[TheStoriesOfTop7] Over Time - Katsuki Tanaka / Japan - IAPLC 2016

Mr. Katsuki Tanaka's "OverTime" was ranked 4th in the World Ranking. This layout is filled with creative expressions and we felt the creator's enthusiasm for planted aquarium even through the photograph. It has a particularly strong impact among the top 100 layouts. Two judges selected this layout as Best Aquarium, though its lighting effect worked negatively with some judges.

IAPLC 2016 Gallery - Look back history - World Ranking 0004 - Silver Prize 

Over Time 

Author: Katsuki Tanaka / Japan

Aquarium Size/W120×D45×H45 (cm)

Steps progression IAPLC 2016 Silver Prize - OverTime - Katsuki Tanaka / Japan

Aquatic Plants

 Hemianthus Callitrichoides "Cuba” F

Aquatic Plants

Vesicularia ferriei

Taxiphyllum sp.

Micanthemum sp.

Eleocharis parvula

Rotala sp. "Wayanad"

Myriophyllum sp.

Myriophillum tuberculatum

Myriophillum elatinoides

Bucephalandra sp.

Echinodorus tenellus

Fish & Invertebrates

Hyphessobrycon elachys

Carinotetraodon travancoricus

Otocinclus sp.

Caridina japonica

Neocaridina denticulata

AWARDS

World Ranking 0004 Silver Prize IAPLC 2016

Comments

Opening the envelope of IAPLC results notice with ADA Pro Scissors Wave - this "envelope opening ceremony" is an annual event to me. The scissors have wavy blades and it's quite hard to open the envelope. The cut line is also wavy. Every time I receive this notice, it makes me feel like another year is closing on me after this event though it's still in August, mid-summer. After taking the notice out of the envelope, I, as a routine, first hold the paper to the light, facing the front side up, and try to see my result from the reverse side. I can roughly know my ranking by doing this, at least whether I got single-, double-or triple-digit ranking. This time, I saw a short vertical line, so I thought, "Wow, I finally won the Grand Prize!" and turned over the paper with excitement, but then I found my ranking was actually the 4th place. I was disappointed that I didn't win this year again and I didn't get any medal, but later I realized that the Silver Prize is awarded up to the 4th place in the ranking! Yay, Silver medal!! I am very very happy! In these few years, Japanese aquascapers united and very often organized study meetings where we discussed seriously on how to win good scores. It was a truly maniac gathering... we practiced layout making and criticized each other's layouts over and over. This year, there are three Japanese winners in the top 5 IAPLC rankings and I believe that it is a fruit of such study meetings. I would like to extend my sincere appreciation to ADA, the founder and organizer of this fun-filled competition, IAPLC judges and all the persons who supported this contest. Thank you

Comment of Ms. Defeng Wang (CHINA)

Although the width of the tank is only 120 cm, having such good balance between fishes and the layout, I thought it is a very cre- ative piece. As soon as I saw this one, I was amazed, and it became my most attractive piece among 100 entries. First of all, with using stones as the foundation, this layout creates steric form by stacking stones skillfully. The space between the mountains made of stack of stones creates a valley, and from there the white light is reflected, which gives dynamism to the layout along with fishes. Varieties of aquatic plants are planted on the stone, and driftwood set out like roots has a good balance with stones -it is completed elaborately. The aquatic plants at the top in the back- ground are vivid, and together with green in the lower part, it has an excellent balance of the colors on the whole. Overall, I got the impression that this entry has depth and excellent color sense, and is finished carefully to the last detail. The shiny blank area looks natural, and it looks like a painting. It is just excellent. I am wonder- ing if this piece is bringing about new trend of layout style.

Comment of Mr. Philippe Chevoleau (FRANCE)

The overall scenery in this layout is perfectly balanced. There's a great impression of deepness, with the planted ridge on the background that seems far away. The contestant had also the good idea to put some massive elements close to the foreground, which strongly counterbalance with the background cliffs. So we have different levels to watch, going on details one after the other. Then there's this hole in the middle. Instead of planting or positioning rocks or roots, in a more traditional way, the aquascaper installed a huge crack from where the bright light is coming. This is quite original and, fortunately, gives more shape to the cliffs around. The layout has a very particular contrast with shade and light. A bigger crack could have ruined the whole layout; a smaller one would seem ridiculous. By doing so, the artist shows how he controls his entire layout. Nothing is left to chance. The use of rocks and roots is well balanced and inspired by true natural sceneries. The driftwoods emerge from the stones, just like some dead trees remaining on mountain ridges. The artist used several techniques, combining skilfully the hardscape with some planted areas. On the foreground, mosses and some isolated plants are the main attraction. On the background, stem plants are everywhere on the ridge. And the colour combination, alternating green and red colours, is just perfect. The contestant uses moderately the coloured plants like a painter with some subtle touches of colour. He perfectly knows how to display the elements without doing too much. The fish are in good health despite this generous lighting. It's a beautiful and original scenery, achieving to recreate a layout combining natural elements with a moderate dose of weird lightning, for the pleasure of the eyes and the organisms living in. Congratulations!