dutch planted aquariums:

My 60g wasn't exactly pure dutch-style, but probably closer to that than it was to an Amano-style:

IMG_0336_trim.jpg


No good pics, and it was taken down about a year ago (when I thought I was moving to Jersey).
 
I have a FW planted tank, but it's more natural and not on the scale of those crazy Dutch or Amano tanks. They look to be right up your alley, Dan!

Here's a couple pics of mine:

IMG_0020.jpg


IMG_0016.jpg
 
If anyone is going to get in to this stuff, lemme know. I still have some of the lights, a big canister filter, substrate, and all the crazy mad scientist DIY ferts and test kits.

Using the CO2 on my 10g planted so I'm gonna hang on to that. . .
 
We are in the process of stocking our newest tank here at the museum which is the "Rainbow River" a planted freshwater 120g tank with many tropical river dwelling fish. We only have about a dozen freshly added plants and only a couple dozen fish so far. In the coming weeks as the plants start growing and we add the remaining majority of fish I will take pictures and post more information.
 
Planted freshwater tanks are just as interesting as reef and in my opinion they are much more relaxing. The slower moving water and green plants just put me in a good mood.

planted125.jpg
 
NICE! indeed i agree. they are more elegant and slower paced. especially with flowy fish like angels, or slower... and not as flashy tetras or something...
 
Here is my planted before it got replaced with my current reef.

75G low tech panted tank (350Magnum and 4x40W sum bulbs from wallmart)
planted75g_feb08.jpg


Trimming and water changes every week.

Waffleman
 
dan10342 said:
NICE! indeed i agree. they are more elegant and slower paced.
Click to expand...

Slower paced and more peaceful in appearance, for sure. Planted tanks strike me as having a calming, zen effect. They just make me want to sit down and take a deep breath. Meanwhile, most reef tanks seem to be about in your face color and action.

But not, by default, slower paced in maintenance, IMHO - I was pulling out a mixing bowl of trimmings every week, dosing a couple different fert mixes every day, cleaning the canister weekly, 50-60% water changes weekly, testing 4 or or 5 parameters at least every other day, etc. It was easy work, but MORE work than any reef I've owned.

The 10g planted FW that's in my son's room now is an opposite approach. I chose slow growing plants (anubias, java fern, crypts). I dose CO2 but no ferts, it stays pretty clean on it's own, and the only maintenance is weekly topoff. :)
 
Agreed.

I like the low maintenance aspect of my FW tank. Weekly topoff, clean out the canister every month or so, and feed the fish once a day.
 
Being able to use tapwater for water changes is a definate plus.

My tank used to be next to a pass through with the kitchen sink on the other side.
I used to siphon out directly into the sink and hook up a hose to the faucet and went right back in, with a couple a squirts of dechlor. Doesn't get easier than that.

waffleman
 
I did the same - basically had a home-made "python" - a hose with an adapter on one end to screw onto the bathroom faucet (door to the left of the tank in the photo above). If it hadn't been that convenient there's no way I woulda been changing 30 gallons once a week!
 
Well the timing of this thread is just uncanny... I've been wanting to set up a FW planted tank again but only over the past week have I been seriously getting ready to pull the trigger on it. Seeing these pictures of lush green aquatic foliage while outside the greenery hasn't started to return yet... it's a must. Also spotted the perfect piece of driftwood recently too... :)

So here's a question for Dan or anyone else "in the know". What constitutes a FW aquarium being "Dutch"?
 
Dutch style is basically a tank full of plants, nicely grouped and arranged from short to tall, front to back.
Many will say that there should be a lot of fish in the tank as well.
you should check out Aquatic Gardeners for some ideas, they have yearly contest with hundreds of stunning systems.

Waffleman
 
5380, Love that one! I'd probably do a little less "reds" in the back left but the range of plant texture is awesome in that tank. Savin' that pic for sure!

Waffleman, Thanks for the info. Sounds like that's the style I'm picturing then... :) I'll be sure to check out AG asap.
 
When I tried to grow plants I would have been happy with just less hair algae! Desipte that, I was contemplating a planted tank for my office desk cheaper than upgrading my reef tank - might do both.
 
just like a reef tank a planted setup can be made to be as simple or as complicated as once chooses, as far as low or high tech and maintenance. I have always looked at Dutch tanks as a thick jungle that looks better from a few steps away. The Amano style is much more simple and minimal look with crazy attention to detail. There are other "schools" of planted tanks too.

I would also like to point out that we as reef hobbyist should learn from this. Although I believe that the reef hobby is following the freshwater quite well. In a sense that there is not one meaning of the word reef. There there are different habitats and ways to create a reef aquarium.
 
GMaquarium said:
I have always looked at Dutch tanks as a thick jungle that looks better from a few steps away. The Amano style is much more simple and minimal look with crazy attention to detail
Click to expand...

Agreed - typically, Dutch tanks look like a dense jungle river. Amano tanks typically look more like a terrestrial landscape (mountains, "trees". etc.) This article has a good explanation with examples:

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2009/9/freshwater

I would also like to point out that we as reef hobbyist should learn from this. Although I believe that the reef hobby is following the freshwater quite well. In a sense that there is not one meaning of the word reef. There there are different habitats and ways to create a reef aquarium.
Click to expand...

Agreed very very much! Us reefers have a pretty narrow approach to aquascaping. Taking a break from reefkeeping and getting into FW planted tanks gave me a whole new set of eyes, as far as aesthetics are concerned. The FW planted community seems hellbent on artistic, thoughtful aquascaping. Meanwhile, here in the reefkeeping world, we seem to concentrate on keeping things alive, and if any thought is directed towards aesthetics, it usually seems like it's directed in a way that concentrates on individual coral specimens, not in a big-picture "what impression does this tank give me?" direction.

My favorite (how could it not be?):

TakashiAmanoBigTank.jpg
 
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