AGA 2013 World Ranking Announcement

The contest has grown so large that we thought it would be of value to show you which entries placed in the top ten in each category. While only First, Second, and Third are given awards, the top contenders boast a "10" ribbon on our web site ("top ten" are ordered by volume, not by actual ranking).

The Aquatic Gardeners Association Contest Committee would like to thank our judges, Karen Randall (USA), Mike Senske (USA), Dave Chow (China), and Luca Galarraga (Brazil). Also we would like to thank the members of our Biotope Committee, Karen Randall, Phil Edwards, and Scott Dowd, Senior Freshwater Aquarist of the New England Aquarium.

TOP 10 AGA 2013 Aquatic Garden, < 28L

This category just brought a great big smile to my face. Many WONDERFUL little tanks that show just what can be done in a small volume of water!!! One caution to entrants however. Think about whether the size tank you choose is suitable for fish or for animals of any type. If so they should be there. If the tank is too small don't be afraid to leave them out!
— Karen Randall

I can't imagine what the great nature can put into these tiny tanks! Creativity has no limit no matter how big or small!
— Dave Chow

Congratulations to you all you are heroes to work in such small spaces!
Very well done!
— Luca Galarraga

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  1 - Pocketful of Sunshine - Paulo Vitor Pacheco - Brazil .

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  10 - Escape Eden - Shawn McBride - US.

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  2 - Haohanlinxi - HONG TE SYU - Taiwan.

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  3 - Thym thym thym - CHEAH SWEE LIM - France.

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  4 - Mononoke Forest - Dewi Ratnaningrum - Indonesia.

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  5 - Secret of water - Maciej Strzalko - Germany.

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  6 - Field of Dragons - wongsawan wetchasit - Thailand.

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  7 - Mini Mountain Range - Tibor Szecsei - Hungary.

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  8 - Two towers - Jirasuda Wetchasit - Thailand.

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  9 - Valfenda - Fabian Kussakawa - Brazil.

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TOP 10 AGA 2013 Aquatic Garden, 28L ~ 60L

Another category where tiny tanks contain great great work!
— Dave Chow

Once again I compliment all the talented aquascapers who can work so well in small tanks!
— Luca Galarraga

I love little tanks and I love the wonderful work you have all done with them!
— Karen Randall

I have much respect for the talented aquascapers that embrace such a small space.
— Mike Senske

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  1 - Seven Falls - Fabian Kussakawa - Brazil.

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  10 - Bemaraha - Adriano Montoro Nicácio - Brazil.

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  2 - Tree on the Rock - Harry Kwong - HongKong.

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  3 - Lin Jin - HONG TE SYU - Taiwan.

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  4 - Rivendell - wongsawan wetchasit - Thailand.

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  5 - Spring Valley - Walmir Figueiredo Bezerra - Brazil.

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  6 - Deep Green Forest - Wendy Kurniawan - Indonesia.

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  7 - The enchanted waterfall - Lucas de Santana Carnelós - Brazil.

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  8 - Blessing - Sim Kian Hong - Indonesia.

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  9 - Amanhacer da Primavera - Thiago Daniel Eloi da Hora - Brazil.

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TOP 10 AGA 2013 Aquatic Garden, 60L ~ 120L

We find some masterpieces in this category!
— Dave Chow

I agree with Dave. There are some breath-taking aquascapes in this category. Well done indeed!
— Karen Randall

This category proves that there are no limits to aquascaping. We will be surprised year after year by these talented people!
Congratulations to all the participants!
— Luca Galarraga

In this category I found the scape that kept me coming back to it more than I thought possible. Nice work too!
— Mike Senske

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  1 - Sunrise in the valley - Marcelo Tonon Chiovatto - Brazil.

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  10 - Van Gogh - Plate Raised - China.

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  2 - Amazing Green Tree - Nobphacha Yimyou - Thailand.

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  3 - The Crag - Mustafa Erdogar - Turkey.

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  4 - Golden hour - Paulo Vitor Pacheco - Brazil.

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  5 - wongsawan wetchasit - Wongsawan Wetchasit - Thailand.

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  6 - Rising sun - Duong Le Trieu - Vietnam.

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  7 - Reborn - Nguyen Anh Tuan - VietNam.

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  8 - Home - Jirawong Laopiyasakul - Thailand.

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  9 - Forest Lair - Tibor Szescei - Hungary.

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TOP 10 AGA 2013 Aquatic Garden, 120L ~ 200L

I found some interesting entries in this category and they made my eyes open wide!
— Dave Chow

Some really lovely scapes!
— Karen Randall

I feel this was the strongest catagory.
— Mike Senske

Congratulations for such different and stunning works!
— Luca Galarraga

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  1 - Cove - Robertus Hartono - Singapore.

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  10 - picturesque landscape - Chen Jingbin - China.

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  2 - Intricate Balance - Michael G.W. Wong - China.

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  3 - Breezing Gorge - Chen Han-Hsuan - Taiwan.

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  4 - Bomboo - Zhang Jian Feng - Macau.

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  5 - Whisper of the Pines - Serkan ÇETİNKOL - Turkey.

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  6 - Wind of change - Edgardo Villagracia - Philippines.

