Bog Filters

Bog Filters

Mandy Anders

Bog filters provide exceptional natural filtration for ponds. Bogs trap debris and nutrients for plant growth, provide additional surface area for nitrifying bacteria growth, and add beauty to ponds. Plants in the bog filter consume nitrates and phosphates from fish waste, preventing these nutrients from being used by nuisance algae. Pruning plant growth from the bog filter permanently removes the nutrients from the pond that are trapped in the plants. This method of filtration is very similar to the refugium filters in saltwater aquariums.

Choose fast growing plants for the bog, as these plant consume nutrients very quickly. Some superb choices for bog filters include:

• – Four leaf water clover (Marsilea sp.)
• – Gracefull cattail (Typha laxmannii)
• – Sweetflag (Acorus sp.)
• – Parrot feather (Myriophyllum aquaticum)
• – Moneywort (Bacopa monnieri)
• – Water mint (Mentha aquatica)

For information on the construction of bog filters see Pond Solution #21 "The Bog Garden"