AquaLibs presents AquaRank Discover the world’s leading aquascapers

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

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...
When Aquarium Shrimp Keep Dying: A Failure-Diagnosis Plan for Planted Tanks

When Aquarium Shrimp Keep Dying: A Failure-Diagnosis Plan for Planted Tanks

Repeated shrimp losses are rarely solved by adding another product at random. The useful question is not simply why one shrimp died, but what happened before the loss, which shrimp were affected, and whether the same trigger is still present. A plant...
The Four-Filter Plant Plan: Match Aquarium Plants to Your Setup and Schedule

The Four-Filter Plant Plan: Match Aquarium Plants to Your Setup and Schedule

A plant can be labeled easy and still fail in your aquarium if it needs more light, stronger circulation, richer substrate, or more pruning than your routine allows. The better approach is to filter every plant through four practical questions: How m...
What Should Your Fish Do in the Aquascape? A Color-and-Scale Plan for Planted Tanks

What Should Your Fish Do in the Aquascape? A Color-and-Scale Plan for Planted Tanks

A planted aquarium can contain beautiful fish and still look visually confused. The problem is often not compatibility alone, but design: too many similar colors, too much movement in one zone, or livestock that overwhelms the plants and available sw...
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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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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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

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Starting from 2003, he has been participated in IAPLC year after year, not just for the prizes, but also for the experience, as well as to spread the concept of aquascape being a piece of living art. He introduced “NA concept” to Hong Kong through his company and has been bringing positive influence to the traditional market. Mr. Chow will continue to put his utmost effort in introducing this "Living Art" to the world and hold the firm belief that it will one day become a widely recognised art form, just as painting or sculpturing.

INTERVIEW

Q: So When did you start Scaping, what inspired you?
A: "I started my aquascaping since 2002 and attend IAPLC since 2003. I was inspired by Amano San and ADA works after visited our local fish store at that time."

Q: Aquascaping around Hong Kong is well developed. Around Asia as whole also, this can make Europeans a bit jealous. Any suggest how to improve?
A: "Yes, in HK aquascaping is well developed, its just like Japan and Taiwan, now I seen that aquascaping is rise in Vietnam, Malaysia, Thailand, China and India. For Europeans, no need to jealous, after I visit Interzoo this year, I have found that the atmosphere of aquascaping is very good and active. I think that the reason is now the communication on earth is very easy, so everyday we can share and chat over FB and other apps then it can improve our knowledge each other."

Q: Please tell us about your own shop!
A: "My shop's name compose of four Chinese characters namely: "water", "wood(tree)", "shrub" and "forest" which means that we first have water which grows up "wood(tree)" and when small trees grow up it becomes shrub and when more and more trees grow up it becomes forest and the actual meaning is "gradual" and "circulation". The English name "Aqua Art" is prominently "The Art of Water". And this year is my shop's six years old."

Q: Name three Aquascapers you really like, no matter if they are from Hong Kong or anywhere else!
A: There are many aquascapers I like, but if it can only choose 3, then I will say that I admire Takashi Amano, Masashi Ono and Oliver Knott.

2007

ADA IAPLC - Grand Prize (World Champion)

