As one of the judges of the Dutch Association Aqua Terra (NBAT), I am very interested to follow your progress in creating a “Dutch” aquascape. Some starting advice: You might want to re-think the one plant per decimeter “rule” for your 60 cm tank. Using only six species you will have very little to create a good composition. This is not really a rule, but more of a guideline that applies to tanks between 80 and 150 cm. For larger tanks the number of plant species should be restrained. For smaller tanks you can use some more species, but it would then be advisable to use mostly plant species with small footprints (the thinner stemplants). Good luck!
Has @MJAquascaping @@Populiervogelever tried... Erm... Probably, a few times 😂😂😂 . Love his channel. You must see mdfish and fishshopmatt, from the UK, they would totally complete and contribute to this channel ❤❤❤
SUPER EXCITED FOR THIS PROJECT!!! This style is so under appreciated. I think there is a rule about not having the red plant in the dead middle of the tank 😂
My mind was blown the fist time I saw a Dutch style aquarium. That was 1981, and it was in a tiny tropical fish store in Leiden, Holland. His main display aquarium was at least 200 gallons and was chocked FULL of spectacular, healthy plants. Prior to that I'd never seen an aquarium full of healthy plants, even though I'd been in the hobby my whole life. The shop owner did not speak English and I did not speak Dutch, so he mimed me a one-on-one lesson on how to set up a planted aquarium like his. In 1990 I found another tiny tropical fish store, but this time it was in Okinawa, Japan. That's where I was introduced to Nature Aquariums by a student of Amano. Thank you Dutch shop owner, you totally changed the way I though about aquarium composition.
Fascinating video. Brings back memories of seeing photos of Dutch style aquariums back in the 70's when my Dad was running a 6ft tank, 2 4ft tanks and a 2 and a half foot tank all with under gravel filters, planted with Amazon swords and Riccia floating on the surface. Those Dutch style aquariums looked other worldly. 😊 Now that I'm now so used to Nature aquariums the Dutch style gives me a feeling of claustrophobia, I don't know why. Less freedom? So much visible order, I'd feel really uneasy about doing a Dutch Style....all those rules 😮 All that maintenance. Hat off to you for stepping out of your comfort zone. It will be fascinating to see how the tank turns out and whether you enter it into a competition. Thanks again for your great content.
I’ve wanted to see you do one of these for years, looking forward to this journey! I’ve been thinking about doing my own in a spare 60cm so perfect guide to follow!
Being Dutch and having experience with the NBAT contest, I look forward to your go at it. It may be harder than expected, but you might learn lessons applicable to your ‘normal’ style. Good luck!
Ooh! Cool! I have a 55 gallon bowfront (yeah, not great but it was FREE) languishing in my art studio being a boring hulk. I want to turn it into a paludarium, so this might be the perfect inspiration. And the limitations on plant species might keep it focussed and uncluttered, even with a lot going on both above and below the water. Thanks for the inspiration!
I was finalizing my Shoulders and "Leg day" routine with a walk as I started watching this and you are completely right. The exercises that I would avoid and small weight increments that I had to push myself to make were the ones that ultimately made a difference in my gym achievements and it's similar in any other discipline, hobby, art form, etc. I also find dutch style aquariums a bit too structured and maybe boring-looking but I am sure there is so much I just don't know about them that and to learn from that style that I hope to learn through you! Thank you for the great videos and keep up with the great work!
I can't tell you how much I appreciate this video George! I'm working on a dutch aquascape right now, but I've been guessing without really knowing the rules. I probably should have done more research before I started, but this video is definitely setting me off in the right direction!
19 днів тому+4
A Dutch style is very underrated, but probably also the hardest to keep in shape. If you look at the big aquascape contest, it is the mosses that dominate. And those are much easier plants than plants used in a Dutch tank.
I'd say mosses are by far the hardest to maintain. They attract algae, can be quite picky with water parameters hard to keep dense and compact, and most importantly, doesn't float. Try trimming moss and now your entire tank is moss.
Thanks George, excellent. A bit different from so much of the content online. I think you showed a photo of Rotala Macrandra, I have successfully grown this plant, in soft water but with much brighter light than I think you are contemplating, I personally for this plant would use two LED bars. Also, with almost no Nitrate in the water column. It will survive in harder water with lots of CO2 with less light but it does not look as well and attracts algae. When growing fast it outgrows algae and the fresh tops can be cut and used to replace the root stock. Be advised, in good conditions, expect to trim at least every week and replant tops perhaps fortnightly, a real commitment. Good luck, great ideas, loved all the history etc., and will follow the links you have provided. Great stuff.
