No Entry Fee for the 2011 AGA International Aquascaping Contest

In previous contests, the Aquatic Gardeners Association had charged a small fee for those who wanted to participate in the aquascaping contest. However, this year, there will be NO ENTRY FEE! So here is your chance to get your aquascapes judged by experienced and respectable judges in the hobby. More information regarding the 2011 AGA International Aquascaping Contest can be found on the Aquatic Gardner Association’s website.

Aquascaping World Competition Deadline Extended!

There is still time for you to polish your aquascapes and enter them into the Aquascaping World Competition. The deadline has been extended to April 15, 2011. Don’t miss out on your chance at winning cash, sponsor prizes, and a plaque!

More information can be found on Aquascaping World Competition

For those who have already submitted, good luck!

Weekend With Grand Valley Aquarium Club and Iron Aquascaper 2

This past weekend, the Grand Valley Aquarium Club hosted it’s second Iron Aquascaper competition. It was an honor and privilege to be selected as one of the aquascapers competing and putting on a show for the folks at GVAC.

The members of GVAC are still somewhat new to the world of aquascaping planted aquariums and this event has shed some light on those who aren’t too familiar with what aquascaping is. Although GVAC is mostly focused on freshwater aquariums along with breeding fish and flowering aquatic plants, they have become more interested in learning on how to beautifully aquascape their aquarium with the plants and fish they are so accustomed to. Continue reading

Event: Iron Aquascaper Competition 2 Hosted by Grand Valley Aquarium Club

Grand Valley Aquarium Club will be hosting their 2nd annual Iron Aquascaper competition. I was selected to be one of the aquascapers competing in this event. We will be aquascaping with 29 gallon aquariums equipped with a Fluval canister filter, high output T5 lighting, and plant substrate. These fully aquascaped setups will then be raffled off at the end of the night.

If you are in the area and wish to attend, information about the event are below.

Date: Saturday, March 12th, 2011
Time: 7:00 P.M.

Location:
Holiday Inn Express
US 131 and 68th Street
Grand Rapids, MI 49548

Special thanks to Blue Fish Aquarium, Preuss Pets, Hagen, Seachem and Grand Valley Aquarium Club for sponsoring the event.

Takashi Amano Complete Works 1985-2009: A Resource for Inspiration and Aquascaping

In the planted aquarium hobby, there are quite a few approaches people can take when keeping planted aquariums. Commonly, there are collectors and farmers, which are enthusiasts who are into growing many species of plants, and then there are aquascapers, those who strive to create a piece of living art within an aquarium.

As a planted aquarium enthusiast myself, my early years in the hobby were dedicated mostly to growing and farming a variety of aquarium plants, which still continues today. However, throughout the years of being in the hobby, there was a couple times where I have attempted to do an aquascape, but due to not being satisfied with the outcome, these aquascapes were never really made an online presence.

Continue reading