STRAAT Dutch Style · Plant Encyclopedia

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Hygrophila pinnatifida

🌍 India · scattered populations Common CO₂ Recommended Diff.: ★★★ 📏 Midground/Background — also on hardscape 📈 Fast

Unique fern-like leaf structure. Grows on hardscape or in substrate. Red leaf underside is characteristic and clearly visible when plant is placed high. Strong grower — weekly trimming necessary. Variants: standard, UK, Ratnagiri, Crystal.

⚗️ Water parameters

🌡️ Temp

20–28 °C

⚗️ pH

5.5–7.5 pH

🔵 KH

0–10 °dKH

💧 GH

1–15 °dGH

📊 TDS

50–300 ppm

🌿 CO₂

15–30 ppm

🧪 NO₃

5–25 ppm

🔬 PO₄

0.1–0.8 ppm

⚙️ Fe

0.1–0.3 ppm

💡 PAR

30–150 µmol

🪨 Substraat of hardscape

🇳🇱 Dutch Style

Versatile midground — on wood or in substrate. Red leaf underside unique.

💡 Tips

Red leaf underside visible when planted high
Can attach to wood with thread/glue
Grows without substrate on stone
Variants: UK, Ratnagiri, Crystal
Aggressive — weekly trimming!
Potassium deficiency = pinholes in leaves

🔍 Problems

⚠ Pinholes in leaves

→ Potassium deficiency

⚠ Bleaches

→ Insufficient light

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Hygrophila pinnatifida UK

Hygrophila pinnatifida 'UK'

🌍 India (UK aquarium strain) Uncommon CO₂ Recommended Diff.: ★★★ 📏 Midground/Background 📈 Fast

Well-known UK aquarium strain of H. pinnatifida. Slightly more compact than standard. Same care but slightly faster growth than standard variant. Popular in the Dutch hobby.

⚗️ Water parameters

🌡️ Temp

20–28 °C

⚗️ pH

5.5–7.5 pH

🔵 KH

0–10 °dKH

💧 GH

1–15 °dGH

📊 TDS

50–300 ppm

🌿 CO₂

15–30 ppm

🧪 NO₃

5–25 ppm

🔬 PO₄

0.1–0.8 ppm

⚙️ Fe

0.1–0.3 ppm

💡 PAR

30–150 µmol

🪨 Substraat of hardscape

🇳🇱 Dutch Style

Most popular pinnatifida variant in Dutch aquariums.

💡 Tips

Same care as standard pinnatifida
Slightly more compact size
UK strain is most popular variety in NL

🔍 Problems

⚠ Pinholes

→ Potassium deficiency

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Photo coming soon

Hygrophila pinnatifida Ratnagiri

Hygrophila pinnatifida 'Ratnagiri'

🌍 India · Ratnagiri district (Maharashtra) Uncommon CO₂ Recommended Diff.: ★★★ 📏 Midground/Background 📈 Fast

Ratnagiri strain of H. pinnatifida with slightly different leaf texture. Red leaf undersides striking. Same basic care as standard pinnatifida.

⚗️ Water parameters

🌡️ Temp

20–28 °C

⚗️ pH

5.5–7.5 pH

🔵 KH

0–10 °dKH

💧 GH

1–15 °dGH

📊 TDS

50–300 ppm

🌿 CO₂

15–30 ppm

🧪 NO₃

5–25 ppm

🔬 PO₄

0.1–0.8 ppm

⚙️ Fe

0.1–0.3 ppm

💡 PAR

30–150 µmol

🪨 Substraat of hardscape

🇳🇱 Dutch Style

Ratnagiri strain of pinnatifida — slightly different texture than UK.

💡 Tips

Ratnagiri strain with slightly different leaf texture
Same care as standard
Red leaf undersides striking

🔍 Problems

⚠ Pinholes

→ Potassium deficiency

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Photo coming soon

Hygrophila pinnatifida Crystal

Hygrophila pinnatifida 'Crystal'

🌍 India (Crystal strain — high production Singapore/Asia) Uncommon CO₂ Recommended Diff.: ★★★ 📏 Midground/Background 📈 Fast

Crystal strain with special leaf texture giving light reflections. Similar care to other pinnatifida variants but with special visual quality.

