HOW to build a wicking bed from an IBC | Step by Step | Tips that make it actually wick!

Join us on the Samford Edible Garden Trail, as Lee shows us step by step how to build a wicking bed from an IBC. Plus the secret TIP that ensures that it always wicks! This is the stuff you can only learn from experience and years of making wicking beds!
Lee has made many of these beds over the years, and has worked out a couple of key things that you need to do to make sure that they actually wick properly.
As always, follow along on the Trail and let's all encourage each other to grow more food in our own backyards.

[@Big-Red-Cat]

Best design for IBC wicking bed that I have seen on KZbin

[@debbiee7850]

Im THRILLED that this Generous man was so KIND to share his WEALTH of KNOWLEDGE with us ♥

[@michaelcooney7687]

Great finesse that can make or break the wicking characteristics of the bed… champion..♥️😎

[@davidwakefield-payne9169]

The 6 prong thing is a torxbit that one in particular is a T40

[@jeanniemuleady]

Thank you! I could not figure that one out!

[@shaneburns4349]

Thanks, that was exactly the video I was looking for. Ive done so much research, but the sand pipe wicks from the base pool makes so much sense. Awesome!

[@cozinhandocomakeide2695]

a word that defines your channel: amazing. when the notifications of your work arrive, I'm sure it will be worth watching. your content always shows much more than the images! you can see his dedication and love for what he does, always wanting to make his followers satisfied. thank you very much for the beautiful work. God bless you and your family 🙏 a big kiss from Brazil 🇧🇷👍😘

[@ritcheymt]

I love the fixture Lee fashioned to cut the PVC pipe at 14:10.

[@baker1978ify]

Wow love this guy .He made more sense about the wicking then any video on youtube

[@flatsville1]

Yes. Agreed. The only thing I would change is to paint or cover the bottom area holding the water/water & sand a dark color to prevent algae growth in the water from sunlight.

[@wazowski6709]

I'm using IBCs in aquaponic set-ups. I cut the top part, which forms the wicking bed smaller & sit them on top of the base (forms the home for the fish). Also, I use rock (scoria) & a bell syphon. Keep up the good work 👍

[@alans9806]

A bit of detail that needed to be carefully explained but was well managed. Too many YT videos just breeze over stuff that needs more explanation.

[@tulipsmoran5197]

Here in the US the "six prong" bit is a Star bit also a Torx bit

[@tomarmstrong4761]

And, while somewhat esoteric, they've been around for fifty years or more. In the mid-1980s, I was working on U-Haul trucks as my primary job. I still have some TORX bits I bought for working on a 1972 Ford F-600. Given the option of a TORX head screw or a Phillips head, I'll choose the TORX just about every time.

[@suzannahseidel6031]

I love this guy. He works how I do. Except I would pick up my screws rather than toss them into the dirt.

[@shannonpereira2316]

6 inch Black perforated drainage tubing is a far superior way to make your reservoir. I bought the non-perforated and drilled my own (larger) holes with a step bit. The reservoir overflow valve needs to be at 5 inches leaving 1 inch of air pocket for the roots.

[@bluemoon8268]

… there should be an air space between the top of the water level to the underside of the wire mesh to allow the roots to air prune … also, the pvc legs need holes drilled to allow better water flow … but, overall, a great video! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@christopherbarker2610]

The only info lacking from this great video: how high do you want to fill the water-above the wire mesh? Even with it? Below it? Also he said 4" of sand, how many inches of soil? I've read 11 inches is about the max height that water will wick up?

[@Seanparky01]

Yes this always confused me. I'm about to build one myself but unsure. So does the drain have to be below the mesh

[@Seanparky01]

@@smthngsmthngsmthngdarkside awesome. cheers

[@suzannahseidel6031]

You need about 1 inch between the bottom of the soil/mesh and the top of the water at full level. If your soil is sitting in the water it will go stagnant and swampy and nothing will grow.

[@ApisVenandi]

Will the mesh not rust away??? Can't i just use sea sand?

[@equisader]

Absolute genius idea! I made several of these for my outdoor tomatoes. I'm watering once a week, sometimes every two. Day temps are late 20s C. Be interesting to see how it works when we move into the 30s. Saves a lot of work and my back.

