Cabinet Query

[Tank Builder]

Hi, im still in the prosess of designing my own acrylic aquarium and cabinet. I've just got to the part where I choose my materials and im stuck.
I've herd that pine is a good wood for use in the cabinet, but i've had bad experiences with pine in the past and have found it unreliable.
What wood could you sugest that would be able to support the weight of a 30 gallon tank and have a reasonable resistance to water (as it would be used in the hood aswell and i dont want it to rot), but that won't cost the earth?
Can you help me?

[vjvl51]

We have had good luck with pine. We have built stands for our two 25 gallon, a 50 gallon, a 75 gallon and now a 90 gallon marine tank. On the 50, 75 and 90 gallon stands, we build the frame out of 2x4 pine (or studs if they are going to be completely hidden) and then covered it with 1 inch pine boards. Then usually 2 layers of urathane (sp?) and sit for a week to ensure the urathane is dry before adding the tank. On the 25 gallon stands we used an open design of 2x8 and 2x6 for the entire thing. One of these stands is now our coffee table since the tanks are becoming my marine tank's sump and refugium. The 50 and 75 tanks have light fixtures made out of pine - also well sealed with urathane.

I know you say you found pine unreliable but we have not. I think, from what I have read elsewhere, it all depends upon the finish. Some people use marine paint to seal the wood of the cabinets for their marine tanks.

Just my 2 cents worth

Vickie

[MJC]

You could use plywood to construct the base and top it off with your choice of wood veneer.

Regardless of how you build it, it "wood" be a good idea to coat and seal the insides wih some white, or light colored marine paint to retard salt.

Supporting a 30 gallon tank is relatively simple. Using 2x4s for the frame with a back panel secured to the frame will work in your situation. The back panel should have an opening wide enough to accommodate tubing, wires, etc.

2x8 and 2x6's, while not entirely out of line, would be IMO, overkill. I'd save the larger wood for larger systems. Having that large of a frame will take away some room inside your cabinets. On a client's 700 gallon setup, we used 2x6 frames every 16" with 2x8 support joists running the length of the tank (12'). These were set every 6" apart. On top of this, we tehn added a 1" sheet of plywood.

In terms ofdoors, that's your preference, euro doors are clean, but panel doors are simple to make.

Add a power strip and lighting to finish it off. The white, or light colored inside is suggested to reflect any lighting used.

- Marty