What Wood To Use?

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benzjamin13

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Sep 12, 2005
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I got bit by the building bug. I want to build a double decker stand for 2 55g. What would the best wood to use? I went to Home Depot and Lowes and all I see is Redwood, some Pine, and Fir Timber. Didn't see any Oak.
 
I would use fir for the framing. What you skin it with depends on your house. Do you have wood floor or trim? I would use oak or cherry plywood.
 
I'm new to this, so I'm not sure what's what with terminology. My house is carpeted. What's skin?
 
i did a 90 55 combo, i just used regular 2x4s... im guessing skin is what wood you would put over it to give it the desired look to match the house.
Mines nothing fancy, i guess it just depends on the look your going for, i have a pic if you want to see it.
 
unannon;1515256; said:
i did a 90 55 combo, i just used regular 2x4s... im guessing skin is what wood you would put over it to give it the desired look to match the house.
Mines nothing fancy, i guess it just depends on the look your going for, i have a pic if you want to see it.

That'd be great! Pics would give me some ideas.
 
just get some regular cheap 2x4s (dig for the straight ones) for the frame. Skin is the decorative hardwood plywood to put on the outside of the frame. I usually use Birch plywood because it's decent looking and inexpensive.
 
instead of adding them here, ill just give you the link cause its easier haha.
here you go
http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=87045
its overbuilt for sure, and has been set up since then, should hold alot more than that...personally i think staining it looks alot better then my crap paint job, might skin it at another date bc of that.
 
I'm just worried about using wood that won't be strong enough to suppoert the weight of a decorated water filled 55g.
 
the 2x4s can take it easily, i have a 90 on there, no problems. The 55 I was going to set up too, had it halfway filled for a while too after I resealed (gonna use it for a sump instead for another tank though) The stores use wood stands, dont nearly have the amount of support I built into mine, and they work fine. Two of my other buddies built woods stands (one of them looks store bought), no problems with those either.
 
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