Hardware

• 3 gallon Eclipse System Three tank
• Bright white gravel substrate
• Medium chunk of Malaysian driftwood
• 25 watt submersible heater

Livestock

• Cardinal Tetras (10)

Plants

• Java Fern (photo)
• Java Moss

Comments

This tank was initially purchased as a home for a single male betta who had been living in an unheated, unfiltered one-gallon cookie jar. When the betta died, I put four Dwarf Puffers in.

The tank has gone through several designs. First, it was ugly teal gravel and some live plants, with the betta and a couple of apple snails. The snails were very rough on the plants, so the plants were moved out. When the puffers were put in the tank, I redecorated, replacing the gravel with small polished river stones. And since the puffers were tough on them, the snails had to be moved out.

It was a nice looking design, but it was almost impossible to see the puffers against the rocks, and cleaning the tank was difficult. No matter what, there was always debris stuck in the stones. So, I redecorated again. Currently, the tank has a bright white gravel base, several largish black rocks, and two clumps of Java Fern. It's sort of an abstract Stonehenge look.

I love the Eclipse hoods since they have lighting and filtration in a pretty neat package. Nothing could be easier, and they make for very attractive tanks. I had intended to put the System Three on my desk since it would certainly fit there. The only disappointment was that the magnetic impeller pump on it isn't shielded, and it made my 19" monitor image vibrate like mad. So instead I placed it on a nearby small bookshelf.