The Crypt

[NiftyFifty]

looks like they used chain link fencing in the concrete as reinforcing wire/support?

That would make sense, but this chain link fencing was not embedded in the concrete, it was not even touching the concrete. My photo was maybe too close up without context of surroundings so it was probably not obvious to anybody. Sorry about that. Here are 2 pics at different angles. The chain link was hanging out on top of the plastic sheets, not touching the concrete at all.
Bottom layer: concrete (walls of the crypt)
2nd layer: 2 plastic sheets
3rd layer: bunched up chain link fence
4th layer: wire screen
5th layer pebbles

 

[NiftyFifty]

Thanks, Addy1. I’m finally close to finishing the filter to that goes over the opening of the crypt and I’m almost ready to assemble the island above it.

It’s a pity it’s taken me so long to get to this point, but I’m going to go ahead and try planting bog plants and hope they survive the winter. I’ve got irises ready to go, but want to get a few more plants. Any suggestions? USDA Hardiness Zone 6.

Thanks!

 

[GBBUDD]

Red Cardinals bloom September/ December . pitcher plants have their color all but the end of winter
Rain/ fairy Lilly are one of my favorites. As is flags and forget me nots

 

[NiftyFifty]

Thanks so much for those suggestions, JBBUD! I wasn’t familiar with rain lilies — those are really sweet and I’ll try to plant some in the spring. And although forget me nots are one of my favorite flowers, I had no idea they were bog dwellers!

 

[jdale]

It looks to me like it was a filter. Pump underneath like you have it, some kind of support across the top, gravel over that. It would have pulled water down through the gravel. In principle a layer of chain link fence might have been part of the support but who knows. That seems like something that was improvised after the fact, maybe the original plan failed. Personally I would put a layer of medium or coarse Matala filter over your aluminum mesh. https://www.amazon.com/Sheets-Color-Matala-Filter-Media/dp/B005GXBWXU/ (Not the whole stack, that's just the first link I found.) If you're going to put gravel over it, you might also lay some kind of horizontal supports across the opening, otherwise I don't know how much weight the aluminum mesh will hold.

I like the island idea!

 

[NiftyFifty]

It looks to me like it was a filter. Pump underneath like you have it, some kind of support across the top, gravel over that. It would have pulled water down through the gravel. In principle a layer of chain link fence might have been part of the support but who knows. That seems like something that was improvised after the fact, maybe the original plan failed. Personally I would put a layer of medium or coarse Matala filter over your aluminum mesh. https://www.amazon.com/Sheets-Color-Matala-Filter-Media/dp/B005GXBWXU/ (Not the whole stack, that's just the first link I found.) If you're going to put gravel over it, you might also lay some kind of horizontal supports across the opening, otherwise I don't know how much weight the aluminum mesh will hold.

I like the island idea!

That was my best guess too, so I set about getting the crypt to function as a big ol’ filter. I’ve been posting about my progress with that in separate post, “CRYPT FILTER; Advice on Support Mesh.”

There are some more peculiarities and mysteries that I’m discovering — I’ll continue sharing those in this thread once I have the time. I felt I needed to do everything I can to refill the pond before things freeze up in Salt Lake City. Luckily for me, we’ve had some pretty glorious fall days here, but it looks like that may change this week.

​

 

[NiftyFifty]

First time filled since I drained it in May! The water is supposed to go up to the bottom of the island, however, it seems to be escaping via the waterfall, so I’m working on fixing that.

I wish I hadn’t used bricks to help keep the filter fabric in place. I really didn’t need the extra security measure and the bricks look unsightly. After so many years with black sludgy muck in the pond, I forgot you are actually supposed to see through water.

I really didn’t think you’d be able to see the stupid red spray paint that I accidentally over sprayed either. Oh well, I’ll take care of that and the bricks in the summer. In the meantime I can just pretend it’s a goldfish.

The big wad of liner you see on top of the upper pond in the background will be rolled out later when I build the stream.

I’ll post updated photos once I get the waterfall sorted. I haven’t forgotten about sharing some other mysteries with you — I’ve just been super busy. Hopefully I can get to that soon.

