The Spring Aquascaping competition is back for the third year!

We once again followed the Aquatic Gardeners Association's guidelines for categories and the judging criteria. A panel of 3 independent judges will score the entries.

All MCAS members in good standing are eligible to compete. You cannot re-enter a tank you entered previously unless it is a complete teardown and rebuild.

The categories are:

  • Freshwater planted
    Self explanatory. The most wide open and competitive group.
  • Biotope
    Recreates a specific native environment.
  • Dutch
    Planted tank crafted with specific design rules - HARD!
  • Paludarium
    Features above the water and below, fits in the tank.
  • Wabi-kusa
    A unique artform with a planted ball in a bowl.
  • Riparium
    Features above the water and below, extends outside the tank.

This year all entrants were in the freshwater planted category.

Unity

60 gallon-3 ft x 18 in x 16 in.
Two light bars-three aquarium sponge filters and one corner canister. Submersible aquarium 300 w heater. Fluval biostratum substrate with the top coating of black sand.
7-in Synodondis, black and blue Betta, 3 Rosie Minnows, 5 Redeye Tetra, 4 Otocinclus, Ram's Horn snails, pond snails
Two pieces of driftwood, one large piece of slate, one other decorative rock, one aquarium decoration (hiding spot), Hornwort, American Water Willow, Water Thyme, Monte Carlo, Amazon Sword, Java Moss, American Pill Wart.
Scaper's comments: I have created it a thriving ecosystem where all of the inhabitants get along wonderfully. The Redeye Tetras mainly stay at the surface, the Rosie Minnows hang in the shallows, the Betta is all over, And the Synodontis primarily stays in the dark under the driftwood until night time where he comes out and cruises around peacefully.

Cheaper=Better?

29 gallon
Free sample filter from TikTok, spare heater from previous set up, cheap standard bar light from Amazon(trade) Hygger Aqua soil(also a free sample) capped in play sand(trade). Tank itself was given to me from a fellow hobbyist whom was moving. Essentially making this entire setup FREE.
One lonely mystery snail and a few shrimp.
Plants were all propagations and trimmings from other tanks. Locally sourced wood, rocks, leaves, and pods
Scaper's comments: That it was entirely FREE.

Little Eden

13x13x11 9 gal fluval flex
Aqua soil, covered by sand, rocks, wood, lots of plants. Currently not heated, but will add for winter. Filter and light came with the fluval flex. Added a customized cover for the intake to allow for thick substrate layer.
Male sparkling Gourami, three guppy Fry, Ramshorn snails.
Plants came mostly from the May swap, and include Amazon sword, Bucephalus, crypts, vallisarius, And a little carpeting grass. There is a Flagstone tower and a jumble of driftwood.
Scaper's comments: It took me a while to get the number and species of inhabitants right. Sparkling gouramis are more territorial than advertised.