New Pond Build with Bog Questions

[TurtTown]

Hi Garden Pond Forum!

I'm so grateful for the wealth of information here and this is my first post! I hope to be an active part of the forum as I move forward with my unique pond build. I would like to share my current plans in the hopes of feedback if you see any red flags in the design. Attached are 2 pictures of the completed blockwork (partially covered due to a drizzle today) that will be the edge of a patio that meets up with a pond, water channel, and bog connected by two water features. This can be also be seen by the above view sketch. The total water volume (excluding the bog) is around 2,100 gallons. I'm pretty committed to the layout, but have not done the plumbing or the bog. I am planning on a 3" bottom drain that will feed to a 3,000GPH pump. I know a bottom drain is not standard for bogs due to debris but there are no trees nearby so the only solids will be from the wildlife (turtles and a few fish). About half of this water will be forced through the bog and the other half cycled back over the water features. The design minimizes bends in the piping and places the pump next to the bog. Is it better to have the pump close to the pond or bog? Is 3" piping really needed if it has to constrict to 2" for the pump anyway? The bog sketch is a merging of a lot of ideas proposed on this and other forums with an effort to maximize volume, keep large debris low in the bog, and filter water through as much gravel as possible before reentering the pond. The only thing that is not pictured is a cleanout that will go to the lowest point of the small setting chamber. Thank you in advance for any feedback!

-Andrew

 

[j.w]

@TurtTown
Too complicated for me to help ya!
Looks interesting tho.
Mine is a dig a hole and line it and fill it

 

[Lisak1]

So you want to pull water from the bottom of the pond and pump it to the bottom of the bog, correct? I guess I'm not seeing that in your drawing.

@GBBUDD has a bottom drain but I'm not sure if it feeds his bog or his waterfall.

 

[TurtTown]

So you want to pull water from the bottom of the pond and pump it to the bottom of the bog, correct? I guess I'm not seeing that in your drawing.

@GBBUDD has a bottom drain but I'm not sure if it feeds his bog or his waterfall.

Thank you for your interest in my build! Yes, that is correct. The current plan is a bottom drain that will go to the pump which then feeds the bottom of the bog.

-Andrew

 

[Lisak1]

Is the pump pulling from the bottom of the pond? I guess I'm used to think of a pump as pushing vs pulling.

 

[GBBUDD]

Thank you for your interest in my build! Yes, that is correct. The current plan is a bottom drain that will go to the pump which then feeds the bottom of the bog.

-Andrew

The main drain / bottom drain is more of an equalizer pipe the EXTERIOR pump has to be close to the same height or less of that of the surface of the pond. The reason being that pumps are just that they pump from a source. They are very good at throwing water but are terrible at pulling it.

As to where the water goes it is pulled from the bottom drains and we will call the other point a skimmer/ negative edge. these lines merge just before the pump where there is a petcock installed into the pvc this way when starting the pump i just turn on the hose and it fills the pipe until the pump purges out all the air. At which time the pump pushes the water to the bottom of the bog. Where the top of the bog after the water works its way up from the bottom, over flows a low spot of the sides that is close to 3 feet above grade. This is my largest waterfall.

AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS POST I HAVE A LINK TO THE BUILD OF MY POND AND BOGS . It is loaded with lessons learned and why i built my system the way i did. but seeing it was my first build it is constantly evolving.

 

[TurtTown]

Is the pump pulling from the bottom of the pond? I guess I'm used to think of a pump as pushing vs pulling.

The pump will be below water of the pond and will be pushing water into the bog which has a water level that is two feet higher than the main pond. I believe this setup is similar immersible pumps frequently used for bogs but uses an external pump for it's benefits (out of water electricity, out of water pump oil, efficiency, and less impact upon water temperature). Thank you again for your reply!

 

[GBBUDD]

i do need to update my showcase, i don't believe i even have the bakki shower noted in there let alone the nano bead filter.

 

[GBBUDD]

The pump will be below water of the pond and will be pushing water into the bog which has a water level that is two feet higher than the main pond. I believe this setup is similar immersible pumps frequently used for bogs but uses an external pump for it's benefits (out of water electricity, out of water pump oil, efficiency, and less impact upon water temperature). Thank you again for your reply!

the best height is trying to keep the top of the basket strainer just above the water line so when you need to clean it you dont need to shut down valves or rely on check valves

 

[TurtTown]

the best height is trying to keep the top of the basket strainer just above the water line so when you need to clean it you dont need to shut down valves or rely on check valves

Good to know! I will definitely have a valve between the basket strainer and bottom drain as well.

 

[GBBUDD]

Good to know! I will definitely have a valve between the basket strainer and bottom drain as well.

have you checked out my show case theres items there i'm sure you will find invaluable.

 

[Mmathis]

Hello and welcome!

My only comment has to do with width x length x depth. The width and length measurements are important because that’s the surface area where gas exchange will take place, and there is a point where the depth in relation the surface area can work against you.

 

[TurtTown]

have you checked out my show case theres items there i'm sure you will find invaluable.

Thanks for sharing the link! Your detailed documentation of your process is extremely useful.

 

[TurtTown]

Hello and welcome!

My only comment has to do with width x length x depth. The width and length measurements are important because that’s the surface area where gas exchange will take place, and there is a point where the depth in relation the surface area can work against you.

Hi and thank you for the reply! I agree that surface area is important and I'm hopeful that the 94 square feet of surface area for 2,100 gallons is sufficient. Also the two water features should add a lot of air to the water. The bog is a bit deep and I know there are mixed opinions on this topic. I guess time will tell.

 

[TurtTown]

Based on the feedback so far I'm feeling pretty good about the plan! As I begin buying the parts for the plumbing, my main question is about pipe diameter. In my sketch, I have 3" pipe going from the bottom drain to the 3000GPH pump where it is restricted down to 2" for the pump fitting. Is this necessary, or can I just use a 2" pipe for the entire distance? It seems that typically bottom drains are used for gravity fed filtration systems where any restriction like that would be a problem and larger pipes are used. In this setup is 2" ok since it is directly connected to a pump? Thanks again for any help and feedback!

-Andrew