Thanks to everyone for your advice and encouragement!!

 

[jdale]

Probably a natural coat of algae will help with that paint. Looking good!

 

[NiftyFifty]

It looks to me like it was a filter. Pump underneath like you have it, some kind of support across the top, gravel over that. It would have pulled water down through the gravel. In principle a layer of chain link fence might have been part of the support but who knows. That seems like something that was improvised after the fact, maybe the original plan failed. Personally I would put a layer of medium or coarse Matala filter over your aluminum mesh. https://www.amazon.com/Sheets-Color-Matala-Filter-Media/dp/B005GXBWXU/ (Not the whole stack, that's just the first link I found.) If you're going to put gravel over it, you might also lay some kind of horizontal supports across the opening, otherwise I don't know how much weight the aluminum mesh will hold.

I like the island idea!

After I got the filter assembled and now have filled the pond, I wish I had splurged for the Matala filter pads. It was a drag to sew the strips of filter fabric together and I don’t like the way it looks under the island. I think the Matala pads look a lot better and will be more functional too. Would you just place them over the filter pad I made?

 

[NiftyFifty]

Probably a natural coat of algae will help with that paint. Looking good!

Thank you, jdale! I was considering staining or painting the crypt so you don’t see the big weird rectangle at the bottom, but like you said, maybe the algae will do the trick for me.

 

[jdale]

I think it would be fine just to put the Matala filters on top, sure. They are pretty sturdy too. Personally I have a layer of gravel over mine but it's not necessary, for me it's to support plants. The filters are very slightly buoyant so you will want something to weight them down.

 

[NiftyFifty]

I think it would be fine just to put the Matala filters on top, sure. They are pretty sturdy too. Personally I have a layer of gravel over mine but it's not necessary, for me it's to support plants. The filters are very slightly buoyant so you will want something to weight them down.

Thats good to know. Thank you.
Where do you get yours?

Maybe when the time comes, I’ll trade out the bricks for some of the coral stone that is all over the place in my yard.

 

[jdale]

I got mine from thepondguy.com. But more often for online stuff, I go to webbsonline. Shop around I guess.

I got it in 2021 and have never done anything to it. I drain the gravel filter over the winter and the rain washes it out to some unknown extent, but I haven't ever removed them (which would require digging out the gravel), actively cleaned them, or anything like that. The box is also set up so I can drain the muck out of the bottom (under the filter) pretty easily so I do that too. I only have the coarse (black) layer so it's not that prone to clogging up.

 

[NiftyFifty]

That sounds really smart. Do you have photos of your setup?

 

[jdale]

Hmmm, not really. I should have taken some pictures as I was putting it together. And to be honest, if I was to do it again, I would just do a bog on the ground because it would have been easier. I was originally thinking I would use it for flood/drain hydroponics but I ended up needing it for filtration.

The box base is a 3x6' sheet of 3/4" plywood, with 4x4s underneath and as legs. Sides are 2x6s, so it's about 18" deep total. Top rail is composite (since it's fully exposed to rain). I sealed the inside, then gave it a coat of roofing tar, then a layer of underlayment, and then EPDM liner. There is a bottom drain you can see coming down from underneath, which has a knife valve (probably not the best choice) and ends in a 2" Green Leaf Gator Lock fitting that I can attach a 2" hose to (which is capped when not in use, since the knife valve leaks a little bit). I use the quick release connectors a lot. Then there is an opening on the side that since this picture has been redirected into my waterfall; you can't see it, but this is actually draining from the center of the box above the gravel, not from the side, to try to keep things even. And there's an overflow opening on the left.

Water comes in from the external pump through pipes on the far side (out of view), over the rail and then down to a pair of slotted pipes running on the bottom. Then I have some screen propped up holding the Matala filters so there is maybe 8" of free space underneath. And then the gravel on top of that. So, basically it's a bog filter in a box. Water comes in under the filter and gravel, sediment settles to the bottom, flow goes up through the filters and gravel and then drains down into the pond.

Obviously things like to grow in that gravel. Another funny thing is that when I occasionally flush out the sediment in the summer, I often get big bullfrog tadpoles coming out my hose!