Hopefully someone else with experience will chime in as well, but I'm wondering if it's possible to make another waterfall or stream back into your pond? I have both a waterfall and stream and haven't had any problems with my bog overflowing, although I do have to yank out vegetation & roots from time to time. Aggressive plants could certainly contribute to the problem. My bog and pond are built into a slight slope, so the back of the bog is higher than the front and water would naturally run into the pond first before overflowing elsewhere.

For aesthetic purposes, I have about 3 inches average of water over the gravel in my bog and the flow of the water through the bog seems to have prevented mosquitoes. I did however, have a bunch of tadpoles 2 years ago that somehow managed to not float over the falls into the main pond!

If you have photos of your bog & pond setup, it might be helpful for others to assess your situation and offer suggestions.

Here is a link that might be useful: Bog Filter

I don't have a bog filter but we'd love to build one when we remodel our pond and deck area. I like the link given above because it's a beautiful example of how well a bog filter can work and look. It would be nice to see pictures of your bog and prarie bogger's bog as well.

Your plants are the likely cause for the overflow. Thinning plants from time to time is just part of the maintenance you'll need to do to keep the bog filter operating properly.

I found several websites that have plans for building a bog filter and they all recommend keeping the gravel a 1/2 inch or so higher than the water level. The website below has plans for a bog filter and recommends no standing water in the bog. It also includes lists of good plants and plants that are invasive.

Hope this info helps and hope all you have to do is a little plant thinning to get your bog back into shape!

Nance

Here is a link that might be useful: Bog Filter Construction

I am more concerned about the outflow back to the pond than I am the roots and debris. If the water is flowing out over the top, it indicates that the water is still getting through the gravel, but it's somehow being restricted from the outflow, causing it to back up and overflow.

What type of return are you using, an open waterfall type weir or a pvc pipe?

ramjet1121, is it possible for you to restrict the flow into your bog by installing a ball valve on the out put side of the pump?
"Horton"

Oops prarie bogger, I didn't realize the link you posted was for your pond. I have posted your link before but did not realize till a few moments ago that you were the owner of this pond. It's absolutely beautiful!

Nance

A little P.S. here. While water may be coming up through the gravel it is most likely coming up at a slower rate. The water is not flowing out because the plants are creating a "dam" effect with their mass of roots and foliage, leaving the water to stand. It all depends on the design of your bog and how it operates. If thinning the plants does not help then you should check the design of the bog.

Nance

My bog has a spillway back into the pond which doesn't give it a chance to leak into the yard. I tend to thin out my plants about twice a year. This last time, I put the most aggressive ones in pots and then back into the bog. I don't think all of them liked it, but we'll see. When doing all of this, the level of the pea gravel is now lower than the water, which has allowed the extra water to turn green. I've been meaning to get a few more bags to dump in there, but I haven't gotten around to it.

Thanks to everyone for your comments and suggestions.
nancym1956 & runningonempty: I believe you are correct as to what is happening. I'll try to post some photos of my bog in the next few days. Based on my pruning/thinning efforts of the last few days, I feel pretty certain that one plant in particular is the culprit. It is pretty invasive. I'll also try to find the "map" of what I planted where to identify the culprit. Maybe it will save someone else from the trouble I'm having.

horton: I don't want to restrict the inflow because I want to get maximum filtration. The pump being used is not very large anyway. I think the "dam effect" of plant roots/debris is the culprit. My improvised standpipe arrangement is a temporary fix to handle any backup of water. I'll look at a design improvement this winter.

Prairie Blogger, I am a Marty fan. He looks very handsome swimming next to those cute red fish.

What a beautiful pond and huge yard. I can never think about a bog filter, having used a swimming pool for our pond, but we have a "fake bog" by having a jungle at the back of the pond with the vines hanging down to the pond. They do not grow into the water for some reason, but they look like they do so that is fine. :) But the concrete and brick prohibit that filter chance.

" I'll look at a design improvement this winter".

Ramjet, Good idea!
That is the pond keepers time to take stock, re design and count the days until spring!

