The International Aquatic Plants Layout Contest 2006

ADA Aquatic Plants Layout Contest 2006 Top 10 Winners

I think 6 and 9 are the best examples personally.
Too much red for the 1# winner, although it's a well done tank, I like the rock work in the tank.

I look for more for innovation rather than other areas.

I find most of the tanks seem contrived with respect to the fish, providing what Amano has done prior rather than anything remotely innovative => copy cat syndrome.

I understand mimicry a great deal, it's very useful in learning, but one should try to develop their own style, the judging appears to follow their own desires and aesthetics. It's their money also

This is how Amano became famous, not by copying what other aquarist did, rather, he copied what the Japanese gardeners did, just like the Dutch copied European garden methods/designs.

Applying these to aquariums is new, but the designs themselves should be judged based on all gardening types, not just what has been seen in aquariums.

If you have any doubts that Amano is not a copy cat with respect to Japanese garden designs, heck just look at them o line and if you cannot see the obvious adaptation, you might need your eyes checked.

So if you like designing etc, focus on the gardens etc, then try to move beyond the traditional, the expected.

1# is nice mind you, but it's not a "new design" for gardening really.
Rummy noses are nothing exciting, nice fish etc.
Plant species are nice a tad gaudy with too much red for my taste, but many like lots of reds. I mostly like the okho rock and angles in the display.

Regards,
Tom Barr

 

Many of these names are from Japanese gardening.


If you doubt my comments as to Amano and the designs, you need to look much more into Japanese gardening and aesthetics. They are highly derived directly from this gardening terrestrial style.

Dutch aquascapes/ terrestrial gardening are no different there.
What is original is the application to the aquarium and use of the water plants.

Japanese gardens are designed not some much to be nature, rather the provide the sense of nature. They are also very well tended and manicured, the goal is often to make it look like no one has been tending it, but a well trained eye will see and note that it has.

I think many do not realize the amount of work that goes into a Japanese garden, terrestrial or the ADA tanks.

It's no secret, you need to trim, plan do lots of water changes and add nutrients and stay on top of things till you get that nice picture shot.

Many do things 1x week for their tank, if you want to get a nice pic, try 2-3x a week for several weeks

Dutch tanks are similar, in order to maintain those idealylic groups and rows, one must trim those plants often and carefully.

I think many folks believe these artist are somehow God like and that the common folks cannot ever achieve that level.

That's hogwash.
I've seen folks with 1 year or less of aquatic experience do extremely well with some hard work.

It's attainable, but you need to have enough passion and time to focus in on it.
You do not learn how to play then guitar without work and practice.

The best players are those that play often and passionately, they put in the time and do the work. If you do not want to, that is fine, but you know it's possible if you applied yourself. Same with photography, Amano excels there and took aquarium photography much further than anyone else had before him.

Amano put in the time there, I put in the time with uncovering science, the why and how, and of course some of the scaping as well as I'm sure Amano has done some on the science to some degree also.

I'm no god, nor is Amano, we both put in the work in our paths in this hobby, anyone that wants to, can also do the same and both of us would be supportive and helpful to that end. People get to where they are by hard work, luck and persistence.

You can too.

Regards,
Tom Barr

 

Virtually every single scape I've seen has strong Japanese garden elements throughout. The gardens are not just based forested areas, they are based on savannas, grassy fields, plains. All of which are present in the Gardens and in Japan, as they are here in California or many places of the world.

The sky is the same no matter where you are after all.
Specific areas have different plants, some subtle things, but the Garden aesthetic does not require precise emulation of the model.
Far from it really.