Help with custom tank please

[Jonbi910]

Hi, I want to build my beardie, Seymour, a custom tank made out of wood on the sides bottom and maybe top but i need help, what type of wood should i use? what type of paint? :?:

 

[SnowDog]

I'd use Melamine, it's like a Formica covered particle board. Fairly easy to work with and with the covering on it cleanup is super easy and no toxic paint chips to flake off down the road.

 

[TipsyTraveler]

Hi, I want to build my beardie, Seymour, a custom tank made out of wood on the sides bottom and maybe top but i need help, what type of wood should i use? what type of paint? :?:

i would use red oak wood, thats what i used and it works great! if you are planning on building a custom tank though dont plan on using loose substrate (not like you should anyway) because it is very hard to keep sand in these custom tanks. i built a really awesome looking and very easily accessible custom tank from red oak with a hinging door on the front made of plexi glass, with vents , screwed in light fixtures (the whole deal) for only $113 (including all of the supplies) i personally wouldnt use melamine because it is VERY expensive. also im not sure about painting the inside. i would paint the outside if you really wanted to paint that bad, but i would use non-toxic paint and let the tank sit for a day or two to dry before putting my beardie in it.

 

[SnowDog]

i personally wouldnt use melamine because it is VERY expensive.

Must be different depending on where you are. I got a 4x8 sheet of 5/8" for 32 bucks. There's plans available in one of these forums that shows you how to build a complete Viv using one sheet of it.

 

[Claudiusx]

Agree with melamine. It's not very expensive at all.

-Brandon

 

[TipsyTraveler]

Melamine where i live is very expensive, im building my custom viv out of red oak and plexi glass

 

[Claudiusx]

http://www.homedepot.com/p/3-4-x-49...-fused-Melamine-461877/100070209#.UnGqQfnrza4

Yup, $35 for enough to make a whole tank if there is a home depot near you.

-Brandon

 

[jturner82]

This looks like good, sturdy stuff, but I wonder if a custom 3D Styrofoam background would stick to it? Or what kind of adhesive I could use to get it to stick! I'm planning to make my custom tank as natural as possible, and cover the back and sides of the tank fully with polystyrene. I am going to use an old dresser as the "shell" of the tank, so to speak! Any input on this would be great