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Best Wood to Use for a Viv

T

tommyhuck

New member
What would be the best wood to use for a viv?


I know pine and cedar won't do but what about a Red Oak Plywood with a formaldehyde-free - soy bean based core?

I've heard a lot of people use MDF but I have a personal grudge against it.

Thanks in advance.
 
If you were to use a good sealer and seal the whole thing, I don't see how there would be a problem with using anything.
 
What do you think would be the best sealant? The water sealant I've used on my deck and outdoor furniture seems to be a little strong, even for me. Or would thompsons or equivalent be ok providing it was left for a week or so to dry and air out?
 
tommyhuck said:
What do you think would be the best sealant? The water sealant I've used on my deck and outdoor furniture seems to be a little strong, even for me. Or would thompsons or equivalent be ok providing it was left for a week or so to dry and air out?
Click to expand...

Any laquer that has "DIN71-3" on it. DIN 71-3 means its safe, its what laquer they use on childrens toy etc. So if children put them in their mouth and chew on the toys and nothing, its safe to use in a viv. I did alot of research before selecting the laquer... any DIN 71-3 verified will do just fine.

Make sure to use plenty in good coats. To make sure you havnt missed any cracks. I also used normal wood glue to seal the edges of the viv and fill any imperfections in the wood.

If you want you can see my final result in my DIY thread.
 
@smiley

Thanks for the heads up. I'm going to stop by Lowes tomorrow afternoon and do some looking around.

Thanks everyone.
 
The most popular choices are melamine board and chip board. The melamine works well if you do not have high humidity requirements, as it is already covered in a layer of plastic, Chipboard is cheaper, but does not look as nice, and needs waterproofing with several layers of varnish. When sealing the viv, make sure you use sealant that does not contain fungicides.
 
Then there is:
Elm: The wood is resistant to decay when permanently wet.
Oak: This wood is very resistant to insect and fungal attack because of its high tannin content.
Beech: It is is tough and holds up well in the vivarium.
 
Then there is:
Elm: The wood is resistant to decay when permanently wet.
Oak: This wood is very resistant to insect and fungal attack because of its high tannin content.
Beech: It is is tough and holds up well in the vivarium.

Custom Cabinets
 
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