Love your videos George. Think someone has said before your voice is well suited to ASMR, very calming . Loved this video can't wait to continue following your journey with this style of tank.
Can't wait for this series It will be so interesting and different to your natural style. I did a Dutch style 2 years ago for the first time. I really liked it, but I struggled with the overall shape of the plants with trimming. Would love to see a detailed video for trimming replanting and shape the stem plants that would be so helpful as there are not many videos out there on that from the top aquascapers like you.
Ich liebe den Holland Stil. In den Scapes dominiert für meinen Geschmack häufig zu sehr das Hardscspe. Den Oldschool look, wie in den Versuchsaquarien bei Tropica, empfinde ich auch als sehr schön.
Im having a Mini S as a dutch style and I love it. Funny thing.. my main focus is Aquascaping but the plants in my small dutch style look healthier and more flushy than in my other scapes 😅
Looking forward to it. Just set up an all stem plant tank with all tissue culture plants. Decided to put a few stones in the foreground though so it is not all plants. Also my tank is a 45 gallon high so not ideal dimensions but it is what I had on hand to work with so I am going to see how it turns out.
George, it's hard to pull off a couple streets in that tank. You can at best only have a single street per 60cm of tank length. Intersecting streets can also be hard to execute as it may conflict with the break-symmetry rule.
Would you ever consider doing an audio version of your book? I own the book, but I am dyslexic and it would be nice to be able to listen while I’m reading along.
Just a thought from an observer, but have you considered using a sheet of plastic with gradient darker areas to reduce light above plants that don't need the excess so that you can have brighter light above plants that need it? Possibly doable with some spray paint on the glass top between the water and the light source.
I refuse to place any hardscape in my tanks since learning about dutch. I find objects other than plants distracting to the scape and its just beautiful seeing a wide variety of aquatic species in distinct bunches... does this qualify as dutch? probably not but to me its the most beautiful aqua scape full of healthy and lush plants.
Dutch style not really represented in retail outlets. I found it really maintenance intensive and went back to bio-tope tanks. Interested to see how you get on.
I did a Dutch style once with the left over plants and some bought plants, maintanance was a nightmare to keep up with...too much cutting and replanting.
Well Im sure there is a lesson in there somewhere to take away. I find the rigid rules of this style to be off-putting but I do find myself asking why are there these rules? How did these come to be? It will be interesting to hear your thoughts at the end of the journey.
I’m sure there’s plenty of lessons, Jeff! Rules are interesting - they provide freedom by creating structure, allowing us to act with confidence and clarity within defined boundaries. It’s also nice to deliberately exit one’s comfort zone with a sense of vulnerability and accountability that this series will bring. As Ryan Holiday says, “The Obstacle is the Way”. And curiosity wins over cynicism in my world .. 😄
Hi George I really love your attitude in this journey! Stretch your comfortzone and you will enrich your hobby! I had dutch style aquariums, couple of years of discus fish and now im diving into the complex diorama style. All my previous experiences help me out alot
I really like to see Dutch tanks, but they are not my thing. It looks like you just plop the plants there as if you have to sell them 😅 I prefer the more "natural" aquascaping or the one where you give the illusion of nature, like the other tanks you have or just an Iwagumi 😄
As one of the judges of the Dutch Association Aqua Terra (NBAT), I am very interested to follow your progress in creating a “Dutch” aquascape.
Some starting advice: You might want to re-think the one plant per decimeter “rule” for your 60 cm tank. Using only six species you will have very little to create a good composition. This is not really a rule, but more of a guideline that applies to tanks between 80 and 150 cm. For larger tanks the number of plant species should be restrained. For smaller tanks you can use some more species, but it would then be advisable to use mostly plant species with small footprints (the thinner stemplants).
Good luck!
Thanks Peter! 🙏
Excited for this one!
Have you ever done a Dutch style tank MJ?
Has @MJAquascaping @@Populiervogelever tried... Erm... Probably, a few times 😂😂😂 . Love his channel. You must see mdfish and fishshopmatt, from the UK, they would totally complete and contribute to this channel ❤❤❤
@@Populiervogel I’ve done “no hard scape” tanks, but never a true “by the rules” Dutch Style
Well you never know, maybe a future project.
