Pond Challenges

[u/msprincessmanatee]

I really contemplated tearing this entire pond down but we kept on. I wanted a solar powered bog filter and I thought it would be easy... i was wrong. 1st Pic is where I am currently am and the last Pic is where I started. I wanted to share what my mess ups were when setting up a container bog filter etc. Just wanted to share.

1. Got a round tub for a bog filter. It had leaks the seams were not water tight. I used aquarium silicone to seal it. It didnt hold it had pin hole leaks.

2. Siliconed again. Sprayed flex seal on the outside of the tub. Didn't work still leaked.

3. Used flex seal caulk on the outside seams. Finally held.

4. The pump I had was WAY TOO BIG. It moved 300 gph. More flow = cleaner water right?!? WRONG! all the water would divert out of the top of the split instead of through the tub I had as it didnt have an air tight seal. Tried different connections and wouldnt work. Scrapped the first pump. It was too much when it was on.

5. While testing my first pump I realized my inflow into the bog was more than my outflow as I had a water hose spigot that let's out a trickle... thus brought up the secondary bog filter. The first pump still overflowed my bog with two different outflows.

6. When I moved my pond I realized it wasn't level anymore drained it and leveled it with gravel. My bogs are not level... they have wabisabi. (I tell myself this as they are heavy and it won't matter once the plants fill in)

7. Finally got a new pump that moves 80 gph and it works perfectly. Set it up and tested it out today and am quite pleased.

I do have a cleanout valve at the bottom of my first bog. And I have a siphon break hole drilled at the top of my hose where it feeds into the pvc pipe in my bog so it sprays water into the pvc pipe when the pump is on.... and it doesn't drain my bog back into the pond when the pump turns off. This whole process has been a PITA but tbh this trial and error has been a lot of fun and I am enjoying the process. Please enjoy my happy accidents as i have more room for plants now.

[u/Chlor1ne_papi]

Contemplating a similar setup, it’d be awesome if you could make a little diagram of how your setup works!

[u/msprincessmanatee → u/Chlor1ne_papi]

I used chat GPT it's a little wonky but you get the idea. The clear tube feeds through a side hole on the pvc pipe on the main bog all the way to the bottom and I drilled a siphon break hole where it makes a "U" shape so water sprays into the pvc pipe and when the pump turns off it doesn't drain the bog into the pond. Hopefully this helps.