| A veggie filter, sometimes known as a bog filter | | | | veggie filter system there is no chance of |
| or plant filter is a natural garden pond biological | | | | electrical mishaps and potential harm to aquatic |
| filtration method that uses aquatic plants as a | | | | pond life. |
| means to remove impurities from garden pond | | | | - A veggie filter fits in with the life style of those |
| water. A veggie filter is home to lots of pond | | | | pond keepers who believe that letting nature take |
| plants that are deliberately starved of nutrients. In | | | | its course, rather than using man made inventions |
| order to survive they absorb the nutrients | | | | is the solution. |
| directly from the pond water. Once the pond | | | | - The aquatic plants act as supplemental food |
| water containing ammonia and nitrates has passed | | | | source for the fish living within the pond. |
| from the pond into the veggie filter and then back | | | | - A veggie filter effectively removes both |
| into the pond, the impurities have been removed. | | | | suspended algae and filamentous string algae |
| What Size veggie Filter Do I Need? | | | | varieties such as blanket weed, sometimes |
| - Calculate Pond Volume - Length x Width x | | | | referred to as pond scum. The veggie filter plants |
| Depth e.g. 10ft x 10ft x 10ft = 1000 cubic feet. | | | | compete directly with the green water and |
| - Convert to gallons by multiplying by 7.48 e.g. | | | | blanket weed for nitrates in the water. Traditional |
| 1000 cubic foot x 7.48 = 7480 gallon. | | | | biological pond filters control algae blooms but are |
| Now that you know your actual pond volume in | | | | unable to remove blanket weed that sticks to the |
| gallons you will need to build a veggie filter that is | | | | sides of your pond and almost any other available |
| at least 10% of the volume of your garden pond. | | | | surface within the garden pond. |
| If your pond is 1000 gallon then you need a | | | | - The attractive foliage and plants contained within |
| Veggie filter that is 100 gallon; a veggie filter that | | | | the veggie filter add a touch of beauty and |
| is 150% is better if you have a lot of fish in your | | | | serenity to backyards and outdoor living areas. A |
| pond, as it will remove impurities at a quicker rate, | | | | traditional pond filter, although extremely efficient |
| making for a healthier pond environment. | | | | is somewhat of an eyesore and usually needs to |
| Some pond plant species are more suitable for | | | | be disguised or hidden from view. |
| use a veggie filter than others, depending on | | | | Veggie Filter Disadvantages: |
| factors such as climate, hours of sunshine, growth | | | | - Blocked and tangled pump impellers due to stray |
| pattern and where the veggie filter is located. | | | | roots and foliage. |
| Leafy aquatic plants that grow quickly are usually | | | | - A messy pond environment due to fish eating |
| a good choice. The following pond plants are a | | | | and damaging the plants. |
| selection of recommended varieties that are | | | | - A veggie filter will require a lot more |
| commonly used in veggie filters: | | | | maintenance and care on an ongoing basis: |
| - Azolla, also known as Fairy Moss grows | | | | diseased and dead plants will need to be removed |
| extremely quickly and is capable of removing | | | | before there is an opportunity for the leaves to |
| large amounts of nitrogen and carbon through | | | | decay in the water and increase the levels of |
| photosynthesis. | | | | ammonia in the pond system; aquatic plants will |
| - Duckweed, classified as a floating pond plant is | | | | have to be cropped back periodically; plants that |
| commonly used and also acts as an occasional | | | | have uprooted will need to be replanted etc. |
| food and dietary supplement item for your | | | | - Bacteria and parasites live on plants and by |
| goldfish and koi. | | | | introducing these into the pond you are in effect |
| - Water cress is well known for being a plant that | | | | introducing potential problems. |
| consumes high levels of nitrate and would | | | | A veggie filter bog filter needs to be thoroughly |
| therefore be an excellent choice for your bog | | | | cleaned at least once a year. This is usually carried |
| filter. | | | | out in the fall (September in the Northern |
| - Soft rush / Pickerel rush / True bulrush or | | | | Hemisphere). You need to remove all aquatic |
| Flowering rush grow quickly for maximum | | | | plants and clean them. They also need to be |
| biomass and are excellent for use in most bog | | | | trimmed, tied back and divided before being |
| filter applications. | | | | placed back in the veggie filter. If you live in a cold |
| - Arrowheads are yet another species of aquatic | | | | climate you may want to store the plants over |
| pond plant that are ideal for your veggie filter. | | | | the winter months. Every good veggie filter should |
| - The Norfolk reed, classified as an oxygenator | | | | contain a bottom drain for clearing the waste and |
| not only removes pollutants but because it's | | | | this should be opened every two to three weeks |
| leaves are submerged below water allows oxygen | | | | to allow sludge and other organic matter to be |
| to dissolve into the pond water and not into the | | | | removed. To summarize I would like to add that |
| atmosphere. | | | | although a veggie filter is the preferred choice of |
| - Pennywort, Water Hyacinths, Sweet Galingale | | | | pond filtration method for some pond keepers |
| and Water lettuce are popular choices too. | | | | and water gardeners, it is less hassle for the vast |
| Veggie Filters Advantages: | | | | majority of those new to pond keeping to use a |
| - A veggie filter does not incur electricity costs, | | | | traditional garden pond filter as they are relatively |
| unlike a biological pond filter that requires mains | | | | maintenance free, easy to install and readily |
| power to operate. | | | | available. |
| - As there are no electrical components used in a | | | | |