Aquarium Cabinet Construction

[michael stern]

I'd like to get some advise from anyone with experience building aquarium cabinets/canopies.

I am getting my personal tank redone.
The structure of the stand will remain.
Getting a new facade and canopy (which is also a facade from tank top to ceiling).

IT NEEDS TO BE PAINTED!

3 options for material are solid maple, furniture grade plywood, or waterproof MDF (http://www.extira.com/pdf/extira_info_sheet.pdf)

If one has any solid reasons, pro or con, for these 3 materials, I'd love to hear.

Personal experience preferred.

 

[bueller]

IT NEEDS TO BE PAINTED!

i wouldn't spend the extra money on solid maple to paint it. Not digging the MDF stuff. So I would go with a nice Finished Ply wood [Birch or poplur] IMO.

Bueller

 

[bad coffee]

if you're going to paint it, go with furniture grade birch ply. if you're going to finish it, go with maple ply and solid maple trim/edging.
b

 

[cali_reef]

I would use marine ply to make it last longer.