Question for Aquarium Woodworkers

[snickle]

I am starting to design my Canopy for my 90G. My basic thought is a standard box frame with a hinged top. Fairly straight forward.

The question is what to make it out of. My original thought was mdf, because I could easily route the corner and top edges with a quarter round and make it look nice. Very little prep needed after that to paint. But... MDF if not great around water.

Birch plywood, does not route well.

Extira. That might be a good choice, if I can find it.

Thought?

 

[sawyer1206]

I use Select Pine on my stands and canopys. It is a good solid wood but wont kill a budget like solid oak. I have made 4 different sets to date and they are holding up fine. I do paint the inside of the caopy and stand with 2 coats of oil based KILZ Primer and 2 coats of an oil based finish coat.

Here is a couple of pics of my last project.

 

[Plecosterone]

The question is what to make it out of. My original thought was mdf, because I could easily route the corner and top edges with a quarter round and make it look nice. Very little prep needed after that to paint. But... MDF if not great around water.

Thought?

Although MDF is not good around water (or any moisture ), It is only true if the moisture can get to the product. With proper sealing and painting to make sure it is moisture proof, MDF can be used with no problem. It HAS to be sealed properly and thoroughly. If this done, it can be used with no problems.

 

[jehrbear]

I can't speak from experience, because I'm in the final phases of building my own [first time] stand and canopy for an 80g. Time will tell if I made the right material choices, but I'm using birch paneling over a pine frame with stained oak trim all around (2 tone look). I'm using 2 coats of regular old clear poly on the inside of the canopy and will be sealing the joints with clear outdoor caulking (nice little bead around the edges just like the inside edges of the tank).
My theory is that if I start to see signs of problems, I can either add a peice of [hinged] plexiglass between the tank and canopy or coat the inside of the canopy with a better covering.
Has anyone had a bad experience with a similar plan?

 

[Plecosterone]

When you get right down to it, ANY material will work for a canopy as long as it is sealed. When sealing plywood, mdf, particle board, solid lumber or almost any material besides plastics it is the end grains that need extra care and more coats. If water can't get to it, it will be solid for a long time.

 

[sawyer1206]

My theory is that if I start to see signs of problems, I can either add a peice of [hinged] plexiglass between the tank and canopy or coat the inside of the canopy with a better covering.
Has anyone had a bad experience with a similar plan?

You won't need any Plexiglas if you add circulation fans. If I unplug my circulation fans humidity builds up from water evaporation and settles on the canopy. You will need the fans to remove some of the heat from the canopy anyway so I think they are a necessary part of the hood design.

 

[ct-death]

MDF is great and really it's the edges that need to be addressed. Once sealed it is fine, but the edges are still brittle and should have trim as over time they will get dinged, etc. There are 2 downsides to MDF: No grain, and thus you have to paint it (enamel in this case w/ oil primer and I would apply a polyurethane coat as well) and the other, it's HEAVY!

I personally use poplar. One its a hard wood, 2 it's cheap, and 3 it's better than notty woods such as pines.

Synthetic products are okay, but they tend to be expensive and good luck finding raw materials in thicknesses that you can work with as a stand-alone product (if you do have fun paying off ur CC bill!)

Sawyer: Nice work!!

 

[Slappy*McFish]

I'd go with Basswood, myself.

 

[sawyer1206]

I personally use poplar. One its a hard wood, 2 it's cheap, and 3 it's better than notty woods such as pines.

QUOTE]

I will be trying Poplar for the first time to build a set up for my Mother, her 50 B-day coming up and she wants an aquarium. Poplar is the most inexpensive hardwood in my area.

 

[jehrbear]

You won't need any Plexiglas if you add circulation fans. If I unplug my circulation fans humidity builds up from water evaporation and settles on the canopy. You will need the fans to remove some of the heat from the canopy anyway so I think they are a necessary part of the hood design.

So I'm assuming you're using something similar to a case fan from a pc, if noise is a concern (my wife hates my hobby, and this tank is going in the living room) any suggestions on quiet circulation, or possible design options on building a hood without fans?