Aquarium Libraries

AquaLibs presents AquaRank Discover the world’s leading aquascapers

Explore transparent rankings built from published results across the world’s leading aquascaping contests.

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Will Your Shrimp Colony Reproduce? A Tank-Mate Risk Test for Planted Aquariums

Will Your Shrimp Colony Reproduce? A Tank-Mate Risk Test for Planted Aquariums

A planted aquarium can keep adult freshwater shrimp visible, colorful, and active while quietly losing every newborn shrimp. The problem is rarely a single aggressive attack. More often, tiny shrimplets disappear because a fish patrols open ground, a...
The Growth-Control Plan for a Planted Aquarium: Prune, Propagate, or Remove?

The Growth-Control Plan for a Planted Aquarium: Prune, Propagate, or Remove?

A planted aquarium rarely fails because plants grow too slowly. More often, a stem plant blocks the light, a runner crosses the foreground, floating plants cover the surface, or moss turns a carefully designed nano tank into a dense thicket. The solu...
Where Should the Open Water Go? A Behavior-First Stocking Plan for Planted Freshwater Aquariums

Where Should the Open Water Go? A Behavior-First Stocking Plan for Planted Freshwater Aquariums

A planted aquarium can look full long before it is properly stocked. Every stem, rock, cave, floating plant, fish, shrimp, and snail changes how the tank is used. The practical question is not simply which species can share water, but where each anim...
Algae on Glass, Mulm in Substrate, or Leftover Food? Assign the Right Snail Job

Algae on Glass, Mulm in Substrate, or Leftover Food? Assign the Right Snail Job

Aquarium snails are often sold as cleanup crews, but that phrase hides several different jobs. One snail may scrape soft algae from glass, another may consume leftover food and decaying plant matter, while a burrowing species mainly moves through the...

Aquascaping Contest Schedule 2026

View full schedule

KIAC

Open for Entries
Closes in: --:--:--
Open21/10
Close22/11
Result26/12

AGA

Judging
Results in: --:--:--
Open01/08
Close04/10
Result07/11

CBAP

Judging
Results in: --:--:--
Open01/07
Close16/08
Result29/11

ITAC

Judging
Results in: --:--:--
Open01/08
Close30/09
Result30/11

EAPLC

Completed
Status: Announced
Open01/06
Close31/07
Result17/10

CIAC

Completed
Status: Announced
Open02/08
Close15/09
Result10/10

IAPLC

Completed
Status: Announced
Open01/04
Close31/05
Result10/10

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Fresh from the rankings

Latest works from the AquaRank Top 300

A rotating selection from the newest locally archived contest works created by the world’s Top 300 aquascapers.

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Analyse Spain aquascapes at IAPLC 2026, then explore the country’s results, contributing creators and competition history on AquaRank Nations.

Spain at IAPLC 2026: Roberto Buenadicha’s Forest and the Space Between Trunks

Roberto Buenadicha’s aquarium is the only Spanish work in the published ranks 1–300. Its slender dar...
Analyse France aquascapes at IAPLC 2026, then explore the country’s results, contributing creators and competition history on AquaRank Nations.

France at IAPLC 2026: A Close Reading of Jean Christophe Grosset’s Woodland

Only one French work appears in the published ranks 1–300. That gives this instalment a different ta...
Analyse Singapore aquascapes at IAPLC 2026, then explore the country’s results, contributing creators and competition history on AquaRank Nations.

Singapore at IAPLC 2026: Open Stone and an Enclosed Planted Passage

Two Singaporean works appear in the published ranks 1–300, and they offer an unusually clear contras...
Analyse Hong Kong aquascapes at IAPLC 2026, then explore the country’s results, contributing creators and competition history on AquaRank Nations.

Hong Kong at IAPLC 2026: Three Studies in Light, Layers and Visual Impact

A low timber ceiling, blue-toned terraces and converging planted diagonals create three visibly diff...
Analyse Italy aquascapes at IAPLC 2026, then explore the country’s results, contributing creators and competition history on AquaRank Nations.

Italy at IAPLC 2026: Calm Routes and More Dramatic Planted Frames

A clear route through planted banks can feel quiet; a coloured ridge beneath a dark frame can feel t...
Analyse United States aquascapes at IAPLC 2026, then explore the country’s results, contributing creators and competition history on AquaRank Nations.

United States at IAPLC 2026: Four Distinct Readings of a Wooded Aquarium

The four American photographs selected here all contain important wood structures, yet they do not p...
Top 300 spotlight

AquaRank Top 300

Explore AquaRank

Josh Sim

Malaysia
19727

He is one of best scapers from Malaysia. His layouts are always very powerfull and very detailed. So, high are the rankings ! And he manages to present two impressive layouts per year since 2012... His awards make stunning anyone in the aquatic world: IAPLC - 2 times grand prize at 2017 and 2019, IIAC - 2 times 1st place at 2017 and 2018 ... with too much more achievements but he is very friendly, always help newbies. Thanks him for his dedication to the aquatic world 

 

Best scapes by Josh Sim
3

Eternal - Top 3 IAPLC 2023 - Josh Sim/Malaysia

The International Aquatic Plants Layout Contest - 2023
3

Eternal - IAPLC 2023 - World Ranking 3 by Josh Sim

The International Aquatic Plants Layout Contest - 2023
43

Samurai - IAPLC 2022 - Winning Work by Josh Sim

The International Aquatic Plants Layout Contest - 2022
56

Embrace

ISTA International Aquascaping Contest - 2021
6

Embrace

The International Aquatic Plants Layout Contest - 2021
3

Pure

The International Aquatic Plants Layout Contest - 2020
1

Dream On

The International Aquatic Plants Layout Contest - 2019
4

Dream

ISTA International Aquascaping Contest - 2019
2

Dream On

ISTA International Aquascaping Contest - 2019
1

Fate

ISTA International Aquascaping Contest - 2018
20

Faith

The International Aquatic Plants Layout Contest - 2018
1

Congo

The International Aquatic Plants Layout Contest - 2017
1

Congo

ISTA International Aquascaping Contest - 2017

Untitled

The International Aquatic Plants Layout Contest - 2016

Timeless

AGA International Aquascaping Contest - 2016

Origin

AGA International Aquascaping Contest - 2015
9

A Hunting Ground

AGA International Aquascaping Contest - 2015

Dark side of Eden

AGA International Aquascaping Contest - 2015
3

Desire

AGA International Aquascaping Contest - 2014
119

Blessing

The International Aquatic Plants Layout Contest - 2014
4

Destiny

The International Aquatic Plants Layout Contest - 2013
8

Blessing

AGA International Aquascaping Contest - 2013

Far Far Away

AGA International Aquascaping Contest - 2012
1

Crimson Tide

AGA International Aquascaping Contest - 2012

Timeless Season

AGA International Aquascaping Contest - 2012

Eternity

AGA International Aquascaping Contest - 2011

Eternity

AGA International Aquascaping Contest - 2010

Freedom

AGA International Aquascaping Contest - 2010
16

Elusive Plateau

The International Aquatic Plants Layout Contest - 2012
21

September

The International Aquatic Plants Layout Contest - 2011

Blazzing Trail

The International Aquatic Plants Layout Contest - 2010
4

Awakening

The International Aquatic Plants Layout Contest - 2009
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