Dwarf puffer help

[fishguy12]

Hey guys, unfortunately the video didn't upload for whatever reason :/. I decided to rescaoe the tank again but I dont really like it so I was wondering if you guys could help come up with a 'floor plan' for the bowl. As in like as if you drew the bowl and drew where stuff was going g to go in it so it'd have a good hard scape. If you can try and do this for me (I'm sure there you guys are great scapers) or help me to decide where stuff goes that'd be great. If I can I'll do the rescape in a few days as I don't really want to stress Peanut anymore.

Plants I can use are:
Java moss
Guppy grass
Crypt
Val
Moss ball

Hardscape:
About 10 or so pebbles/rocks ranging from about 4cm to 10 cm in size.
Big driftwood and a kind if stick like one with a fat base.

Hope that helps and thanks

[Pufferpunk]

Really, 5g is the minimum recommended for a singleton.

[fishguy12]

So I tried the floor planing thing out. Opinions?

http://imgur.com/zfpcPwW
http://imgur.com/aONPiUW

[Pufferpunk]

#2, much better!

[TOPuffers]

You may want to tuck a couple little shoots of val in around the bottom of the driftwood. Sometimes it looks quite natural brushing against pieces of tall rock or wood

[fishguy12]

Thanks for the tips guys

No. 2 is an above view of what it would look like if that makes sense

[fishguy12]

Before I do any changes what do you think of the current scape?
http://imgur.com/TMEua1

[fishguy12]

Tank rescaled: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=bHXU73wGM4M

[Blackfish]

I like the new scape but your lighting doesn't look bright enough for plants.

[fishguy12]

Thanks

I thought that bit I'm not sure of any good but cheap lights. In the UK lights are either really expensive or really cheap (but bad).

The current light is a 4 watt 40 led.

[TheStig]

Def like the rescaping of ur DP's tank.

He looks like a happy little explore fish. Hehe! Cute.

[fishguy12]

Thanks!

Just a quick question, it is normal for him to be glass surfing for a bit? I mean he has gone through 2 rescaled within the span of 2 days
And he's still getting used to his new home.

I also installed an air stone and the shrimp especially seem to like it

[Blackfish]

ok re the lighting. Over that bowl you could easily get away with a 9w Arcadia Jungle dawn. It's a full spectrum LED bulb which will give you excellent plant growth, however lighting is just the half of it really. You need to look at adding a fertilizer really. You will need a holder of some kind for the bulb, the bulb retails at around £30. I use the 13w version with a clamp lamp.

http://arcadia-reptile.com/jungle-dawn-led/

Bulb: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Arcadia-Jungl ... ZTy9OpEpwQ
Clamp lamp: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Superior-Rept ... SwyQtVm3pi

[fishguy12]

Thanks for the recommendations. I do use ferts (easy life carbon and something else), but I only use a small amount of each.

[pollypuff]

Although your setup looks nice I still don't think a 3 gallon bowl is the best for a DP. Once you take into account displacement how much water is "really" in there? 2 gallons? 2 1/2? Its not just about keeping the water clean its also about space, there just isn't a lot of room. Bowls also have less surface area then square tanks so be mindful of plants and fertilizers as they can affect water parameters in such a small environment especially if there is not enough oxygen exchange at the surface.

The plants you are using are going to get way to big for that bowl really fast. Vals easily reach over 11 inches tall and won't be stunted by the small bowl, they will take over! I also see c. wendetti in there, another plant that tends to get out of control easily, as shown here http://bharada.com/aquaria/120/wendtii_harvest.jpg.

An easy plant that would probably do well in a bowl is anubias - it doesn't need planting or a lot of light, doesn't get very big if you get the nana species but even if you get larger types they are slow growing, easy to keep under control without hurting the plant and puffers like to hang out in the leaves. If you absolutely cannot upgrade to a larger tank I would suggest removing the driftwood and maybe replace with 2 rocks making an arch the DP can swim around and through - something like this http://thumbs2.ebaystatic.com/d/l225/m/ ... luCdrQ.jpg.
You can put plants around it but my suggestion would be to tie or glue some anubias to the rocks instead. Anubias is very undemanding, doesn't need strong light or ferts and because you don't plant it its easy to remove for cleaning or rescaping. Here is a picture of something along the lines of what I am talking about - this is in my 110 gallon tank (don't mind the fish photo bombing ) http://i.imgur.com/89TIQmr.jpg .
Behind the rock arch is a sword plant so ignore that because that won't fit in your bowl but on and around the front of the arch is anubias - all of which is cuttings taken from my red eye puffer tank.