Pea Gravel Quality. Abort or Use?

[TurtTown]

Hi Forum!

As I've shared in prior posts, I'm actively building my bog and today was the exciting day where the pea gravel was delivered. Much to my dismay, the gravel did not look like what I was expecting. Then again maybe this is what 3/8" pea gravel always looks like? It seems to include a rather large ratio of fine gravel which I worry will clog the system. I've included some photos and would be very interested in feedback before I commit to putting it in.

As always, thanks for the help!

Andrew

 

[j.w]

Hi Forum!

As I've shared in prior posts, I'm actively building my bog and today was the exciting day where the pea gravel was delivered. Much to my dismay, the gravel did not look like what I was expecting. Then again maybe this is what 3/8" pea gravel always looks like? It seems to include a rather large ratio of fine gravel which I worry will clog the system. I've included some photos and would be very interested in feedback before I commit to putting it in.

As always, thanks for the help!

Andrew

Those don't look like peas to me! I think you got robbed. I don't have a bog and never have made one but from seeing other peoples building of them I don't think that is the right stuff. I too would be afraid it wood clog up.

 

[JBtheExplorer]

Here's my bog's pea gravel for size reference. And a bonus worm. I did have a clog a few years back but it was debris and roots in the pvc pipes.

 

[Lisak1]

Yeah I wouldn't use anything that small. Found out the hard way how quickly it clogs.

 

[TurtTown]

Thank you so much for the replies. I've opted to not use the gravel in the photos and take the loss in favor of better materials which I've now inspected at a new stone yard before buying into a delivery service. Live and learn. I feel more confident in the effectiveness of the bog going forward. Thanks again for helping me avoid a potentially big mistake!

 

[j.w]

Thank you so much for the replies. I've opted to not use the gravel in the photos and take the loss in favor of better materials which I've now inspected at a new stone yard before buying into a delivery service. Live and learn. I feel more confident in the effectiveness of the bog going forward. Thanks again for helping me avoid a potentially big mistake!

Use that gravel in another place in your yard. We have it in a driveway to our shop and around paver paths etc. Lots of places you can use it.

 

[TurtTown]

Thank you for all the feedback and I'm glad that I didn't use the gravel as I'm really trying to create a low maintenance bog that does not clog easily. I had more pea gravel delivered from a better source, although upon inspection, it wasn't all that much better. Maybe pea gravel in Chattanooga, TN just has a lot of fines or maybe my expectations are too high? Regardless, I decided to use what I have around the house and built a sieve to remove the fines. Using a pallet, scrap wood, 1/4 wire mesh, and a concrete vibrator I designed a sieve that dumps the larger gravel directly into the bog. I've included pictures of the build and it can handle one wheelbarrow of gravel in about 10-15 minutes. I have a busy few days ahead! The optimal angle for me was 28 degrees. About 10% of the gravel fell through the sieve and I've included photos of them as well as the gravel that is now in the bog. I'm not sure if many people will find the idea useful but just incase I wanted to share!

 

[GBBUDD]

Your lucky to access to a CONCRETE vibrator. They surely will help do the job.

I have not used peastone to any significant thickness. ADDY1 Swears by it but she also is exclusively gold fish. And has a large bog.
Our bogs are similar is size but I utilize 3/4 gravel for the majority of filtering and i have 30 koi and for a year now I have been using a nano bead filter as well as the bogs. This combination is working well for me .

 

[Lisak1]

Very clever idea! I used a similar set up - on a much smaller scale - when we had to separate the pea gravel from the larger stone in our rain exchange. If anyone is wondering, layers of gravel of different sizes WILL INDEED become mixed in a very short period of time! The pea gravel and the larger gravel together plus some silt formed an almost inpenetratable barrier to water... not ideal when you want water flowing THROUGH.

In my case I used a laundry basket with one side of an aquablock laying over it as the "screen". The pea gravel and small stone fell through; anything that couldn't get through the holes got to stay. Took a minute but it worked!