Building large fiberglass tank, about 500gal, question on wood materials

[wetWolger]

I am in the final stages of planning. Hopefully in the next week or two I will have the hole in the wall completed, and ready to start construction on the tank itself.

I was in home depot today and looking at some of the wood. I have decided to use some 2x4's for additional structural support, even though the fiberglass should provide all of it. The tank dimensions will be 4ft x 6ft x 36in

The question I have, is should I use a hardwood plywood or an MDS wood? The MDS is slightly cheaper. I also thought the MDS would have less chance of splitting due to screws (but no idea really). The guy at home depot said that MDS would only be very slightly weaker than a plywood.

So is MDS a fine selection for a build like this? Are there any properties of it that I should be concerned with? I was planning on doing 3/4in thick MDS or 3/4in thick birch plywood. And feel free to tell me if I am completely off base. Thanks

 

[EBOLII]

I have seen threads concerning builds that have used both. The question is what do you feel like using. If you build it properly then yes each cent saved can go to lights and a skimmer [where you don't want to go cheap] so that is what I think.....

 

[wetWolger]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15085798#post15085798 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by EBOLII
...each cent saved can go to lights and a skimmer...

I hear that, I actually purchased the lights and skimmer first....In fact I have everything ready (except for the pump for the closed loop) all I need now is to build the darn tank.

 

[reef2]

do u mean mdf? its like partical board only smaller grain and brown in color? if so every screw will need to be pilot drilled first because the stuff just splits without them. also it expands very well if any water gets on or near it.

 

[wetWolger]

Sorry, I did mean MDF

Pilot drilling is not an issue. But do you think I should go to plywood due to issues with moisture?

 

[gotfin]

I personally think you would be foolish to build an aquarium with MDF or particle board. Its a disaster waiting to happen once water gets to it. Use marine grade ply-wood. You should look at some of the DIY ply-wood tanks in that forum.

 

[Lightsluvr]

Agree

Agree

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15091020#post15091020 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by gotfin
I personally think you would be foolish to build an aquarium with MDF or particle board. Its a disaster waiting to happen once water gets to it. Use marine grade ply-wood. You should look at some of the DIY ply-wood tanks in that forum.

Cheap assemble-it-yourself furniture is often made with MDF. It self-destructs if it gets wet... don't intentionally use it anywhere you know there is going to be water...

JMHO.

LL

 

[AcroSteve]

I would NEVER EVER use MDF on or around an aquarium.

Go for the birch plywood.