How to Make a Hydroponic Bog Garden (Water Recycling)

Dig a hole.The bog garden starts life as a square hole with a level base and square sides., Line the bottom., Level the bottom with sand.Add sharp sand coating to level the bottom completely. , Cushion the bog., Line the bog., Add second cushion...

14 Steps 3 min read Advanced

Step-by-Step Guide

  1. Step 1: Dig a hole.The bog garden starts life as a square hole with a level base and square sides.

    Once the base is leveled out, it is time to line the bottom of the bog garden with a cushion to stop stones rising up and making holes in the liner. ,, The lining cushion is laid out in sheets and comes right up the side of the bog garden.

    It has to protect the liner, This is the same liner as would be used in a garden pond. , The liner is laid out and pushed all the way to the side of the hole. , Once the liner is in place it too is lined with cushion in order to protect it from the alfagrog that we will be putting on the top.

    The solid oak sleepers are put in the tank to separate off the aeration pond and the final settlement pond from the actual bog garden itself. , Realize that since the Oak sleepers and the green untreated oak, have small holes routed in the bottom it allows the water to flow through and into the bog garden from the aeration chamber. , Having completed the basic design , fill the actual bog garden part with alfagrog.

    This is a ceramic filter media used in Koi fish ponds to filter the water.

    It contains a huge amount of surface area in which our bacteria will live and clean up the water. , Completely filled, the centre section of the hydroponic bog garden starts filling it with water and adding the rest of the sleepers around the outside of the system.

    This size of tank takes around 6 cubic metres of water to fill it to a level just above the Alfagrog.

    Filling it with water allows it to level the Alfagrog and ensure that when gravel is added to it that it is all immersed in water. , Full of water and Alfagrog and awaiting the gravel to fill the middle.

    The cross section wood is to stop the centre section moving when the gravel is added. , Once filled with gravel the finished bog garden looks like this.

    The water level is raised so that at least an inch of the gravel is under water to provide the plants with moisture. , The section of the tank that will receive the water from the Biotank needs to be aerated.

    A small compressor provides this aeration via a rubber aerator.

    The dissolved oxygen level needs to be as high as possible if the bacteria in the Alfagrog are going to survive. , Once finished the final touch is to add plants.

    All of these are moisture loving plants provided by our local nursery. , The water from the Bog Garden is used to feed ponds and to water the lawns.
  2. Step 2: Line the bottom.

  3. Step 3: Level the bottom with sand.Add sharp sand coating to level the bottom completely.

  4. Step 4: Cushion the bog.

  5. Step 5: Line the bog.

  6. Step 6: Add second cushion.

  7. Step 7: Allow the water to flow out.

  8. Step 8: Add the alfagrog.

  9. Step 9: Add water.

  10. Step 10: Support the center section.The finished wood work looks like this.

  11. Step 11: Add gravel.

  12. Step 12: Get ready to aerate.

  13. Step 13: Put in some plants.

  14. Step 14: Enjoy the bog garden.

Detailed Guide

Once the base is leveled out, it is time to line the bottom of the bog garden with a cushion to stop stones rising up and making holes in the liner. ,, The lining cushion is laid out in sheets and comes right up the side of the bog garden.

It has to protect the liner, This is the same liner as would be used in a garden pond. , The liner is laid out and pushed all the way to the side of the hole. , Once the liner is in place it too is lined with cushion in order to protect it from the alfagrog that we will be putting on the top.

The solid oak sleepers are put in the tank to separate off the aeration pond and the final settlement pond from the actual bog garden itself. , Realize that since the Oak sleepers and the green untreated oak, have small holes routed in the bottom it allows the water to flow through and into the bog garden from the aeration chamber. , Having completed the basic design , fill the actual bog garden part with alfagrog.

This is a ceramic filter media used in Koi fish ponds to filter the water.

It contains a huge amount of surface area in which our bacteria will live and clean up the water. , Completely filled, the centre section of the hydroponic bog garden starts filling it with water and adding the rest of the sleepers around the outside of the system.

This size of tank takes around 6 cubic metres of water to fill it to a level just above the Alfagrog.

Filling it with water allows it to level the Alfagrog and ensure that when gravel is added to it that it is all immersed in water. , Full of water and Alfagrog and awaiting the gravel to fill the middle.

The cross section wood is to stop the centre section moving when the gravel is added. , Once filled with gravel the finished bog garden looks like this.

The water level is raised so that at least an inch of the gravel is under water to provide the plants with moisture. , The section of the tank that will receive the water from the Biotank needs to be aerated.

A small compressor provides this aeration via a rubber aerator.

The dissolved oxygen level needs to be as high as possible if the bacteria in the Alfagrog are going to survive. , Once finished the final touch is to add plants.

All of these are moisture loving plants provided by our local nursery. , The water from the Bog Garden is used to feed ponds and to water the lawns.

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Nicholas James

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