Thread: What wood for fish tank frame?

Would this be suitable?
25X100 TREATED PINE SAWN H4 @ 2.55 metre from North Shore Timbers?

I have used plain ol' 70x35 pine studs from Bunnies.
Pick straight ones and fewer knots. As long as your top horizontal rail is supported by the legs, and check in a bottom rail into the legs.

Thanks for the suggestion but unfortunately if I use anything over 30mm my sump won't fit. As it is the stand is already 7cm larger than the tank.

Originally Posted by Firstbuild

...will be a metre tall with 6 verticals supporting 100kg at the top and 100 kg at the bottom.

this is as clear as mud

ya don't want treated timber

i'd use Tasmanian Oak as its clean, straight and strong

Originally Posted by rod1949

this is as clear as mud

ya don't want treated timber

i'd use Tasmanian Oak as its clean, straight and strong

Hi Firstbuild and welcome to the forum.

I agree with Rod dont use treated timber and Tassie Oak would be ideal and would finish nicely too but having said that I have made one before using 19mm dressed pine (4' x 3' x 3' Tank) I used it for 6 years then sold it and as far as I know its still being used.
Cheers
Rumnut

Ah thanks all, glad I asked.

Firstbuild,
Let us know what timber you decided on and I'd be interested to see pics of the end result

Cheers
Rumnut

Thanks all for the feedback.

I picked up a combination of Tas Oak DAR and structural Pine DAR to keep costs down. Tas Oak is thinner so I could use 35mm Pine for the supports.

Structural Pine DAR 70 x 35 - *PG7538 7 x 1 metre lengths
Pine DAR 70 x 19 (shelf support) 2 x 564mm
Tas Oak Dar 66 x 18 - TOD7525 4 x 600mm, 6 x 564mm

NST never replied to my email so I bought from Swaddlings timber, Randy was very helpful. Came to $60 after $10 cutting fee.

Now I need to decide on the glue and screws.

Will post pictures of build after the weekend.

Here's one I built just on 4 years ago.. my first 'decent' workworking project!

I chose recycled vic. ash hardwood house frame timber.
Definitely overkill, as I see plenty of aquarium tanks built with pine..

But I like the finish on mine a lot more.. plus it's exactly what I wanted (with shelves on the side)
I also designed it so there's not a single nail or screw showing (pretty happy with that!)

I'm not 100% happy with the doors.. one day I will re-do them, now that my skill level has increased, and I have access to better tools.







More pics here:
https://picasaweb.google.com/1072236...umStandProject

RB

Very nice Ron! I hid my screws too, all from the inside. Top and bottom will screw down into pine supports but not be seen.
What finish did you use? Oil based poly?

Progress wise, the frame is complete and level, although (very annoyingly) my floor isn't.
Think I will sand the base down after I put it on the bottom.







It still needs the plywood shell which (hardwood exterior ply 9mm) which I will finish in gloss black.

I'm trying to figure out how I should finish, going to shop after work, hopefully someone can correct me if I'm wrong before I go..

I was thinking (painting indoors) water based primer, sand, flat paint, sand then thin coat poly x 3 final sand? The Tas Oak will just be primer, sand, poly x 3

TIP - Don't ever use spray paint inside, even if you cover all around the working surface it goes airborne and covers EVERYTHING!
I did have white furniture...

I actually had 10+ litres of Polyurethane leftover from when I had my floorboards sanded back and polished!

So that got used on all sorts of things around the place, including the fishtank stand... until it eventually went off, and set hard

Not sure I'd use it again, as it was a mess to clean up, neither turps or metho would dissolve it... I think it needed a special thinner, that I wasn't about to buy. (a local professional did the floor, and he left me with the leftovers!)

I ended up just using 'disposable' brushes.

It did produce a beautifully hard/glossy finish, however!!

Rohan.