Skippy vs bog

[Loree]

WHAT is the difference between a skippy and a bog? I've tried to Google, but it still has me confused. I thought the bog had plants and skippy didn't, but I've read some people put plants in their skippy. I'm so confused. AND while I'm here.....which is preferred?

 

[poconojoe]

Interesting question. I would like to follow your thread.

I dont know much about skippy filters, but I do know about bog filters.

A bog is filled with pea gravel and plants are grown directly in the gravel. I'm not sure how you would grow plants in the filter media of a skippy.

Does the filter media in a skippy need to be rinsed out occasionally? A bog does not need rinsing.

Let's wait for some knowledgeable folks to chime in.

 

[mrsclem]

Hi Loree- I have both on my ponds. You are correct that a bog is a gravel bed usually filled with plants. It requires little to no maintenance. A Skippy filter uses media of some sort as a biological filter. I have baskets of plants in the top of a skippy to hide the barrel. Skippy filters need to be flushed out occasionally.
A bog is the best as you plant it and forget it!

 

[GBBUDD]

After growing plants on a aqua block i can see how you could grow them on a plastic media filter. much like stone it just gives form for the roots to grow on in and around.

 

[GBBUDD]

Skippy filter has to be British it just sounds so brit.

 

[Mmathis]

I have a Skippy filter. I built it, oh 8 years ago. In a way it’s sort of a hybrid type filter, as you can add plants, but the mechanics of the filter are that water is pumped into a [sort of] manifold from beneath. The first however number of inches are a dead space. Then, you secure a support material above that. On top of the support material, you add your [whatever you are using for] bio- media. Water flows up, and eventually exits through a weir or pipe, back into the pond. The idea is that crud collects in the dead space, while clean water flows up through the media.

It’s a love/hate. I had a 3000 gallon pond, and a 100 gallon stock tank as my Skippy. Once it was matured, it was a great biofilter. I never had a single problem with my water. But it wasn’t good for mechanical filtration.

I’ll include examples, but we’re in the car....and it’s hard to draw when you’re on a Louisiana road!

 

[Tula]

One thing I think I'd like about a skippy filter is the ability to open it from the bottom to remove sludge. A con would be I'd worry the plants would freeze over the winter with the filter being above ground.

 

[Mmathis]

One thing I think I'd like about a skippy filter is the ability to open it from the bottom to remove sludge. A con would be I'd worry the plants would freeze over the winter with the filter being above ground.

Yes, is very nice to be able to purge it! I never put plants in mine, though, but I live in Louisiana, so.....

 

[Mmathis]

@Loree

An overly simplified drawing. Both have PVC “manifold-type” water entry. Skippy uses a “swirl” concept for water to enter the bottom, dead-space. Skippy uses “things“ as areas for biofilm to grow (can use anything, as long as it has good surface area). A bog uses perforated PVC which sits directly under the gravel. Plants are grown in the gravel.

My Skippy is a 100 gallon Rubbermaid stock tank. The same could be used as a bog.

IMHO, Skippy has its place (it was easy to make, easy to maintain, and worked), but is better for smaller ponds. Also, IMHO, a bog is more natural, just as efficient (if not more so), and a whole darn lot more attractive!

 

[Sunshine]

I think mine is a mix of both. We did the PVC with holes about 6 inches off the bottom. Put a light screen (they make them for ceiling lights, a bunch of open squares) on top of the PVC pipe. Than added gravel that was bigger than the squares so it wouldn't go through the squares, than smaller gravel on top of that. Than planted it.

 

[Tula]

I think mine is a mix of both. We did the PVC with holes about 6 inches off the bottom. Put a light screen (they make them for ceiling lights, a bunch of open squares) on top of the PVC pipe. Than added gravel that was bigger than the squares so it wouldn't go through the squares, than smaller gravel on top of that. Than planted it.

Are you able to open it to drain sludge?

 

[Sunshine]

Are you able to open it to drain sludge?

And there lies the problem . No, that's why I started the post about if a bog can fill with the sludge. I'm sure all the plastic light thing is all broken by now.

 

[addy1]

about if a bog can fill with the sludge

Depends on how it is built, the size, where you pull your water from. Our water is pulled about a foot from the bottom. 9 years later it is still running just fine, not full of sludge.

 

[Mmathis]

Are you able to open it to drain sludge?

I can on mine.

 

[Sunshine]

Depends on how it is built, the size, where you pull your water from. Our water is pulled about a foot from the bottom. 9 years later it is still running just fine, not full of sludge.

Ours is the same. The pump sits on a big plastic milk crate