Cham soc ho thuy sinh: ADA IAPLC 2008 winners' photo

ADA International Aquatic Plants Layout Contest (IAPLC) 2008 winners' photo

Comment from Takashi Amano

Thank you very much for again sending us all of your wonderful submissions to the International Aquatic Plants Layout Contest from all over the world this year. The total number of participant countries was not quite as diverse as last year’s, however we received submissions from new participant countries this year. The number of participants totaled 1,170 submissions from 47 countries. Each year the quality of the submitted layouts increases and this year’s submissions were no exception. Most notably submissions made by Asian aquarists from Hong Kong and Taiwan stood out in particular. This year and last year’s winners were from Hong Kong exhibiting their passion and dedication to the hobby of aquatic plant layout. Just like last year, the top 112 layouts received exemplary marks from each judge. It can be seen that these high ranked layouts make skillful use of driftwood and stone in their arrangement. We can also say that the aquascapes recreating a natural aquatic scene within the layout were highly graded this year again. All of our judges are looking forward to the passionate submissions to next year’s contest displaying wonderful aquascapes from all over the world.

1 Cheng Siu Wai HONG KONG

Title: Mount.Donha

Evaluation: This year’s Grand Prize Winner is an Iwagumi layout, which uses hair grass and willow moss tactfully and expresses a unique world view. The color and texture of the stone is quite tasteful. The layout is highlighted by the arrangement of the materials with a fine attention to detail. The limiting of the variety of aquatic plants gives the layout a monotone green appearance which aids in the success of this layout. The choice of fish – Cardinal tetra swimming around a large 3 meter panoramic tank, matches the entire composition well. Many judges graded this composition highly, deducting few points allowing this composition to win the first prize.

Aquarium Tank: W300xD66xH84(cm)

Aquatic Plants: Anubias barteri var. nana”Petite”, Pellia endiviifolia, Vesicularia sp., Eleocharis acicularis

Fish & Invertebrates: Paracheirodon axelrodi, Hyphessobrycon haraldschultzi, Otocinclus sp., Crossocheilus siamensis, Neocaridina sp.a sp.

2 Yutaka Kanno JAPAN

Title: Beyond the Silence

Evaluation: The creator tactfully arranges slender pieces of driftwood and makes use of them within the layout. The present of Eleocharis vivipara in the background is visually effective and balanced well. We observe the highlights of the layout in the limited use of colors through stemmed plants and the dynamic application of slender driftwood. The use of moss in the layout contrasts the mossy wood with the barren wood nicely.

Aquarium Tank: W120xD45xH45 (cm)

Aquatic Plants: Fantinalis antipyretica, Eleochalis vivipara, Glossostigma elatinoides, Hemianthus calltrichoides”cuba”, Vesicularia sp., Microsorium pteropus var.,

Fish & Invertebrates: Paracheirodon axelrodi, Crossocheilus siamensis, Genus Neocaridina, Caridina japonica

3 Hsu Yung Lin TAIWAN

Title: Passing Season

Evaluation: The imagery of driftwood covered with moss resembling a pine tree demonstrates originality makes this layout quite unique. Not only is this layout impressive due to original and unique imagery, it also displays distinct angle and positioning of driftwood within the aquascape. The creator brings out his highly skilled layout technique with a dynamic quality of the composition and detailed use and positioning of the moss. We see a unique quality within the layout influenced by Taiwanese culture.

Aquarium Tank: W127xD60xH60(cm)

Aquatic Plants: Cratoneuron filicinum, Vesicularia sp., Sasaokaea aomoriensis, Eleocharis minima kunth., Echinodorus tenellus, Juncus repens Michx., Glossostigma Elatinoides, Eleochalis acicularis, Ludwigia repens J.R.Forst.

Fish & Invertebrates: Nematobrycon palmeri var., Paracheirodon simulans

4 Cliff Hui HONG KONG

Title: Destiny

Evaluation: In this layout, the creator’s layout technique is notable. The combination of dynamic driftwood and stone on both sides is exquisite, and the opening in the center is very effective and successfully promotes perspective created between the foreground and background. Exposing the skin of the driftwood stretching out from Glossostigma is also visually striking. The layout composition as a whole is well balanced.

Aquarium Tank: W90xD45xH45(cm)

Aquatic Plants: Elatine triandra Schk., Glossostigma elatinoides, Hemiathus micranthemoides, Eleocharis acicularis, Eleocharis minima Kunth, Liaeopsis novae zelandiae, Microsoienium tenerum Griff, Vesicularia sp., Hypnum plumaeforme Wils

Fish & Invertebrates: Petitella georgiae, Nannostomus nitidus, Otocinclus macrospilus, Caridina japonica, Caridina cf. serrata “blue tiger”a sp.

5 Long Tran Hoang VIET NAM

Title: Tranquility Place

Evaluation: Simplicity of the composition is highly recognized in this layout. The creator has organized the layout well, even though composing a panoramic layout is challenging. Yet, he could achieve better compositional balance if the stemmed plants on the left grow a little more and add volume to the layout. What we see in this layout is a sense of sincerity without distraction.

Aquarium Tank: W220×D60×H65(cm)

Aquatic Plants: Hemianthus micranthemoides, Rotala sp. ‘Colorata’, Micranthemum umbrosum, Glossostigma elatinoides, Eleocharis parvula, Didiplis diandra, Ranunculus Inundatus, Fissidens sp., Java fern sp.

Fish & Invertebrates: Sawbwa resplendens, Parambassis ranga, Neocaridina heteropoda var. red

6 Lee Do Jae KOREA

Title: A Stony Mountain

Evaluation: A very energetic layout with a dynamic stone arrangement and distinctive plant application. The silhouette and texture of the stone could be more appreciated if the form of the stone is a little more exposed. The way the creator uses stemmed plants is very unique. But, it also makes the evaluation toward this aquascape difficult because the balance of the layout might be ruined once the plants start growing.

Aquarium Tank: W100×D50×H50(cm)

Aquatic Plants: Bolbitis heudelotii, Microsorium narrow sp., Rudwigia brevipes, Rudwigia repens, Vesicularia sp..

Fish & Invertebrates: Hemigrammus erythrozonus, Gyrinocheilus aymonier, Neocaridina sp., Crossocheilus siamensis

7 A.J. Judy Prajitno Putra INDONESIA

Title: Naked Hills: The Passion of The Forest

Evaluation: It is never easy to create a very wide aquascape. The creator, however, nicely arranges the layout composition with Anubias and ferns. On the other hand, its tone of color may look rather flat. The layout could be more exciting by taking advantage of its unique panoramic space: for example, bringing more colors in with stemmed plants and making some open spaces and densely planted sections intentionally in the composition.

Aquarium Tank: W600×D85×H75(cm)

Aquatic Plants: Anubias barteri var. nana”Golden”, Anubias barteri var. angustifolia, Anubias barteri var. coffefolia, Bolbitis heudelotii, Eleocharis acicularis, Microsorum pteropus”narrow”, Microsorum pteropus”windelov”, Vesicularia sp “Christmas”, Riccardia chamedryfolia

Fish & Invertebrates: Botia macracantha, Corydoras similis, Hemigrammus Bleheri, Inpaichthys kerri, Nomorhamphus liemi, Otocinclus sp., Pseudemugil signifer, Paracheirodon axelrodi, Paracheirodon innesi var., Sawbaw resplendens, Goby sp., Sicyopus jongkasi, Stipodon sp., Trigonostigma heteromorpha, Xiphophorus variatus var.

8 Lee Chun Ho KOREA