Grand Prize
Aquatic Plants: Echinodorus tenellus, Fissidens fontanus, Taxiphyllum sp., Ludwigia brevipes, Cryptocoryne wendtii, Microsorum pteropus, Microsorum pteropus “Windelov”
Fish: Trigonostigma heteromorpha
Evaluation: The Grand Prize winning layout was selected by three judges as the best aquarium layout, reaching the top of 1342 applications, the most in contest history. In addition to layout skills, originality is required for the top prize, but this layout was produced with a high level of techniques based on standard layout composition without any eccentric style of expression. The composition had a left-to-right weight balance at a 3:2 ratio, and the use of good-looking driftwood made it well balanced and stable. The stemmed plants in the background were neatly trimmed and showed splendid coloring in clusters. Among many unpredictable style applications, this is a good example of a planted aquarium composed using the basic layout principle.
Aquatic Plants: Riccardia chamedryfolia, Vesicularia sp., Taxiphyllum barbieri, Vesicularia antipyretica, Microsorum pteropus “Windelov,” Bolbitis heudelotii, Eleocharis acicularis, Echinodorus tenellus, Glossostigma elatinoides, Cryptocoryne parva, Eleocharis sp., Vallisneria nana, Anubias barteri var. “nana” (petite), “marimo balls,” Microsorum pteropus, Fissidens fontanus, Hemianthus callitrichoides (Micranthemum umbrosum), Bolbitis sp.
Fish & Invertebrates: Paracheirodon axelrodi, Paracheirodon simulans, Carinotetraodon travancoricus, Crossocheilus siamensis, Caridina japonica, Neocaridina denticulata, Trigonostigma heteromorpha
Aquatic Plants: Hydrocotyle martima “Honda,” Hemianthus callitrichoides (Micranthemum umbrosum), Eleocharis sp., Fontinalis antipyretica
Fish & Invertebrates: Megalamphodus (Hyphessobrycon) sweglesi, Neocaridina denticulata
Evaluation: This is a layout with mountain scenery, and steep bedrock was skillfully recreated. Even though many elements were expressed in a confined space, details were neatly produced with various sizes of rocks, and Hemianthus callitrichoides beautifully filled the space between them. The stones raise the water hardness level a bit, but this plant grows well under such a condition. The overall impression is not like an aquascape but an image of a terrestrial landscape, and evaluation of judges was divided on this point.
Aquatic Plants: Rotala rotundifolia, Rotala macrandra, Rotala sp., Vesicularia dubyana, Fissidens fontanus, Bolbitis heudelotii, Microsorum pteropus, Microsorum sp.
Fish & Invertebrates: Trigonostigma heteromorpha, Otocinclus sp., Caridina japonica
Evaluation: The use of straight driftwood is interesting. Judging from the overall impression, its creator probably paid more emphasis on perspective and on the natural feeling. Therefore, he intentionally used slim-size driftwood in the central part and emphasized the perspective. A passage leading to the back was produced by cosmetic sand in the middle, which also emphasized the effect. This layout has a problem in the selection of driftwood, as well as differences between the left and right side of the scenery, but its original layout composition seems to have led to a high appraisal from judges.
Aquatic Plants: Eleocharis acicularis, Vesicularia montagne, Bolbitis heudelotii, Microsorum pteropus, Hemianthus callitrichoides
Fish: Hemigrammus ocellifer, Ancistrus sp., Crossocheilus siamensis
Evaluation: When producing an aquarium layout using stones and driftwood, it is normal to mainly use one material or the other to compose the layout. But in this case, the layout was composed using both stones and driftwood at the same strength and volume. This was the main reason for the originality of this work, and its strong and audacious composition attracted viewers. Fully grown Eleocharis acicularis in the background is holding together two different layout materials well.
Aquatic Plants: Glossostigma elatinoides, Hydrocotyle martima, Limnophila sp. “Vietnam,” Rotala verticillaris, Fissidens fontanus, Fontinalis hypnoides
Fish & Invertebrates: Paracheirodon simulans, Otocinclus sp., Crossocheilus siamensis, Neocaridina sp.
Evaluation: From the texture and shape of the rocks, we see the creator’s high level of rock arrangement skills. By using several aquatic plants in combination, it produced slight variances and broke the monotony common to this type of layout. Many layouts with a mountain scene were found in this year’s contest, but this was the best and provided an excellent sense of layout.
Aquatic Plants: Riccardia chamedryfolia, Hygrophila polysperma, Fontinalis antipyretica, Vesicularia antipyretica, Bolbitis heudelotii, Microsorum pteropus “Windelov,” Eleocharis sp., Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides, Anubias barteri var. “nana,” Sagittaria subulata, Hemianthus callitrichoides, Myriophyllum mattogrossense, Microsorum sp., Nymphoides coreana, Pellia endiviifolia
Fish & Invertebrates: Hemigrammus bleheri, Trigonostigma espei, Carinotetraodon travancoricus, Ancistrus sp., Caridina japonica, Neocaridina denticulata
Evaluation: When looking at only the driftwood arrangement, there is a high center of gravity, but stability is still found in this layout. That is the biggest attraction of this work. The use of Microsorum sp. with long roots is interesting and produced a natural feeling. It seems that the natural feeling of a dense forest is the theme of this layout, judging from the overall impression and title. If so, the use of hybrid plants like Hygrophila polysperma should have been avoided.
