What makes a Dutch aquarium
The Dutch style grew up in the Netherlands in the 1930s, long before modern aquascaping had a name. It treats the tank as a flower border: dense groups of plants, each a single species, arranged in terraces that rise from the front glass to the back. The plants are the whole show, so there is no hardscape.
The rules the planner checks
- No rock or wood.
- Plenty of species, scaled to your tank. A common rule is about one species for every 10 cm of tank length.
- Contrast. Neighbouring groups differ in colour and leaf shape, with at least one red plant.
- Terraces: short in front, rising to tall at the back, often along diagonal lines called "streets".
- No plant next to itself. Repeating a species side by side blurs the groups.
Plants and upkeep
Dutch tanks lean on stem plants: rotala, ludwigia, hygrophila, limnophila and alternanthera behind, compact stems and cardinal plant in the middle, and staurogyne, pearl weed or dwarf chain sword in front. They grow fast and need regular trimming, often weekly, plus CO₂ and fertiliser to keep colours strong. Without CO₂, choose medium-light stems and accept slower, greener growth.
Other styles
- Nature aquascape planner
- Iwagumi aquascape planner
- Jungle aquascape planner
- Biotope aquascape planner
- Low-tech aquascape planner
New to the styles? Read Iwagumi vs Nature vs Dutch, or start from the main aquascape planner.
Questions
Why do Dutch aquariums have no rocks or wood?
Because the style is about plants as a garden. Hardscape takes space and draws the eye away from the plant groups.
How often do you trim a Dutch tank?
Most need trimming every week or two. Fast stems that reach the surface lose their lower leaves if left too long.
The aquascape planner is in beta. If something looks wrong or you would like a plant added, tell us.