Habitat - Indoor :: Building materials for basking area??

[Krzyspam]

I am in the planning stages of building a basking area for my tank. it will be an 'above tank' basking area. I am using (or perhaps stealing ) the basic design ideas as LurycNitsuj used. (see pic)



I would like to hear any advice you guys may have regarding materials I should use. I prefer to use wood...but I'm not sure what is best. It needs to be sturdy, long lasting, and good around water. I will also be painting this area black and I'm not sure which paints to use. I need it to stand up to the water, but also be safe for my turtles. Also, perhaps a sealant of some sort?

I'm not very handy, so I'm having my boyfriend's dad build this. I am responsible for getting all the materials though...and the nice folks at the hardware store were less than helpful. Any advice is welcomed!! Thanks all!!

LurycNitsuj: I hope you don't mind that I reposted this picture...or that I'm using your design as a starting point. I just think its very smart and practical in design and I think it will make a great addition to my tank!!

[camaudio]

what materials does your bfs dad have experience with?

the right types of wood and plexiglas would be the easiest and cheapest

[mikee]

Teak wood would be better but it is very expensive and hard to find. If you want to use plywood you will have to seal it very good. You could use 1x8, 10 or 12 but you will have to seal the very good also. The paint doesn't matter too much so long as you don't use leaded paint.

[Krzyspam]

He's a carpenter who specializes in cabnet making. So, he's pretty good with wood We want the basking area to be made of wood, just not sure what type of wood is best for sitting above water. I might be making a plexiglass lining that bends into a ramp...haven't gotten that far yet.

[Nettle]

Well, if you use wood over water, it'll get moldy. You can seal it, but plexiglas is longer lasting.

[Krzyspam]

Teak wood would be better but it is very expensive and hard to find. If you want to use plywood you will have to seal it very good. You could use 1x8, 10 or 12 but you will have to seal the very good also. The paint doesn't matter too much so long as you don't use leaded paint.

Thanks for the info! Any suggestions on types of sealants?? I'm kind of dumb in this category, so any help is appreciated!

[Oshynlover]

I almost used wood on mine but I did mine with Plexiglass (still working on it but here is link)
http://www.redearslider.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=15073

... here is what I was thinking in regards to building mine when I thought of wood. I was going to do this same shape but make the bottom out of wood and the sides out of thick plexi or lexan. Then I was going to just set a piece of plexi on the top of the tank where you're putting the piece of wood down on so that the water wouldn't get to it. Just an Idea I had

[Oshynlover]

out of curiosity- what plants do you have on top of your basking right now? Are they real? They look real. I like your little corner of rocks and plants. I need an idea to do something like that.

[FLhaven4strays]

I was going to use wood for my over-tank area, but went with vinylboard instead - they sell it at Home Depot in the lumber section, it cuts just like wood and it's fine to use in a wet environment.

http://www.redearslider.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=13974

The black mesh you see is plastic 'chicken wire' that I used for fencing the outdoor pond & had leftovers. I attached a strip of it to the basking area & it hangs into the water as a ramp. I'll probably have to attach some kind of a float underneath to accommodate their weight as they grow, but for now they climb it easily. I have some on the pond edge too & my big guys climb up to bask as well.

[Krzyspam]

out of curiosity- what plants do you have on top of your basking right now? Are they real? They look real. I like your little corner of rocks and plants. I need an idea to do something like that.

The picture is not mine...just a tank I found on this website and I liked their ideas so I'm basing mine off of it. Thanks for all the advice!! I'm starting to lean toward plexiglass now. If I do go with wood...I think you're right in putting a piece of plexiglass underneath for protection. I think I will do some more research and see what I can come up with. Thanks to everyone for all the help!!!