[@AA-co9oo]

Can you update on how well this works please?

[@barbarastefani254]

Thank you for doing this video and wanting to learn how to do this

[@flatsville1]

Agrred that this wicking design makes more sense with less expense than filling the bottom with perforated drain pipe covered with rock/sand at a static level. A bit more support for the welded wire support barrier might be good.

[@gazsto9510]

I always thought the wicking pipes had to have small holes drilled all the way round to assist with water being wicked into the pipe and then up into the bed. Spoke with several professional producers of wicking beds and they recommend, sand or perlite as ideal wicking mediums, although you can use compost or soil, but packed tightly into the pipes.

[@bluemoon8268]

… yes, I was also wondering about the legs needing holes drilled to allow for water to wick …

[@gazsto9510]

@@bluemoon8268 Having built one myself now I can confirm that holes do need to be drilled, at least around the bottom to allow water into the pipe for wicking. Also I do not recommend soil or compost in the wicking pipes, it does rise but not sufficiently, the best is sand or perlite, you can even mix them together and that seems to suck up the water much more effectively.

[@Seanparky01]

Another way is to cut v slots on the bottom of the pipes for the water to enter

[@equisader]

We didn't do holes on ours. The cut pipe doesn't form a seal and water has no problem getting to the sand contained in the pipe.

[@beardseiibeard2812]

Thank you for bringing Lee to us to share his wicking bed method. How do we find him, either on youtube or somewhere else he can be followed?

[@dustinsmith7066]

The 6 prong thing , I needed 2, it's a T40 bit, I also needed a T30

[@swissmiss4u76]

Good morning all the way from Germany! Thanks for the in depth video! I dont see the list of materials in the description as you mention in the video. I would like to know what is used as the metal grid. (Especially if it needs to be a certain material (i.e. because of rust) and if it needs to be a certain strength. I have a hard time finding something to compare without knowing what I am looking for (i.e. the original intended purpose the grid is usually used for). Thank!

[@joydavis4087]

Here in the US we call it cattle panels. Large hardware cloth or welded wire. I know it as cattle panels. Hope this helps.

[@SanguineHarp]

Try weld mesh/galvanised mesh/thin Rio mesh.

[@lesboucher542]

The only thing that I would do, and it is an extra step, is to paint the outside of the "tub" to protect it from the sun. IBC totes aren't UV protected / stabilised so without the paint job they won't last as long in the sun... Just a thought...

[@samsdaughterdehaven9990]

I also thought about that, and if light through to IBC will cause algae to grow? I considered a layer of black textile cloth or something around the sides of the IBC between the cage frame and the tub.....or paint!

[@lesboucher542]

@@samsdaughterdehaven9990 Maybe shade cloth would work between the tub and frame, but paint would have to be of exterior latex... House paint. I hope this helps...

[@AnneluvsKatz]

Smart!

[@gawain8000]

Great!

[@tanyak.3716]

Hi! Great vid. Can you convert the IBC's own tap to use as the drainage outlet? Wondering if Lee inserted a new outlet on the other half, or if he used the existing tap. Tia

[@jimmypowell4621]

Karl could I use hole ibc tank to stop the dogs jumping up and back to ta jembar ireland

[@seanhamilton1026]

great video. it's called a torx driver

[@shanetaylor1477]

There called torx bits.

[@othridgerunner379]

'6 prong thing" is a Torx bit, The 1 he showed look like a T-40. Buy a set, they come in handy.

[@Seanparky01]

Does the mesh rust then fail

[@samsdaughterdehaven9990]

probably not for a long time, years.

[@sharonc2867]

What is the size of the mesh used please and as someone else asked is there supposed to be a layer of something between sand and growing medium ? Love the info thank you

[@suzannahseidel6031]

The geotech is the medium between the dirt and water. He also said you can use several layers of shadecloth.

[@surunitemiakanni-oye4346]

@@suzannahseidel6031 Shadecloth is not quite as effective as geotex (geotextile) fabric which allows water to penetrate while keeping sand out.

[@styrianer]

i really enjoyed the video - the audio not that much...