⚗️ Water parameters

🌡️ Temp

20–28 °C

⚗️ pH

5.5–7.5 pH

🔵 KH

0–10 °dKH

💧 GH

1–15 °dGH

📊 TDS

50–300 ppm

🌿 CO₂

15–30 ppm

🧪 NO₃

5–25 ppm

🔬 PO₄

0.1–0.8 ppm

⚙️ Fe

0.1–0.3 ppm

💡 PAR

30–150 µmol

🪨 Substraat of hardscape

🇳🇱 Dutch Style

Crystal strain pinnatifida — unique light reflections.

💡 Tips

Crystal texture gives unique light reflections
Similar care to other pinnatifida
Rarer than UK or Ratnagiri

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Hygrophila lancea Araguaia

Hygrophila lancea 'Araguaia'

🌍 Brazil · Araguaia river Common CO₂ Optional Diff.: ★★★ 📏 Midground/Background 📈 Medium-fast

Easy to keep brownish Hygrophila with beautiful brown/reddish colour. Tolerant of wide range of parameters. Good entry point for red midground plants.

⚗️ Water parameters

🌡️ Temp

18–30 °C

⚗️ pH

5.5–7.5 pH

🔵 KH

0–12 °dKH

💧 GH

1–15 °dGH

📊 TDS

50–300 ppm

🌿 CO₂

10–25 ppm

🧪 NO₃

5–25 ppm

🔬 PO₄

0.1–0.8 ppm

⚙️ Fe

0.05–0.2 ppm

💡 PAR

20–150 µmol

🪨 Any substrate

🇳🇱 Dutch Style

Best entry point for Hygrophila in Dutch style. Brown/red contrast.

💡 Tips

Easiest Hygrophila for beginners
Brown/reddish colour unique
Suitable low-tech
Tolerant — wide parameter range

🔍 Problems

⚠ Greening

→ Insufficient light

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Photo coming soon

Hygrophila sp. Chai

Hygrophila sp. 'Chai'

🌍 Singapore · mutant of H. araguaia Rare CO₂ Required Diff.: ★★★ 📏 Midground — needs space around 📈 Slow

Extremely delicate and slow-growing pink-coloured Hygrophila. Mutant of H. araguaia from Singapore. Susceptible to algae — requires clean, mature tank. One of the most difficult Hygrophila species. CO₂ 30+ ppm essential.

⚗️ Water parameters

🌡️ Temp

22–28 °C

⚗️ pH

6–7.2 pH

🔵 KH

0–6 °dKH

💧 GH

1–10 °dGH

📊 TDS

60–200 ppm

🌿 CO₂

25–35 ppm

🧪 NO₃

5–20 ppm

🔬 PO₄

0.1–0.5 ppm

⚙️ Fe

0.1–0.3 ppm

💡 PAR

80–200 µmol

🪨 Volwassen schone soil required

🇳🇱 Dutch Style

Rare pink Hygrophila for advanced aquarists. Requires perfect conditions.

💡 Tips

Mature, clean tank required — not in young tank
No adjacent plants that shade
Tissue Culture is easiest to start
Pink colour is unique in the hobby
Algae = biggest threat

🔍 Problems

⚠ Algae on leaves

→ Tank not mature or too much light

⚠ Not growing

→ CO₂ too low or tank too young

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Photo coming soon

Hygrophila ringens Apple Red

Hygrophila ringens 'Apple Red'

🌍 Asia Uncommon CO₂ Recommended Diff.: ★★★ 📏 Midground/Background 📈 Medium

Bright red to apple-red leaves under high light. Unusual and beautiful red colour for a Hygrophila. Grows similar to other Hygrophila species but requires high light for red colour.

⚗️ Water parameters

🌡️ Temp

20–28 °C

⚗️ pH

6–7.5 pH

🔵 KH

0–8 °dKH

💧 GH

1–12 °dGH

📊 TDS

50–250 ppm

🌿 CO₂

15–30 ppm

🧪 NO₃

5–25 ppm

🔬 PO₄

0.1–0.8 ppm

⚙️ Fe

0.1–0.3 ppm

💡 PAR

50–180 µmol

🪨 Rich soil recommended

🇳🇱 Dutch Style

Red Hygrophila as midground accent in Dutch style.

💡 Tips

Striking red colour for a Hygrophila
High light for best red colour
Similar care to other Hygrophilas

🔍 Problems

⚠ Loses red

→ Insufficient light

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Photo coming soon

Hygrophila Red Bold

Hygrophila sp. 'Red Bold'

🌍 Asia Uncommon CO₂ Recommended Diff.: ★★★ 📏 Midground/Background 📈 Medium

Large strikingly red-coloured Hygrophila variant. Broader leaves than pinnatifida. Intense red colour under high light. Less demanding than macrandra red.

