Styles · IV of VI
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Dutch.
An underwater garden, terraced.
Origin
The Dutch style is the oldest tradition in aquascaping, formalized in the Netherlands in the 1930s. It treats the aquarium as a horticultural display, a planted garden seen through glass.
Philosophy
A Dutch tank is composed in rigid terraced rows, called straat (streets), each row a single species set in deliberate contrast to its neighbors. Color, texture, and leaf shape are orchestrated. There is no driftwood and no stone. Plants alone do the work.
What defines it
What makes a dutch tank a dutch tank.
- 01
Terraced rows of single-species planting
- 02
Strong color and texture contrast between adjacent rows
- 03
No hardscape, no wood, no rocks, ever
- 04
Tallest plants at the rear, descending toward the front
- 05
Active maintenance: trimming, replanting, propagation weekly
In Practice
What it looks like, in glass.
Three angles on the dutch school, wide composition, mid-detail, and macro.
Wide composition
Mid-detail
Atmosphere
Close detail
Note: portfolio photography of completed Northwater installs will replace these atmospheric references soon.
Plants
The flora most often used.
A working palette, not exhaustive. We adjust species to your water, lighting, and maintenance tolerance.
Super Red ludwigia
Ludwigia 'Super Red'
Rotala
Rotala rotundifolia
Alternanthera
Alternanthera reineckii
Bacopa
Bacopa caroliniana
Pogostemon
Pogostemon erectus
Livestock
Fish and invertebrates that suit.
Species that read visually with the style and tolerate its water conditions. Stocking order matters. We sequence it in your plan.
Schooling tetras
Paracheirodon, Hyphessobrycon spp.
Schooling rasboras
Trigonostigma heteromorpha
Discus (larger tanks)
Symphysodon spp.
Specifications
The practical details.
Difficulty
Advanced
Recommended tank
100 cm and up
Substrate
Nutrient-rich aquasoil, deep (8–10 cm) for stem rooting
Lighting
High, 8–10 hours daily
CO₂
Pressurized CO₂ required for growth and color
Water chemistry
Soft to medium, pH 6.5–7.0
Best for
Gardeners at heart, clients who want to actively trim, propagate, and tend their tank.
Begin in this style
A Dutch tank,
for your space.
Tell us about your room, your budget, and how hands-on you want to be. We'll send back a tailored plan in this tradition.
Other Styles
