The aquarium, in the landscape of which the focus is on lush and dense thickets of plants, was called the “Dutch Aquarium”. This style appeared about 30 years ago in Holland, but the name stuck after its large-scale distribution among aquarists in many countries.
The main purpose of the Dutch pond is to amaze the observer with a variety of lush plants and rich colors. The Dutch are big fans of decorating the streets and houses with luxurious greenery and a variety of flowers.
This trend has spread to aquarism.
For playing in a Dutch-style aquarium, containers of approximately equal width and height are suitable, but at least three times the length. In a less elongated aquarium, you can also create amazing compositions, but the Dutch aquarium still implies a panoramic view, an impressive effect of color contrasts and an abundance of lush plants.
In such an aquarium, the side walls are often closed, and the view opens only through the front glass.
Principles of plant location to create a Dutch aquarium:
– each species of plants is planted not singly, but in large groups, so that, as a result, the stems are not visible, but a kind of thick vegetation is created;
– each group of plants is planted close to the other; there should be no free space at the bottom. Each plant species is planted in approximately equal amounts, and only very tiny plants located in the foreground can be planted over a larger area;
– when plants are planted, strict long-haul is observed: the foreground is low plants, then sredneroslye, and only in the background does a solid background of tall plants form;
– in the corners of the foreground, you can arrange sredneroslye or tall plants that form a framing of the underwater picture
– For planting, species with long stems in some places adjacent to creeping plants are mainly used. For contrast and attention, one, a maximum of two large plants of the rosette species are planted;
– neighboring groups of plants should differ markedly in the shape of the leaves;
– to create bright contrasts, green plants should coexist with red or olive;
– Dutch aquarium provides a very high density of planting, so the stones in the creation of the landscape are almost never used. Sometimes it is possible to place a not too massive snag at the bottom, but so that its parts are only slightly visible through the thickets;
– in a strong point have large plants, which strongly stands out from the rest, you can put a snag next to it. The main thing to attract the attention of the observer.
The high density of planting requires very bright illumination, otherwise instead of lush dense thickets in the pond will grow miserable stems with dying yellowish leaves.
The most suitable background in the Dutch aquarium will be a monochromatic black or dark wall. Plants in the reservoir are planted thickly, and the back wall will be almost completely hidden from view.
Moreover, the richness of vegetation does not need to be distracted by artificial fragments.
The most suitable for the Dutch landscape are fast-growing plants, undemanding in the care, which in a short time can grow into lush dense thickets.
The largest number of species is planted in the middle tier. For each group of plants about 10 cm in length is given.
In the large and long Dutch pond can accommodate up to 30 species of various plants.
High plants are planted in the background.
To create a volumetric effect, plants are planted on multi-level terraces.
The composition of the Dutch aquarium is vertical due to the set of long stem plants. To diversify the landscape, a technique called “Leiden Street” is used.
Residents of the Dutch city of Leiden are famous for their talents in decorating houses with flowers and greenery.
In the aquarium, the “Leydenskaya street” is planted along the wall with plants from thickets that contrast with color and shape with the others. At the end of the “street” there is a remarkable fragment: a snag, a stone or a single large plant that will stand out against the general background.
Fishes in the Dutch pond occupy a secondary position and only enliven the overall look. They live in the aquarium “Holland” usually small flocking species, occasionally scalar.
And now just smile – this is also the “Dutch Aquarium”