[@lacledeschamps65]

torx 40

[@diamond_gypsy7452]

is there supposed to be a sheet of geotech or weed matt inbetween the sand and the soil? No one mentioned that?

[@samsdaughterdehaven9990]

A layer of geotextile cloth was put over the wire mesh support and then 4 inches of sand. I didn't see that another layer was put over the 4 inches of sand.

[@janseeley]

If there is nothing between the sand and the soil, how do you stop them intermixing? Anyone have any ideas?

[@paulc652]

The sand is much heavier than the soil, so natural stratification will keep that problem in check, no need to worry about intermixing.

[@garychaffee4222]

what size & gauge is the wire mesh?

[@watagan1086]

Its a rectangular mesh the rectangles are 75mm x 50 mm and the wire is 4mm

[@nz0018]

Hi Team, a great channel and love this idea. I have experimented with wicking barrels and am now just bout to make some IBC containers, but like others in the comments - am puzzled by the lack of an actual "wicking medium" in the gardens you built. - In the design you are using ( and I tested this last season and noted the same problem) when the water level drops below the level where it is touching the underside of the geo-tech/ mesh in the base - then there is? no wicking going on? - it's essentially a garden above a water source out of reach? The design that I have been using with great success, and will for my IBC's is based on that which is demonstrated by Rob: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mnTKlJyIhqaLe9l9 A circle of slotted ag pipe ( I lay mine flat unlike Rob, use a 40mm pvcverticallpunched into it for the inlet) covered with shade cloth/weed matt, which is then covered by fine sand to fill all the gaps, levelled off just below soil level - I add a layer of weed mat, and then cover with soil. This way regardless of the water level, the sand remains wet and "wicking" the water up to the soil. ( like a candle wick, wicking fuel up to the top where the flame is) - and in temperate NZ this means-filling around 3wkly in summer.

[@donhillenbrand5948]

The sand-filled pvc pipe wicks water from the base of the water holding area up to the media above the fabric.

[@fmunro123]

U need a microphone

[@roycebraman4311]

It is called a Torx

[@roycebraman4311]

Intermediate Bulk Container = IBC

[@DR-zj4od]

Safety is not job number 1 here. Great idea just use eye protection or you may be seeing me, well with one eye anyway, when they drive you to my hospital.

[@jacquiewatson1750]

Great information but filming them talking rather than what they are doing, when the camera was on them and not on what they are doing was annoying.

[@kahuna414]

T 41 screw driver i think-

[@karlfimm]

Good information. Terrible sound quality.

[@heartsongdjs]

Helpful video but distracted with the extensive bits where audio was cut out. Maybe just drop the volume ONLY on the parts where he's working with the tools. then back to normal ... Imho

[@geoffharrower2845]

Please use eye protection and a face mask when cutting the steel and the plastic

[@michaelsun9155]

terrible audio - get a better mic.

[@kenlipworth6707]

I see a number of questions to which Lee doesn't bother to give an answer. If someone wants the benefits of being a KZbinr, they should have the courtesy of responding to all the questions.

[@shirleyberg3805]

Did it ever occur to you that this isn’t Lee’s channel? He’s just a generous soul, trying to show ignorant, demanding people like you, how to do something he’s figured out through years of trial and error!? Do your own homework if your questions aren’t getting answered to your satisfaction! Absolutely no need to be a total ass!

[@neilprior397]

Whatever are, water ups, OG Issue 145 ,pages 47, MyWickingBeds

[@northstar5971]

I was going to watch this then they called a torex head fastened a 6 prong thingee. It’s Better to not waste time on this and search for a pro instead

[@shirleyberg3805]

Well, it’s definitely your loss then, if this lovely man, who has been so generous with the knowledge he’s gleaned from years of trial and error, calls a torx head fastener a six prong thingee and you allow it to insult your obviously, vastly superior intellect to the point where you decide he’s not worth watching.

[@Thankful_.]

Lee seems very kind! Thanks for sharing. My husband was given an ibc tank, recently. We hoped to make it in to a rain barrel. I’m now hoping we can obtain a second, so we can attempt this demo as well. ❤ 🥬 🍅