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  7 - Mysteroius Waterfalls - Jean Ricardo Olinik - Brazil.

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  8 - Pyrenean Valley - Juan Puchades Rufino - Spain.

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  9 - Lost Pardise - Harry Kwong - HongKong.

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TOP 10 AGA 2013 Aquatic Garden, 200L ~ 320L

The competition in this category is very intense the level of each entry is very close.
— Dave Chow

There are some amazing layouts in this category. It made it very difficult to choose a winner!
— Karen Randall

So many different styles and all so good.
— Mike Senske

Amazing works here which is my favorite size to aquascape!
Congratulations to all participants and keep showing us your art next year!
— Luca Galarraga

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  1 - Overland - Andre Luiz Longarco - Brazil.

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  10 - Friendly Moutain - Pablo de Amorim Góes - Brazil.

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  2 - Charm of light - Timucin Sagel - Turkey.

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  3 - Stepping Out into the Valley - Zanda Sejane - Latvia.

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  4 - VERDANT HILLS AND GREEN WATERS - Wong Chung Ming - Macau.

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  5 - Summer In Borneo - M Saidi Arif - Indonesia.

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  6 - Picnic in the Jungle - Karl Titze - Germany.

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  7 - A drowned forest - Piotr Stoszek - Poland.

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  8 - Red in wildness - Jean-Michel Barre - France.

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  9 - Beyound the black rocks - Roberto Luiz Longarço - Brazil.

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TOP 10 AGA 2013 Aquatic Garden, > 320L

The layouts with a grand view are usually found in this category. The many details are like telling a long story to an audience!
— Dave Chow

This is always a fun category to judge. While little tanks are charming these very large tanks can be overwhelming to aquascape and hard to show off in a small photograph. Some really lovely work this year!
— Karen Randall

Amazing works. I am inspired.
— Mike Senske

Keep large planted tanks isn't for anyone ... congratulations brave warriors!
— Luca Galarraga

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  1 - Destiny - Sim Kian Hong - Malaysia.

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  10 - Legend Return - Wu Kwok Fai Gary - HongKong.

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  2 - Autumn - Lao chan fei - Macau.

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  3 - Eruption - Michael G.W. Wong - China.

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  4 - Sky - Wang Chao - China.

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  5 - Windtalkers - Kryshtopa Vyacheslav - Ukraine.

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  6 - Midnight Path - Arthur Sarti de Almeida - Brazil.

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  7 - Forest Mapping - Chen sung pin - Taiwan.

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  8 - Cypress hills - pasquale buonpane - Italy.

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  9 - 50 Shades of Red - Alan Yan - Australia.

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TOP 10 AGA 2013 Biotope Aquascape

I am THRILLED with the increased quality of the biotopes this year. Yes there are still a few tanks that shouldn't be here and a few of the worst offenders got re-categorized into their rightful places. But MANY of you can be VERY proud of the work you have done researching and executing your chosen biotopes. Good work!!!
— Karen Randall

Biotope...it's not about aquascaping anymore. Time to have a coffee with Heiko.
— Mike Senske

While I wasn't involved in judging I did have the privilege of helping pre-screen the category. This year may be the very best turnout in terms of numbers and quality of entries we've ever had! I was very excited to see the breadth and quality of entries. Keep it up!

Unfortunately a number of entries were clearly not appropriate for the category. When designing a biotope please carefully research the native habitats of the fish and plants (if any) of the ecosystem you wish to recreate. Also hardscaping for a biotope is quite different than that for an aquatic garden and try to keep it as natural as possible. There's a wealth of information available online these days. A little careful searching and thoughtful choices can make a huge difference.

Best of luck to everyone next year.
— Phil Edwards

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  1 - Tuquan meets Susquehanna - Geoffrey Gallo - US.

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  10 - Lost in Time - Hamza Poonawalla - India.

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  2 - Rhodeus amarus habitat in river Ticino - Andrea Perotti - Italy.

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  3 - The summertime in a shallow North European pond - Zanda Sejane - Latvia.

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  4 - Within White Rock Creek - David A Voegtle - US.

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  5 - Rain Forest - Claire Moreira - Portugal.

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  6 - Still waters of Malaysia - Jakub Kijak - Poland.

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  7 - Black Heaven - Achintya Shankar Adhikari - India.

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  8 - Rio Tapajos Biotope - Abrar Ahmed Khan - India.

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  9 - Coast of Tanganyika - Cevher Savranbasi - Turkey.

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TOP 04 AGA 2013 Paludarium

This category has some nice examples this year and the winning tanks deserve their positions. However there were far too many tanks that really attempt to stretch the definition of "paludarium" to extremes. A paludarium is neither an aquarium with some wood sticking out the top nor is it a terrarium (with or without a "damp" spot. A paludarium needs to have a water area AND a land area both fully developed!
— Karen Randall

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  1 - Nature Resting - Luidi Rafael de Souza Doim - Brazil.

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  2 - The Fountain of Life - Lee Ming Hei - China.

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  3 - A Beira Rio do Paraná - Fabian Kussakawa - Brazil.

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  4 - Lost - Petra Basic - Croatia.

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 From aquatic-gardeners.org