What Is A Dutch Aquarium?

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What Is A Dutch Aquarium?
What Is A Dutch Aquarium?

Video: What Is A Dutch Aquarium?

Video: What Is A Dutch Aquarium?
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Why is the aquarium called "Dutch"? Or does this refer to vessels of a certain shape?

Somewhere in the early 70s in Holland, famous for its flower growers and gardeners, a special trend appeared in decorating indoor ponds. It got the name "Dutch aquarium". Like any trend in art, the "Dutch aquarium" has its own laws, somewhat reminiscent of the principles of ikebana.

Dutch aquarium, photo photography underwater world
Dutch aquarium, photo photography underwater world

"Dutch Aquarium"

Plants from various habitats are used to decorate aquariums. In addition to a certain method of planting plants, it is necessary to take into account the size and proportions of the aquarium, its interior design, and location in the room.

The first thing you need to design a "Dutch aquarium" is to purchase a reservoir of the required size. The volume of the aquarium should be at least 500 liters, the length is 1-2 m, and the width should significantly exceed its height. The soil is fine - basalt or granite gravel of dark color. You can also use coarse dark river sand. Large stones made of granite or basalt, as well as carefully processed driftwood, are used as additional decorative elements. Aeration is not needed in the "Dutch aquarium", but a sufficiently powerful filter is desirable. Some experts advise to arrange a false bottom in the "Dutch aquarium" and pump water through it so that the soil is flowing. However, Moscow aquarists noted that plants grow worse on such a bottom.

Lighting is of great importance. The duration of daylight hours is 12-14 hours, fluorescent lamps should be located at least 10 cm along the entire length of the aquarium, and incandescent lamps are used to compensate for the lack of the red part of the spectrum. Usually they are located at the end ends of the fluorescent tubes, in some cases - above individual plant bushes.

Dutch aquarium, aquarium plants, photo photography
Dutch aquarium, aquarium plants, photo photography

The main design element of the "Dutch aquarium" is live plants. There can be at least a thousand of them in one aquarium! Most often, individual bushes are collected in dense groups, so that when viewed from above, only their tops are visible. Plants are planted in such a way that those in the foreground do not cover those growing behind. In order to break the monotony of the design, one or two "strong points" are arranged. A large bush of plants such as echinodorus, anubias, some aponogetons or nymphs, often having a color different from the color of the rest of the plant mass, is planted in them. The selected species should not form floating or emergent leaves.

Figure: Strong point finding scheme
Figure: Strong point finding scheme

But where is this point? Suppose you have a body of water with length a and width b. We will draw a diagram in compliance with the required proportions. Draw a segment that is a continuation of side b, long equal to half of side a. From the resulting point C, draw a circle with a radius of 1/2 a. At the point of its intersection with the segment BC, we get point C, draw a new semicircle with the radius BC, draw a perpendicular from the point of intersection of the circle with the front glass of the aquarium. In the same way, we determine the point F and also draw a perpendicular. The desired "strong point" is located at the intersection of the perpendiculars. If you have coped with this task in geometry, then it will be on the diagonal connecting corners B and D) (the so-called golden line), the second "strong point" is a mirror image of the first.

Large numbers of plants in bright light also absorb large amounts of carbon dioxide. It begins to be lacking, the pH becomes alkaline, the plants begin to grow worse. To avoid this, a solution of carbon dioxide is added to the water (plain carbonated water, of course, without syrup). Some Western firms sell special devices to saturate the water with CO2. They can also be purchased at pet stores in some Russian cities. The amount of carbon dioxide is easy to determine: normal pH is in the range of 6.5-6.8.

The larger the bottom of the aquarium …
The larger the bottom of the aquarium …

Related article The larger the bottom of the aquarium …

Caring for the "Dutch aquarium" consists ofperiodic (20-25% per week and a half) water change, removal of old dead leaves, the formation of thickets of long-leaved plants. To do this, pinch the apical buds of the stems. In the future, too long stems are shortened, the lower part is removed, and the upper part is planted in place. If fish live in the aquarium, then additional fertilizers may not be applied. However, there are also special aquarium fertilizers on sale. And now a few words about “fish and meat”. With proper care, the introduction of nutrients and carbon dioxide, plants do not need fish. But for decorative purposes, living creatures come in handy. Any small non-herbivorous fish such as neons, rasbor, zebrafish will do … Algal-eating catfish, labeo, live-bearers, especially mollies, will be of great benefit. I doubted the usefulness of the latter for a long time, while a flock of several mollys,did not clean the author's aquarium horribly overgrown with algae to a shine. In addition, the secretions of fish, especially live-bearers, are an excellent plant food. It is absolutely necessary to abandon various cichlids, goldfish, large haracin and barbs, as well as all fish that can damage the thickets. Also, all sorts of turtles, snails, crabs, crayfish are contraindicated …

Source: Alexander Gurzhiy

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