“Dutch Style” aquarium

(short version)

Presentation:Bart Laurens

Dendrobates azureus

Gonocephalus grandis

Photography: Bart Laurens.

This picture was made by Willem van Wezel

The main focus is placed upon the growth and arrangement of aquaticplants. Traditionally, Dutch plantedaquariums are compared to underwatergardens.

Source: Dutch Aquarium Aquascape: A style from the

1930s by Aquascaping Love · December 18, 2013

E. Kerssens, foto: André de Graaf

E. Kerssens, foto: André de Graaf

Keeping a sense of harmony and simplicity is crucial, taking into account that Dutch plantedaquariums are very dense. More than 70% of the aquarium floor should be planted.

C. de Wit

A typical Dutch style aquarium

Pogostemon sp. Kimberley

The role of fish in the Dutch Aquarium lookslike an additional one, but nevertheless, is very important. The three areas of the tank should be filled with fish that emphasize the beauty of each of them. Schools of at least 12 fishes are preferred.

The Nederlandse Bond Aqua Terra N.B.A.T.

Group A, fresh water: community aquarium - category A1special aquarium with fish and plants - cat. A2special aquarium with mainly fish - cat. A3special aquarium with color and breedingforms - cat. A4

Group B, salt water:

Group C, Terraria:

Group D, ponds:

The judge will review the aquarium on base of fifteen "subjects", these criteria are divided into three categories:

- biological, - aesthetic and - general.

Key aspects in the Dutch Aquarium judgingcontest scoring

• the health of fish and other animals and the aquatic plants,

• water parameters (optimal temperature, suitable levels of PH, phosphate and nitrates; hardness) PH 7, GH 8-10, KH 4-6, nitrates 10,phosphate 0,25 – 1, nitrites 0.

• selection of plants, use of color and contrast• selection and compatibility and number of fish

in comparison to the size of the aquarium and environmental conditions

• general design and layout• equipment setup (should be out of view)

The Dutch champignon in 2016 category A1Jos Wiedenhoff.

Blyxa japonica

Cryptocorine beckettiiEgeria densaHydrocotyle leucocephalaHygrophila difformisLobelia cardinalis mini Ludwigia perennisMicros.pter. hammerheadMicrosorum pteropus brassiiPogostomon erectusPogostomon helferiPolygonum odoratumRotala indicaRotala rotundifoliaUtricularia vulgarisVallisneria neotropicalis

Ammania gracilisBacopa australisBacopa carolinianaCrytocorene wendtii bruin Hydrocotyle leucocephalaHygrophila difformisHygrophila hippuridoidesHygroryza aristataLimnophila aquaticaLobelia cardinalisLudwigia repens Microsorum tridentMonosolenium tenerumMos Taxiphylbem barbieriMyriophyllum tetrandrumRiccia fluitansVallisneria spiralis

Alternanthera reineckii minor Ammannia gracilisBacopa carolinianaBacopa monnieriBarclaya longifoliaBlyxa japonicaCryptocoryne spec. Cryptocoryne spiralisDiplis diandraHygrophila balsamica Hygrophila corumbosa smal Hygrophila difformisLimnophila aromatica - groen Ludwigia inclinata verticillata “Cuba” Ludwigia repens var. Nymphaea lotus "green" Nymphaea lotus "rood" Pogostemon helferiiPogostemon stellataPotamogeton schweinfurdiRotala macrandraRotala macrandra - mini Rotala rotundifoliaRotala rotundifolia “super red” Rotala spec. “Nanjenshan” Staurogyne repens

The most important requirement foraquascapers Dutch style is to have extensiveknowledge regarding aquatic plants. Sincethey represent the main materials used in Dutch aquascaping, it is very important to know how to plant, group and combine themso that the final arrangement will becomeaesthetically pleasing to the eye. Most magnificent Dutch planted aquariums are characterized by high density, rich contrast and subtle use of color and texture.

Saurus cernuus, Lobelia cardinalis and otherlow growing plants can help to create the socalled ‘Dutch street’, a pathway set at the viewing angle, which ascends toward the back of the tank, creating an extra illusion of depth.

The Nature Aquarium Style

The Nature Aquarium is one of the two major styles dominating the world of aquascaping. The basic Nature style aesthetic concepts have been introduced by Japanese aquarist Takashi Amano.

Grouping of rocks, driftwood and aquatic plants in order to create an underwater miniature representation of particular terrestrial landscapes. In the majority of cases, the Nature Aquarium aquascapes depict scaled-down versions of rainforests, mountains, hillsides or valleys. Elements of Japanese gardening are generally used when building a Nature aquarium.

Grouping of rocks, driftwood and aquatic plants in order to create an underwater miniature representation of particular terrestrial landscapes. In the majority of cases, the Nature Aquarium aquascapes depict scaled-down versions of rainforests, mountains, hillsides or valleys. Elements of Japanese gardening are generally used when building a Nature aquarium.

Amano:The Nature Aquarium style occupiesabout 80% of advanced and intermediateaquarists in Japan. Japanese people have always been fond of gardening. In Japan, the beauty of Nature no matter how small orlarge, has always been a part of Japaneseculture.

My own tank

3.10 x 65 x 50 cm (l x d x h)

The END

Look at my website:www.bart-laurens.nl