Evaluation: The selection and arrangement of driftwood is excellent, and the creator recognizes the importance of composition. The balance of the whole layout is also excellent, and we can see the experienced aquascaper’s techniques.
Evaluation: We see the creator’s high techniques in his rock arrangement and plant trimming. The layout could be better by replacing the cosmetic sand space with plants.
Evaluation: The arrangement of driftwood is interesting, and this is an ambitious layout with the power of a large-size aquarium. But it is regrettable to see the roughness in the foreground substrate.
Evaluation: We see dynamic power in the excellent use of driftwood, which is frequently found in layouts from Taiwan. But the image of stones does not match the driftwood, and it brings discomfort to the overall impression.
Dimensions: W100 x D50 x H50 cm (W39 x D20 x H20 inches)
Evaluation: The big stone ambitiously placed in the left foreground decides the impression of this aquascape. But in reality, it was exaggerated by the visual effect of the extra-wide angle lens, and we normally encourage taking pictures with more standard procedures.
Dimensions: W150 x D45 x H52 cm (W59 x D18 x H20 inches)
Evaluation: We see the aquascaper’s careful layout maintenance skills in the excellent condition of the Fissidens sp. attached to the driftwood. But it is not enough as a layout component. It is desirable to have an accent by stones or colorful plants.
Title: Over the Blue
Dimensions: W120 x D45 x H45 cm (W47 x D18 x H18 inches)
Evaluation: An iwagumi layout produced by studying the Nature Aquarium well, and the rock arrangement is very good. But it would be difficult to achieve a higher ranking without challenging an original layout style.
Title: A Silent Morning
Dimensions: W120 x D30 x H45 cm (W47 x D12 x H18 inches)
Evaluation: We can feel the power of stones from the arrangement. It became an original layout expression by combining stones, ferns, and plants usually attached to driftwood.
Title: A Breezeway in the Valley
Dimensions: W60 x D30 x H36 cm (W24 x D12 x H14 inches)
Evaluation: Natural scenery was described by long-stretched twigs and ferns. A more lively feeling could have been produced by having a greater volume of aquatic plants in the aquarium.
Dimensions: W90 x D45 x H45 cm (W35 x D18 x H18 inches)
Evaluation: Horizontal lines in the middle part depict the flowing Yellow River. But it could have been better by replacing Riccia and Glossostigma with cosmetic sand.
Dimensions: W90 x D45 x H45 cm (W35 x D18 x H18 inches)
Evaluation: A flow of water was described by white sand, and the layout was designed from a mountain stream as motif. It was produced with fussing over details, arrangement of stones along the river flow, for example, but the layout could be better by having more power in the layout design.
Title: Wind from the South
Evaluation: The selection of stones is excellent, and the two main stones were arranged very well. But it could be better by taking the balance of stones into account and trimming the lines of the stemmed plants.
Dimensions: W90 x D45 x H45 cm (W35 x D18 x H18 inches)
Evaluation: The combination of stones and aquatic plants is excellent, and their volume is overwhelming. The disadvantage is that the creator could not express the perspective perfectly while keeping it in mind.
Title: Oriens et Occasus (East and West)
Evaluation: The iwagumi style itself is orthodox, but the creator arranged Fissidens sp. around the stones, and created a unique aquascape. It is regrettable that the picture had a problem.
Dimensions: W167 x D37 x H40 cm (W66 x D15 x H16 inches)
Evaluation: It is natural to see weeds growing around the fallen tree, but it could be better by having another piece of driftwood on the right side. The details should have been produced more carefully, including untouched both left and right corner.
Title: Whispers of Stones
Evaluation: The arrangement of stones is interesting, but the stemmed plants in the background including Myriophyllum sp. do not match with the stones. The picture was taken at the right moment when the fish were in a central position.
Title: The Lost Canyon
Dimensions: W130 x D40 x H40 cm (W51 x D16 x H16 inches)
Evaluation: A good example of a panoramic-size tank layout, but it could be better by having a variation in the height of stemmed plants on the right and left sides.
Title: Rainy Season on My Home
Evaluation: The creator selected small-leaf stemmed plants and arranged a detailed composition. Therefore, he succeeded to create a much wider-looking layout in a 90-cm tank.
Dimensions: W120 x D60 x H55 cm (W47 x D24 x H22 inches)
Evaluation: The creator used different sizes of trunk-like layout material and expressed perspective in the layout. While it does not look natural, it provides a wondering feeling, drawing the eyes to the back of the aquascape.