⚗️ Water parameters

🌡️ Temp

20–28 °C

⚗️ pH

6–7.5 pH

🔵 KH

0–8 °dKH

💧 GH

1–12 °dGH

📊 TDS

50–250 ppm

🌿 CO₂

15–30 ppm

🧪 NO₃

5–25 ppm

🔬 PO₄

0.1–0.8 ppm

⚙️ Fe

0.1–0.3 ppm

💡 PAR

50–180 µmol

🪨 Rich soil recommended

🇳🇱 Dutch Style

Large red Hygrophila as background accent in Dutch style.

💡 Tips

Large red leaves
Less demanding than Rotala macrandra
High light for best colour

🔍 Problems

⚠ Loses red

→ Light too low

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Photo coming soon

Bacopa colorata

🌍 Tropical Asia — marsh areas Uncommon CO₂ Recommended Diff.: ★★★ 📏 Midground/Background 📈 Medium

Blue-green to red colour depending on light intensity. Orange/red tint under high light. Relatively easy to keep. Unique metallic blue sheen at certain light angles.

⚗️ Water parameters

🌡️ Temp

20–28 °C

⚗️ pH

6–7.5 pH

🔵 KH

0–8 °dKH

💧 GH

1–12 °dGH

📊 TDS

50–250 ppm

🌿 CO₂

15–30 ppm

🧪 NO₃

5–25 ppm

🔬 PO₄

0.1–0.8 ppm

⚙️ Fe

0.1–0.3 ppm

💡 PAR

50–160 µmol

🪨 Rich soil recommended

🇳🇱 Dutch Style

Unique colour in Dutch style. Blue-green to red tint is surprising.

💡 Tips

Unique blue-green to red colour
Metallic blue sheen under certain light
Relatively easy for a red plant

🔍 Problems

⚠ Loses blue sheen

→ Light angle or Fe deficiency

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Photo coming soon

Bacopa salzmanni Purple

Bacopa salzmanni 'Purple'

🌍 North America · wetlands Uncommon CO₂ Recommended Diff.: ★★★ 📏 Midground/Background 📈 Medium

Purple-coloured Bacopa variety. Unique purple/violet colour in the aquarium hobby. Medium requirements. Grows similar to other Bacopa species.

⚗️ Water parameters

🌡️ Temp

20–28 °C

⚗️ pH

6–7.5 pH

🔵 KH

0–8 °dKH

💧 GH

1–12 °dGH

📊 TDS

50–250 ppm

🌿 CO₂

15–30 ppm

🧪 NO₃

5–25 ppm

🔬 PO₄

0.1–0.8 ppm

⚙️ Fe

0.1–0.3 ppm

💡 PAR

50–160 µmol

🪨 Rich soil recommended

🇳🇱 Dutch Style

Purple Bacopa as colour accent in Dutch style.

💡 Tips

Unique purple colour
Medium difficulty
Similar to other Bacopa species

🔍 Problems

⚠ Loses purple

→ Insufficient light

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Photo coming soon

Bacopa Monnieri Compact White

Bacopa monnieri 'Compact White'

🌍 Cosmopolitan · cultivated variety Uncommon CO₂ Optional Diff.: ★★★ 📏 Midground/Background 📈 Medium

Compact white variety of the common Bacopa monnieri. Light yellow-white colour at the leaf tips. Compact growth profile — less trimming work needed than standard monnieri. Rarer in trade.

⚗️ Water parameters

🌡️ Temp

15–30 °C

⚗️ pH

6–8 pH

🔵 KH

0–12 °dKH

💧 GH

1–20 °dGH

📊 TDS

50–400 ppm

🌿 CO₂

5–20 ppm

Optional

🧪 NO₃

5–30 ppm

🔬 PO₄

0.1–1 ppm

⚙️ Fe

0.05–0.2 ppm

💡 PAR

20–120 µmol

🪨 Any substrate

🇳🇱 Dutch Style

Compact white Bacopa for Dutch style midground.

💡 Tips

More compact than standard monnieri
White/yellow leaf tips characteristic
Tolerant of wide water parameter range
Suitable low-tech

🔍 Problems

⚠ Loses white colour

→ Insufficient light