Have fun with your planning, but don't get "bogged" down! LOL
"Horton"

Here are a few pics of my small pond and associated bog filter. The pond is crystal clear, and I only use the bog for filtration. I also have many (mostly small, for now) goldfish thanks to some promiscuous adults.

Here is a link that might be useful: Bog and Pond

ramjet, what is the wire around the pond for?
jeff

Here are a few pics of my small pond and associated bog filter. The pond is crystal clear, and I only use the bog for filtration. I also have many (mostly small, for now) goldfish thanks to some promiscuous adults.

Here is a link that might be useful: Bog and Pond

The wire around the pond is/was an electric fence to keep my lab "puppy" out of the pond. He's now 1+ yrs old & over 100 lbs. The fence has not been plugged in for quite some time, but he will not try to get in the pond. He learned very quickly. I think I had it plugged in for only about a week or so.

thats funny, i had to put up 3 foot picket fence around our pond, creek and waterfall to keep our 6 month old golden out.
jeff

Ramjet1121, that looks like a generously sized bog for your pond, very nice! You say you have a seperate pump for the bog so I assume you have another pump for the stream. Your pictures suggest your stream runs from pond to stream to pond and is not attached to the bog filter at all. Is that so? If so, do you think you could not only attach your stream to the bog filter but also reverse it's direction? In other words...have one pump that takes pond water to bog filter which then exits and spills into the stream and from there flows down into the pond. Would that be doable with minimal reconstruction? I think if you could do that you would have even better filtration than you have already. A "one pump does it all" operation might also save you headaches down the road.

Your water is clear so everything must be working fine for you as is. Just keep the plants thinned! ;-)

Once when visiting, my sister brought their big yellow lab. No sooner had they opened the truck door when the dog ran and jumped into the pond. Labs do love water but they are OH so sweet!

Nance

Nance: Yes, the stream and the bog are independent. The reconstruction involved to accomplish what you suggest would FAR outweigh the potential problems in using two pumps. The bog runs off a 950 GPH pump and the stream runs off a 3000 GPH pump that is throttled WAY down. I already have a tee in that line from which I had planned to run the bog also, but chose to go with the smaller pump instead. Yes, the bog is probably over-sized for the pond, but I wanted to make sure it would work and also use it as a feature in itself.

Alrighty then, you already have a pump to do the job. That's excellent! The rest is "just" sweat investment, if and when you decide to rearrange a "few" rocks. Oh no, I think it's great you made the bog a bit larger than you thought you needed. That's only smart. And bogs ARE an added feature, that's part of what makes them so appealing and for such little work.

Another question. How did you make your curbing around the pond? I have a needful place for something just like that. It has a very smooth finish to it and it looks like you stained it. Very nice.

Nance

The curbing, both the low one and the 1' high wall were done by me. That is my business. I do decorative concrete landscape edging, 1' high walls, stepping stones (made in place), and sidewalks. I own a Border Magic franchise (see www.bordermagic.com). I don't know where you live (I live in Las Cruces, New Mexico), but there is a dealer finder selection on the web site. The wall is solid concrete with a slate texture applied and simulated grout lines added to make it look sort of like flagstone. These are extruded products (no forms) with color added to the concrete mix. Being in the desert southwest, I chose to use a rocky theme rather than lots of plants - too much trouble. I have enough trouble with algae because of the heat and sun. I may add some heat tolerant and low water requirement plants in some rocky pockets.

Ah ha... We don't have any franchises here in MO under that name but we do have other companies. These are beautiful borders. I'm going to have to make some phone calls... Thanks for the info!

Nance

I posted this link after my last posting, apparently it didn't take. It's a great link with great pictures and descriptions for anyone thinking of building a bog filter.

No such thing as too many options! LOL!

Nance

Here is a link that might be useful: Bog Filtration

Are you sure that's the correct link? I looked through it, albeit quickly, but it seems to be about saline soils.

Now that's weird because I checked the link on PREVIEW MESSAGE, as I always do, and it took me to the correct link. Third time a charm? Fingers crossed!

Nance

Here is a link that might be useful: Bog Filtration