I have 7 Dutch aquariums.
Oh, you meant Dutch *_style_* 😁
That I am not skilled enough for.
Looking forward to this series and to see how it comes together
SUPER EXCITED FOR THIS PROJECT!!! This style is so under appreciated.
I think there is a rule about not having the red plant in the dead middle of the tank 😂
My mind was blown the fist time I saw a Dutch style aquarium. That was 1981, and it was in a tiny tropical fish store in Leiden, Holland. His main display aquarium was at least 200 gallons and was chocked FULL of spectacular, healthy plants.
Prior to that I'd never seen an aquarium full of healthy plants, even though I'd been in the hobby my whole life. The shop owner did not speak English and I did not speak Dutch, so he mimed me a one-on-one lesson on how to set up a planted aquarium like his.
In 1990 I found another tiny tropical fish store, but this time it was in Okinawa, Japan. That's where I was introduced to Nature Aquariums by a student of Amano.
Thank you Dutch shop owner, you totally changed the way I though about aquarium composition.
Fascinating video. Brings back memories of seeing photos of Dutch style aquariums back in the 70's when my Dad was running a 6ft tank, 2 4ft tanks and a 2 and a half foot tank all with under gravel filters, planted with Amazon swords and Riccia floating on the surface. Those Dutch style aquariums looked other worldly. 😊 Now that I'm now so used to Nature aquariums the Dutch style gives me a feeling of claustrophobia, I don't know why. Less freedom? So much visible order, I'd feel really uneasy about doing a Dutch Style....all those rules 😮 All that maintenance. Hat off to you for stepping out of your comfort zone. It will be fascinating to see how the tank turns out and whether you enter it into a competition. Thanks again for your great content.
Awesome! I'm very excited to follow this series!
I’m very excited! I think this is going to be a great series and there is no doubt in my mind that you are going to knock it out of the park 🤩
Excited to see how this develops. I do like the nature style but something very intriguing about the Dutch style too.
I will be watching this series with great interest!
So nice. I am from the Netherlands and I didn't know there is a Dutch aquascaping style 😊
Nice. I will enjoy learning with you again. ❤
I’ve wanted to see you do one of these for years, looking forward to this journey! I’ve been thinking about doing my own in a spare 60cm so perfect guide to follow!
I tried to do an English style aquascape once. But it's quite difficult to fit a traffic cone and a trolley in an aquarium.
😂
Being Dutch and having experience with the NBAT contest, I look forward to your go at it. It may be harder than expected, but you might learn lessons applicable to your ‘normal’ style. Good luck!
Thank you 🙏
Ooh! Cool! I have a 55 gallon bowfront (yeah, not great but it was FREE) languishing in my art studio being a boring hulk. I want to turn it into a paludarium, so this might be the perfect inspiration. And the limitations on plant species might keep it focussed and uncluttered, even with a lot going on both above and below the water. Thanks for the inspiration!
I was finalizing my Shoulders and "Leg day" routine with a walk as I started watching this and you are completely right. The exercises that I would avoid and small weight increments that I had to push myself to make were the ones that ultimately made a difference in my gym achievements and it's similar in any other discipline, hobby, art form, etc. I also find dutch style aquariums a bit too structured and maybe boring-looking but I am sure there is so much I just don't know about them that and to learn from that style that I hope to learn through you! Thank you for the great videos and keep up with the great work!
Love the analogy 💪💚
I can't tell you how much I appreciate this video George! I'm working on a dutch aquascape right now, but I've been guessing without really knowing the rules. I probably should have done more research before I started, but this video is definitely setting me off in the right direction!
A Dutch style is very underrated, but probably also the hardest to keep in shape.
If you look at the big aquascape contest, it is the mosses that dominate. And those are much easier plants than plants used in a Dutch tank.
I'd say mosses are by far the hardest to maintain. They attract algae, can be quite picky with water parameters hard to keep dense and compact, and most importantly, doesn't float. Try trimming moss and now your entire tank is moss.
Thanks George, excellent. A bit different from so much of the content online. I think you showed a photo of Rotala Macrandra, I have successfully grown this plant, in soft water but with much brighter light than I think you are contemplating, I personally for this plant would use two LED bars. Also, with almost no Nitrate in the water column. It will survive in harder water with lots of CO2 with less light but it does not look as well and attracts algae. When growing fast it outgrows algae and the fresh tops can be cut and used to replace the root stock. Be advised, in good conditions, expect to trim at least every week and replant tops perhaps fortnightly, a real commitment.
