First Dutch style attempt

[Melcaara]

I've this 33g tank, no wood and no rocks. So, I'm trying a Dutch style tank! These are all plants I had on hand, making sure to leave space between each grouping and room to grow in for some like the echinodorus. No C02, but the red plants I have seem to do well with my regimen xD I have some space left for Java fern (far left and near middle), liminophila rugosa (between the rotalas), and American micro sword (probably near the echinodorus and Anubias)

Yes, I know my light is not long enough for the tank which is why the darkest area is java ferns and creeping Jenny. Can't wait to have it all grow in!

 

[fishorama]

Nice start! Dutch style was our 1st love w/live plants. But we always like some hardscape too (not just that 1 rock, lol). I want to see how it grows in for you. I like your dark substrate, what is it?

 

[Melcaara]

Nice start! Dutch style was our 1st love w/live plants. But we always like some hardscape too (not just that 1 rock, lol). I want to see how it grows in for you. I like your dark substrate, what is it?

Potting soil underneath coarse black diamond blasting sand! I absolutely love using this sand, it's gorgeously dark with almost a sparkle to it.

My other tanks have wood! Just didn't have any for this tank

 

[fishorama]

Oh, I'm embarrassed. I thought the leaf in your blue lighting was a rock, lol. Sorry! Traditional Dutch 'scapes don't have any hardscape so you're on track. Maybe a bit more of plant "avenues", sort of diagonal front to back. But I'm not a traditional plant person, so take it with a grain of salt. Do what works for you & your plants.

I have black diamond in 1 tank without fish, only plants for now. I worry about the sharpness since bottom fish are my favorites, but I like the glitter too.

 

[Melcaara]

Oh, I'm embarrassed. I thought the leaf in your blue lighting was a rock, lol. Sorry! Traditional Dutch 'scapes don't have any hardscape so you're on track. Maybe a bit more of plant "avenues", sort of diagonal front to back. But I'm not a traditional plant person, so take it with a grain of salt. Do what works for you & your plants.

I have black diamond in 1 tank without fish, only plants for now. I worry about the sharpness since bottom fish are my favorites, but I like the glitter too.

Oh, I see what you mean! It's a cutting off of an echinodorus in another tank, I left room around it to grow in but I can totally see what you mean by a rock. There *is* actually one singular small rock in the tank, the Phoenix moss on the right is wrapped around a tiny piece of dragon stone xD I wanted to make a nice bush out of it.

I made one avenue, slightly to the right of the middle is a medium-height plant that disappears behind a plant that will eventually get tall. Otherwise it's mostly bunched up plants

I was worried about the sharpness myself since I have Corydoras, but after feeling the sand on my hands and rubbing it around dry, it's not very sharp. They seem to love it

 

[fishorama]

Thanks for your take on Black Diamond blasting sand & corys. I agonized about it for a long time & read many opinions before going with it. IME sand sifting fish won't try that on substrate that is too big or sharp. I tried "play sand" in 1 tank but it compacted & I never saw fish sift through it, plants didn't like . I removed it after several weeks.

Sorry if that derails your tank thread, I can be distracted by side issues Now I'm looking for your corys, lol

I'm not sure what an American micro sword is. Do you know its Latin name? I had a "dwarf sword" once but never knew its "real" name, cute though.

I'm interested in how your potting soil works out for you. I'm too chicken to go there. What ferts are you using, if any yet?

 

[Melcaara]

Thanks for your take on Black Diamond blasting sand & corys. I agonized about it for a long time & read many opinions before going with it. IME sand sifting fish won't try that on substrate that is too big or sharp. I tried "play sand" in 1 tank but it compacted & I never saw fish sift through it, plants didn't like . I removed it after several weeks.

Sorry if that derails your tank thread, I can be distracted by side issues Now I'm looking for your corys, lol

I'm not sure what an American micro sword is. Do you know its Latin name? I had a "dwarf sword" once but never knew its "real" name, cute though.

I'm interested in how your potting soil works out for you. I'm too chicken to go there. What ferts are you using, if any yet?

No worries! This tank has 6 pygmy cories in it, they'd be hard to spot lmao

It's called Littorella uniflora! And for fertilizer, I use flourish potassium, easy green from aquarium co-op, and then root tabs in all of my tanks, I'm excited to see the difference between this one and the ones without the soil. The soil is a mix I use in my garden that involves homemade compost, so it should be quite rich.

 

[fishorama]

That's a new plant to me, thanks for the ID...But it seems not to be "American" from my quick search. So much for common names, lol.

I'll look forward to your updates & more pics!!