Design Philosophy
No hardscape or minimal hardscape. 70-80% of substrate covered with plants. Multiple colored "streets" (rows of same species) create visual depth.
Focus on plant health, propagation, and artistic arrangement. Japanese iwagumi's opposite philosophy.
Street Layout
Plant in rows (streets) diagonally across the tank. 4-7 distinct plant groups per tank. Each street should have distinct color, texture, or height.
Place tall red plants at back, medium yellow middle, and short bright green front. Creates layered rainbow effect.
150% Rule
Plant with 150% of the mass you want visible — excess gets pruned. Constant heavy pruning maintains shape.
Replant tops of stem plants weekly to keep dense foliage rather than leggy stems.
Classic Plants
Alternanthera reineckii (red), Rotala wallichii, Ludwigia repens, Pogostemon erectus, Hygrophila pinnatifida.
Avoid carpet plants — Dutch focuses on stem height and density, not ground cover.