AGA International Aquascaping Contest - Best of Show

AGA International Aquascaping Contest (200L - 400L ) - 1st Prize

AGA International Aquascaping Contest (70L - 200L ) - 2nd Prize

2008

ADA IAPLC - Winning Works #49 Place

ADA IAPLC - Winning Works #52 Place

AGA International Aquascaping Contest - Best of Show

AGA International Aquascaping Contest (400L or Larger) - 1st Prize

AGA International Aquascaping Contest (200L - 400L ) - 1st Prize

AGA International Aquascaping Contest (200L - 400L) - Honorable Mention

2009

ADA IAPLC - Bronze Prize

CTA Aquascape Contest - 2nd Place

AGA International Aquascaping Contest (200L - 400L) - 3rd Prize

2010

ADA IAPLC - Honour Prize #18 Place

2011

ADA IAPLC - Bronze Prize

ADA IAPLC - Honour Prize #14 Place

AGA International Aquascaping Contest (70L - 200L ) - 1st Prize

AGA International Aquascaping Contest (320L or Larger) - Honorable Mention

2012

ADA IAPLC - Winning Works #47 Place

CBAP Brazilian Aquascaping Contest - Judge of Judging Panels

VADC Vietnam Aquarium Design Contest - Judge of Judging Panels

2013

ADA IAPLC - Honour Prize #11 Place

CAPA Aquascaping Contest - Judge of Judging Panels

CBAP Brazilian Aquascaping Contest - Judge of Judging Panels

Nanfeng Cup the 3rd China Aquascape Contest - Judge of Judging Panels

2014

AGA International Aquascaping Contest (above 320L ) - 1st Prize

ADA IAPLC - Winning Work #38 Place

2015

AGA International Aquascaping Contest (200L - 320L) - Honorable Mention

ADA IAPLC - Winning Work #71 Place

EAPLC European Aquatic Plants Layout Contest - Judge of Judging Panels

2016

Elected as the Vice President of the China Fisheries Aquascaping Association of the China Fisheries Association

"Great Wall Cup” International Aquascaping Contest - Vice Chairman of Judging Panel

EAPLC European Aquatic Plants Layout Contest - Judge of Judging Panels

2017

Awarded the "Title of Master in the Aquascaping" by China Fisheries Aquascaping Association

"Great Wall Cup” International Aquascaping Contest - Vice Chairman of Judging Panel

CBAP Brazilian Aquascaping Contest - Judge of Judging Panels

AQSC Aquascaping Spain Contest - Judge of Judging Panels

EAPLC European Aquatic Plants Layout Contest - Judge of Judging Panels

2018

"Great Wall Cup” International Aquascaping Contest - Vice Chairman of Judging Panel

CBAP Brazilian Aquascaping Contest - Judge of Judging Panels

Best scapes by Dave Chow

Frenzy Wave - AGA 2016 - Dave Chow / HongKong China

AGA International Aquascaping Contest - 2016

The Rise of Dragons - AGA 2017 - Dave Chow / HongKong China

AGA International Aquascaping Contest - 2017
Honorable Mention

Wind of Kind - Honorable Mention AGA 2015 - Dave Chow / HongKong China

AGA International Aquascaping Contest - 2015
1

Galloping - 1st Place AGA 2014 - Dave Chow / HongKong China

AGA International Aquascaping Contest - 2014
11

Happiness is the way - Honour Prize IAPC 2013 - Dave Chow / HongKong China

The International Aquatic Plants Layout Contest - 2013
47

Dragon Duel - Winning Work IAPC 2012 - Dave Chow / HongKong China

The International Aquatic Plants Layout Contest - 2012
Grand Prize

Firmament - GrandPrize AGA 2011 - Dave Chow / HongKong China

AGA International Aquascaping Contest - 2011
Bronze Prize

VERVE! - Bronze prize IAPLC 2011 - Dave Chow / HongKong China

The International Aquatic Plants Layout Contest - 2011
Honour Prize

Lofty Spirit - Honour prize IAPLC 2010 - Dave Chow / HongKong China

The International Aquatic Plants Layout Contest - 2010
Bronze Prize

Towering Peaks - Bronze Prize IAPLC 2009 - Dave Chow / HongKong China

The International Aquatic Plants Layout Contest - 2009
Honorable Mention
1

Wolong Canyon - 1st Place AGA 2008 - Dave Chow / HongKong China

AGA International Aquascaping Contest - 2008
1

Flies the dragon - Best of Show AGA 2008 - Dave Chow / HongKong China

AGA International Aquascaping Contest - 2008
1

Ashy Range - Grand Prize IAPLC 2007 - Dave Chow / HongKong

The International Aquatic Plants Layout Contest - 2007