What wood should I use in pond?

[Plonk]

Hello all,
Just bought a house with a 1200 gallon pond in it. I've always had fish but only in an aquarium.
I'd like to add bog plants and was thinking of building a tray (pond is 30 inches deep, vertical walls) and would like to know what kind of wood is safe and strong for ponds?
OK, I'm not a purest and not looking for exotic woods, maybe just a paint/sealant that works well in ponds?

Plonk

 

[HTH]

I think as long as it is not treated with chemicals construction lumber is safe. By that I mean dimensional lumber like 2x4's not composite stuff like OSB or plywood. It will not rot.

Now I should say that I mostly used lumber I had on hand never stuff right from the lumber yard. Some was old junk other were boards I had purchased and not yet used.

Lets see what others have to say.

The pond in the foreground used lumber on top of concrete blocks as benches for lilies across the entire bottom. Maybe 6 or 7 benches.

 

[Plonk]

Thanks HTH,
I was thinking of going with Redwood for it's durability.
I'll hold off buying anything for a while in case there are more replies.

Plonk

 

[Shdwdrgn]

When I refinished my waterfall last year, I bolted up cedar planks on either side to finish the edges. The water splashes on the boards, and the bottom of each board is a few inches underwater. So far there is no sign of the boards rotting out, but of course its only been a year.

 

[Plonk]

Hi Shdwdrgn,
Did you treat the wood at all?

Plonk

 

[Mmathis]

I have cedar planks as a fence for my turtles. It's been a year and the only problem I've had is tannins leaching from the wood, which turns the water cola-colored. Activated carbon takes care of it, but it's an ongoing ordeal.

 

[Plonk]

Hi Mmathis,
Tannis... That was actually my real question.
How would one rinse wood enough to know the the tannis has been removed?

Plonk

 

[HTH]

Stop fretting and buy construction lumber which is either fir or pin. Don;t treat it with anything it will not rot under water.

From a man who has done exactly what you want to do.

 

[Plonk]

Got it!
Fir, Pine.

All done now.

Thanks,
Plonk

 

[DerSchoeneBahnhof]

Stop fretting and buy construction lumber which is either fir or pin. Don;t treat it with anything it will not rot under water.

From a man who has done exactly what you want to do.

I know, old thread.

What about the fasteners, screws or nails, any recommendation on what to use underwater?

 

[combatwombat]

I know, old thread.

What about the fasteners, screws or nails, any recommendation on what to use underwater?

Stainless is the material of choice for outdoor/wet applications.

 

[poconojoe]

Stay away from galvanized hardware. The zinc is harmful.

 

[Busch83]

Has anyone used whole timbers that breach the waterline? How well did they fair over the years?

 

[j.w]

@Busch83
Can't help ya w/that one as I have never done it but my guess would be you would have to treat them and that would poison the fish if you have fish.

 

[Busch83]

There is a local mill near me that I may be able to secure whole red cedar or red oak trunks from. Both trees are dominant species in my area so I'm hoping that will take some of the bite out of the cost. Of course pine would be the easier and cheaper option but I cant see it lasting for very long if it is not fully submerged. Someone in another thread commented that cedar stained the water (what we colloquially call cedar water) but I'm not as concerned with that since most of the running water that I swim in already has that tint.