Good luck, great ideas, loved all the history etc., and will follow the links you have provided. Great stuff.
Looking forward to this series, very interesting. My dream tank just full of vallisneria won't cut it I think 😂
Super excited: running a pre-CO2 Dutch style inspired scape unsuccessfully currently without CO2 but have some plans to redo it
Love your videos George. Think someone has said before your voice is well suited to ASMR, very calming . Loved this video can't wait to continue following your journey with this style of tank.
I am looking forward to the following vlogs.
I'm looking forward to this tank
Can't wait for this series It will be so interesting and different to your natural style. I did a Dutch style 2 years ago for the first time. I really liked it, but I struggled with the overall shape of the plants with trimming. Would love to see a detailed video for trimming replanting and shape the stem plants that would be so helpful as there are not many videos out there on that from the top aquascapers like you.
We do not talk about Dutch aquariums
😂
You should
Ich liebe den Holland Stil. In den Scapes dominiert für meinen Geschmack häufig zu sehr das Hardscspe.
Den Oldschool look, wie in den Versuchsaquarien bei Tropica, empfinde ich auch als sehr schön.
Im having a Mini S as a dutch style and I love it.
Funny thing.. my main focus is Aquascaping but the plants in my small dutch style look healthier and more flushy than in my other scapes 😅
Looking forward to it. Just set up an all stem plant tank with all tissue culture plants. Decided to put a few stones in the foreground though so it is not all plants. Also my tank is a 45 gallon high so not ideal dimensions but it is what I had on hand to work with so I am going to see how it turns out.
George, it's hard to pull off a couple streets in that tank. You can at best only have a single street per 60cm of tank length. Intersecting streets can also be hard to execute as it may conflict with the break-symmetry rule.
Would you ever consider doing an audio version of your book? I own the book, but I am dyslexic and it would be nice to be able to listen while I’m reading along.
Just a thought from an observer, but have you considered using a sheet of plastic with gradient darker areas to reduce light above plants that don't need the excess so that you can have brighter light above plants that need it? Possibly doable with some spray paint on the glass top between the water and the light source.
great. i wanna give dutch a shot too
Curious for the end results, I will follow this project from the Netherlands 🇳🇱
No plans or interest at all at creating one but I'd like to see the journey.
I refuse to place any hardscape in my tanks since learning about dutch. I find objects other than plants distracting to the scape and its just beautiful seeing a wide variety of aquatic species in distinct bunches... does this qualify as dutch? probably not but to me its the most beautiful aqua scape full of healthy and lush plants.
Dutch style not really represented in retail outlets. I found it really maintenance intensive and went back to bio-tope tanks. Interested to see how you get on.
1st rule of Dutch scapes is - leave to George and enjoy his videos )))
Love it, but damn. didn't use my scape in your video 😝
George do you happen to have a good recommendation for a underhood light ?
Twinstar G series
I did a Dutch style once with the left over plants and some bought plants, maintanance was a nightmare to keep up with...too much cutting and replanting.
Well Im sure there is a lesson in there somewhere to take away. I find the rigid rules of this style to be off-putting but I do find myself asking why are there these rules? How did these come to be? It will be interesting to hear your thoughts at the end of the journey.
I’m sure there’s plenty of lessons, Jeff! Rules are interesting - they provide freedom by creating structure, allowing us to act with confidence and clarity within defined boundaries. It’s also nice to deliberately exit one’s comfort zone with a sense of vulnerability and accountability that this series will bring. As Ryan Holiday says, “The Obstacle is the Way”. And curiosity wins over cynicism in my world .. 😄
Glad you're trying this, George. The question I have is, can you speak double Dutch to a real double duchess?
🤣
Hi George I really love your attitude in this journey! Stretch your comfortzone and you will enrich your hobby!
I had dutch style aquariums, couple of years of discus fish and now im diving into the complex diorama style. All my previous experiences help me out alot
I really like to see Dutch tanks, but they are not my thing. It looks like you just plop the plants there as if you have to sell them 😅 I prefer the more "natural" aquascaping or the one where you give the illusion of nature, like the other tanks you have or just an Iwagumi 😄
Excellent video, well done. I consider you 'the real deal' amongst an ocean of wannabes.