocono, PA where we have no shortage of rocks.

I began by laying some rocks as the outline of the bog.

 

[poconojoe]

I made a wall with some cobble stones I had laying around. Eventually they will be supported by the bog gravel on one side and large rocks on the pond side. And the digging began...

 

[poconojoe]

Then the liner went in. I chose to use HDRPE instead of my usual choice of EPDM. It was definitely a bit stiffer, but it seems pretty durable.

Then the PVC manifold pipes. My pump has an 1-1/2" outlet. I increased the manifold pipe to 2" for better flow and less chance for clogging.

Then started to add the gravel...

 

[poconojoe]

Finished the gravel and started adding plants...

I still have to fold the liner in places and hide it with piles of rocks, but at least the bog is running.
Hopefully the water will clear up in a week or so. I would assume the bog itself needs to mature a bit and the plants have to take hold and spread their roots. In the mean time, I have a lot of tidying up to do. Thanks for looking...

 

[pondlover]

Nice job!

 

[j.w]

Looks wonderful!

 

[poconojoe]

Thanks! It's was a lot of work! And I still have a lot of finishing up to do. I'm no spring chicken and I really felt all that digging, shovelling and wheelbarrows full of gravel! It took 3 loads of gravel with my Chevy Silverado.

I laid a couple logs and a stick on the bog for a more natural look. I got that idea from a few members here that used driftwood. I'll have to take a walk in the woods for some cool stuff. Or maybe when we go to the lake I'll find some driftwood.

 

[Jhn]

Great job looks like it is getting close to being done.

 

[Lisak1]

Looks great! You're going to be so happy - the hard work will pay off!

 

[Tula]

Looks great ! Looks like you have some nice plants already. I'm still waiting for my order from Trickers, but some of the plants from @addy1 last Fall, are growing

I too am planting Creeping Jenny around rocks !

 

[poconojoe]

Looks great ! Looks like you have some nice plants already. I'm still waiting for my order from Trickers, but some of the plants from @addy1 last Fall, are growing

I too am planting Creeping Jenny around rocks !

We love Creeping Jenny. We still have more planting to do. We buy floating plants every year, too early for those here. We have some nights coming that will be in the 30's. We covered some of the plants we already have. We got spoiled with a couple of nice days.

 

[addy1]

Very nice build! Once it gets growing you will love it. I can totally trash my pond when working the bog, cloudy can't even see a few inches into the water. By the next day the water is clear again.

 

[cas]

Looks great @poconojoe ! You must post pictures later in the season when the plants take off.

 

[Mmathis]

That is awesome! And I am super jealous of all you folks who have natural access to rocks!! Here, in the South, all we have is clay and we buy our rocks from the rock stores!

 

[j.w]

Wow I can't imagine living a world w/o free rocks to find and bring home!

 

[Mmathis]

Wow I can't imagine living a world w/o free rocks to find and bring home!

Oh, I do have a few favorites that followed me home, but I’m always looking over my shoulder, waiting for the “rock police” to show up!

 

[poconojoe]

No shortage here as I said...we live on a mountain of rocks here in the Poconos. I guess we're lucky in one way, but when it comes to digging a hole for plants, fence posts, deck posts, etc., it becomes a burden.
I use a shovel, pick-axe and I have a big bar for prying the big ones out.
They seem to grow out of the ground. I call them Pocono potatoes. After the Winter, there's rocks sticking out everywhere it seems. And what looks like a small rock, can actually end up being quite large once you start digging and prying.
All the rocks around our pond came from our property and there's plenty more to be had if we need them.

 

[Mmathis]

I use a shovel, pick-axe and I have a big bar for prying the big ones out.

LOL, that’s how we have to dig in our clay, especially if there hasn’t been rain (or watering) in a while!

 

[Mmathis]

@cas Your pond is gorgeous! When we get ready for our build, I think I’ll use your pond as an example of what I have in mind!

 

[poconojoe]

Thanks everyone!
The important thing is the water is now flowing through the bog. Now I can take my time adding rocks to hide the liner.
Tomorrow we're heading over to one of our favorite nurseries for more plants. That nursery is big on ponding too. He has some amazing fish in his ponds. He gives free seminars every year for fall closing and spring opening of ponds.