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Post by childofiam on Apr 22, 2016 13:27:31 GMT -5
On February 12 of this year my pond looked like this  I built a bog filter and installed a TMC UV pond sterilizer,  Then I planted Water iris and pond grass,  I have had a problem with string algae and green algae blooms in the past and it was always a up hill fight. Now with the bog filter coming alive with the plants really putting out their roots to feed, the string algae is disappearing from the shallows fast. A week ago it had already grown to cover half of the shallows and also became thick on the deep end walls. As the plants are growing the algae is falling off the walls to the point I have to clean the pre-filter 2 times a day. The UV has kept the pea soup algae from growing as well. Last night it rained a lot and the Koi have been digging the shallows up for worms and stuff and muddied up the water.  I have about a foot of sand to remove from the deep end as I have not done this for 3 or 4 years. Will wait till the water is warmer than 65 degrees to do this. Richard |
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Post by coco on Apr 22, 2016 13:54:47 GMT -5
Nice job! I am sure your fishies will be happy in there with all their lilies. PS.........Love the Easter egg you have there on the side. I collect decorative eggs & egg shaped rocks and quartzes. I have a glass case full of them.
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Post by devonjohnsgard on Apr 22, 2016 16:48:37 GMT -5
Looks wonderful Richard!
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Post by mmfed01 on Apr 22, 2016 23:50:16 GMT -5
*Crying* I miss my pond in Ohio. Your setup is beautiful Richard!!
Mike
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Post by Carl on Apr 23, 2016 10:00:34 GMT -5
Awesome, thanks for sharing!
I really like the pictures showing your growing bog filter.
Carl
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Post by coco on Apr 23, 2016 12:09:26 GMT -5
*Crying* I miss my pond in Ohio. Your setup is beautiful Richard!! Mike Don't cry. It's ok. You have lot's of good fishie homes.  |
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Post by mmfed01 on Apr 23, 2016 12:25:55 GMT -5
I know...I just miss my Koi. |
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Post by childofiam on May 1, 2016 10:43:06 GMT -5
The pond is doing well... string algae is still dying off as the plants continue to grow in the Bog filter. Water Frogs have multiplied from last year. A couple of days ago when I was in the cold water, I reached down and picked one up in the palms of my hands. He/she just sat in my hands looking at me until I lowered my hands to the water and off he/she went.  Richard |
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Post by Carl on May 3, 2016 9:24:09 GMT -5
Looking good!!!  Your comment about string algae is a major reason I am a big proponent of Veggie/bog filters as something any pond that is in full sun should never be without Reference: www.aquarium-pond-answers.com/2007/03/pond-veggie-filters.htmlAs a side editorial (I hope you do not mind Richard); I (or Devon for supporting these articles) get attacked almost daily in other forums, often being accused of being a shill with my articles. But this is an article that I push considerably that I have nothing to little to gain from as how do I sell a Veggie filter? Other than maybe buying one of our pond pumps or volcanic rock, most of this is a DIY project and the plants are likely purchased locally. Carl |
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Post by devonjohnsgard on May 3, 2016 10:49:48 GMT -5
Making we want to put in a pond! Had them...but not at this new house....hmmm
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Post by childofiam on May 3, 2016 11:57:48 GMT -5
Looking good!!! Your comment about string algae is a major reason I am a big proponent of Veggie/bog filters as something any pond that is in full sun should never be without Reference: www.aquarium-pond-answers.com/2007/03/pond-veggie-filters.htmlAs a side editorial (I hope you do not mind Richard); I (or Devon for supporting these articles) get attacked almost daily in other forums, often being accused of being a shill with my articles. But this is an article that I push considerably that I have nothing to little to gain from as how do I sell a Veggie filter? Other than maybe buying one of our pond pumps or volcanic rock, most of this is a DIY project and the plants are likely purchased locally. Carl We just need to ignore the stupidity in other forums... the very reason I only trust what I find here at AAP and everything Aquatic. I had the plants because I was advised to get them about three years ago by another Forum administrator who declared he knew what he was talking about because of his years of experience in building ponds... His instruction was to plant them in the shallow ends of the pond like what you find in natures ponds. The string algae never died off and so it has been a consistent battle against Algae until I read your information on bog filters with the water flowing through the roots. It all made scene to me... the roots can only absorb so many nutrients if the roots are buried in sand like natures ponds and if you think about it, natures ponds are full of ... What.... Algae. Our local retaining ponds around here are now filled with riff raff rocks and bog plants like the grass I have grows with it's roots exposed to prevent Algae growth. By this time of the year the string algae is a foot thick on the sides of the pond, but it is almost gone now.  My biggest problem is as the Algae dies and falls off the walls it plugs up the filter so fast that I have to change the sponges every 5 or 6 hours and shut the pump down for the nights. At some point in the near future all of the algae will be gone and I wont have to clean the sponges as often. All of this is proof that YOU know what YOUR talking about period! I like to stick around people who really know what they are talking about.... As the Bible says; "A wise man encircles himself with wise men" Richard |
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Post by childofiam on May 4, 2016 9:20:19 GMT -5
List of Bog plants in my pond and bog filter;
Sweet Flag Grass
Louisiana Water Iris
IBP Ribbon Grass
Horsetail
Fiber Optic Grass
Pickerel Rush
Northern Lily Pads
Mint
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Post by childofiam on Jul 21, 2016 15:17:42 GMT -5
I was going to make a video of construction a veggie filter for AAP but realized that I built it wrong. If you veggie filter is at the same level as your pond water stays all session then you want to pull the water from the pond through the filter media and then back into the main water column. My veggie filter is above the average water level and this wont work. I was going to install a drilled pipe under the media but have decided to wait until the end of the session and raise the liner so to dig down under the area to make the veggie filter deeper. In doing this it will be as Carl and Devon recommend. When I do this I will video it for you all to see.
Richard
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Post by devonjohnsgard on Jul 22, 2016 12:36:09 GMT -5
I was going to make a video of construction a veggie filter for AAP but realized that I built it wrong. If you veggie filter is at the same level as your pond water stays all session then you want to pull the water from the pond through the filter media and then back into the main water column. My veggie filter is above the average water level and this wont work. I was going to install a drilled pipe under the media but have decided to wait until the end of the session and raise the liner so to dig down under the area to make the veggie filter deeper. In doing this it will be as Carl and Devon recommend. When I do this I will video it for you all to see. Richard It's something many people miss. If the plant area is higher than the water level line, you could do a gravity feed system, where you just plumb water to the top of it and let it run back into the pond. Then you don't have to come from underneath and redig out the area. The flow through is really important. |
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Post by childofiam on Jul 22, 2016 13:17:46 GMT -5
I was going to make a video of construction a veggie filter for AAP but realized that I built it wrong. If you veggie filter is at the same level as your pond water stays all session then you want to pull the water from the pond through the filter media and then back into the main water column. My veggie filter is above the average water level and this wont work. I was going to install a drilled pipe under the media but have decided to wait until the end of the session and raise the liner so to dig down under the area to make the veggie filter deeper. In doing this it will be as Carl and Devon recommend. When I do this I will video it for you all to see. Richard It's something many people miss. If the plant area is higher than the water level line, you could do a gravity feed system, where you just plumb water to the top of it and let it run back into the pond. Then you don't have to come from underneath and redig out the area. The flow through is really important. That is what I am doing at this time but there seems to be a lot of water coming up in one area and then flowing over the top before going into the main water source. |
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