Peat moss in Bog Filter

[Lisak1]

Two thoughts here -
1. Do you think the weight of the gravel will compress the pads? I don't know... I just wonder

2. I would not recommend pea gravel - we learned the hard way that it clogs incredibly fast. We had to dig out a whole basin full of pea gravel and replace with larger gravel. I don't know the name or size, but it's more the size of a blueberry or grape than a pea. And you don't need debris to clog pea gravel - just the algae growth alone will do it. Once it clogs, the water just finds another way around it. In our down flow "bog" situation the water just constantly pooled and the flow slowed way down.

 

[GBBUDD]

i assume he is thinking to place the pads inside the aquablock like aquascapes is trying.

But i agree pea stone imo is too fine, but like addy, has exclusively pea but if you added up ALL her shubunkins in her large pond i would dare to bet all their poop does not equal just one of my large koi.

I too had interest in the idea of a down flow bog and using air instead of pumps a huge energy savings. But the more i read the more i experimented, the more i realized when backup stated it would simply over flow the area and would need very large sides to contain and allow enough pressure to build

 

[drjay9051]

i assume he is thinking to place the pads inside the aquablock like aquascapes is trying.

But i agree pea stone imo is too fine, but like addy, has exclusively pea but if you added up ALL her shubunkins in her large pond i would dare to bet all their poop does not equal just one of my large koi.

I too had interest in the idea of a down flow bog and using air instead of pumps a huge energy savings. But the more i read the more i experimented, the more i realized when backup stated it would simply over flow the area and would need very large sides to contain and allow enough pressure to build

I am not familiar with Aqua Blocks. My thought was to place the pads inside some plastic milk crates flipped upside down and surround said crates with larger rocks. As an option to the individual pads I found a 19 foot roll on Amazon for all of $30. I really like the idea of the roll or pads as they have a huge surface area for bacterial colonization. Placed in egg crates if needed it would a simple matter to remove and spray down. Just above the crates would be a layer of rock/gravel.Oh yes,I would wrap the crates in some sort of netting to keep the rocks out.

I appreciate all the help and ideas I have received from this forum

 

[drjay9051]

Wow. Just looked up Aqua Blocks. Call me nuts but to my eye they are rebranded plastic milk crates or am I missing something. Pretty expensive, IMO. Hey, as they say whatever the market will bear

 

[Lisak1]

Ah… gotcha! I imagined these just being stacked and then gravel dumped on top. Duh.

Aquablocks are indeed expensive but they are more than just a milk crate. Although some do use milk crates. So I guess that’s your call!

 

[GBBUDD]

Milk crates can not withstand the weights a aquablock can they are designed not only for a layer of gravel on them they can also withstand being under a parking lot. there is very similar characteristics to them both and there is also no comparison

 

[Mmathis]

@drjay9051 Just my opinion, but I think those pads are too dense for water to flow through….as in a regular type [manmade] bog. The flow through space-surface is where the beneficial bacteria tend to congregate. But, actual surface area is the key, so maybe as long as you don’t pack them too densely, it might work. Not that your idea won’t work, but just something to keep in the back of your mind.

 

[GBBUDD]

If i was going to look for a replacement for bio balls and something to slow the flow of water but that was to
1. give solids an opportunity to drop out of the water column .
2. provide a home for beneficial bacteria to grow i would look at the courses mats that Matala is currently making. they would never clog in my eyes . And the amount of surface area would far surpass bio balls imo. i would not compact them in the space but more in thinking just a single divider across the top and maybe one in the center of each bay or milk crate. the whole idea is to slow the waters flow and have organics drop from the water this would do it.

 

[Mmathis]

@GBBUDD I have coarse Matala mats in my [outdated] Skippy filter. Those things are at least 10 years old. I would definitely recommend them (mine aren’t layered by size, but are just 2 layers of the coarsest size). Easy to work with and easy to clean (if and when you need to clean them). I’ve never had a clog problem.

 

[GBBUDD]

@GBBUDD I have coarse Matala mats in my [outdated] Skippy filter. Those things are at least 10 years old. I would definitely recommend them (mine aren’t layered by size, but are just 2 layers of the coarsest size). Easy to work with and easy to clean (if and when you need to clean them). I’ve never had a clog problem.

I have a pond to build and when i saw aquascapes and the bio balls i said Not many will go for that as they will quadruple the cost of a bog. Now if you are very limited on space that is the only time i'd think about it but the mats are reasonable. and i can see them lasting forever. I definitely have many design ideas using them. There is now a green at the bottom of the entrance to my cistern this is great for collect debris, BEFORE IT FALLS INTO THE CISTERN. i use to use a fabric bag but while it most definitely did the job it would clog within hours in the spring and fall. The green will last a good week before it demands attention. if i did the black or white it may last up to a month who knows.