AGA 2020 World Ranking Announcement
After an incredibly difficult year dealing with the stresses of the COVID-19 pandemic, what could be better than revealing some of the most stunning aquascapes of 2020 created by some of the best aquascapers in the world? But the contest also saw many first time aquascapers participating, something which is very exciting to us. We hope to continue to improve and expand the accessibility of the contest to benefit hobbyists at every level of expertise.
As in years' past, the success of the contest depends on the hard work of our esteemed panel of judges and this year was no exception. Participating as a judge for our contest takes time away from their very busy schedules and our contest would not be the success it is today without their efforts. For this year’s Aquatic Garden categories, we have returning as expert judges, Andre Longarco (Brazil), Esther Mous (Netherlands), Juan Puchades Rufino (Spain), Kris Weinhold (USA), and first-time judge Masashi Ono (Japan). We were again very fortunate to have Marco Aukes (Netherlands) and Phil Edwards judge our Dutch category, joined this year by Vin Kutty (USA). Vin Kutty and Phil Edwards also judged the Biotope category with Ted Judy (USA). In the Paludarium category, we had the expertise of Cory Nudelman (USA) and Tanner Serpa (USA), joined by the AGA’s Karen Randall (USA), who was especially busy lending her hand judging a wide variety of categories. The judging of the Wabi-Kusa category was handled by Jo Ann Fujii (USA) in collaboration with Karen, Esther and myself (USA). The contest committee is incredibly thankful to our judges for taking time in their busy schedules to participate in our contest!
The contest would not be the success it is without the generosity of sponsors. The outstanding companies supporting this year's contest are Seachem, Oase Living Water, Ultum Nature Systems, INTAQO, Amazonas Magazine, and the Chicago Aquatic Plant Society. Thank you!
Comments
I could enjoy and am surprised by every wonderful work.
So many works show me their beauty and good composition of hardscape. But I can not find so many well balanced aquarium between fishes and plants.
I hope to find more brilliant fishes in well balanced beautiful plants wood and rocks as like in their habitat.
— Masashi Ono
Unfortunately in the history of contests we always live with some attempts at cheating and ways to take advantage illegally.
Sometimes in their eagerness to seek perfection people forget that Nature is not perfect and that’s exactly what makes it so fascinating...They forgot that perfection is a virtue created by man and that nothing resembles Nature.
"The Wabi Sabi" concept justifies and explains this with mastery. I want to believe that after these disqualifications this unprecedented search for victory glory or perfection will be banned forever from aquascaping contests because at this way we lose the main course the goal and the real reason for all this. We do not compete with against other but against ourselves. Year after year we want to prove to ourselves that we can be better and that the evolution is inevitable. The result is just the result what really matters is what was learned during the process.
Those who do not have Nature in their own hearts cannot recreate Nature and walk through it. Aquascapers please believe more in your talent in your soul and forget the easy way. More simplicity more connection with Nature. Less superb and vanity. In conclusion this year's edition was marked by the advent of the COVID-19 which devastated the planet and kept everyone at home isolated. However I can say that aquascaping and aquarism were decisive so that we could go through this difficult period in harmony and well being. Each aquascaper who dedicated their time and care during the pandemic to caring for and developing their layout was able to feel and enjoy the benefits of Nature. Thank you very much to the entire Aquascaping community worldwide for believing and participating in this renowned contest. It is indisputable proof that together we are stronger.
See you in the next edition.
— Andre Longarco
Many friends still ask me why I prefer to be a judge in AGA and lose the opportunity to participate as a contestant. Wow ... what a paradox right? There is no instant of doubt the honor of being part of the AGA family as a judge and the possibility of evaluating the great masterpieces presented this year is something that cannot be expressed only in words it is an honor and a responsibility that it's a gift from heaven.
In this harsh year of pandemic I observe that the level of the aquariums has increased perhaps a longer stay at home has favored this situation. I am excited to see that AGA is a contest that each year brings together the best aquariums of each year.
Now I must talk about a really bad month in my life during that period each of the aquarium disqualifications appeared many of them from close people who invaded my heart with restlessness and hopelessness. The illegal editing of photography the addition of elements in an artificial way must be pursued and part of our hobby. The competitions should be an engine to promote the creation of great works the connection of aquascapers with Nature and an escape valve to everyday life. Let's be competitive with honor. Let's be creative with passion and respect for Nature and above all for the rules. Let's enjoy this hobby being honest with ourselves and let's not fall into vanity and ego. It is said by someone who for many years made a mistake in the way of approaching the fans someone who did not enjoy as he should and made a mistake on the way.
I wish all the participants the best of luck we hope that the comments made will serve to enhance your skills.
An honor that 2020 has given me judging the 20th anniversary of AGA.
— Juan Puchades
TOP 10 AGA 2020 Aquatic Garden, < 28L
Definitely this category is the one that the most surprises me because of the enthusiasm and willingness of the aquascapers to recreate nature in such small environments. The aquascapers often successfully but sometimes literally exaggerate in measure and create situations that are certainly not suitable for animals or plants. We have to take responsibility for our work therefore let's create and release our imaginations and talent but always take care of the integrity of the environment.
— Andre Longarco
I'm amazed what can be achieved in these smaller tanks. The plant selections are so limited and yet the contestants have achieved some truly great scapes in this category!
— Kris Weinhold
Many of the works were able to skillfully express a large landscape in a small size tank. But I found some tanks had aquatic plants that were not growing well.
— Masashi Ono
Some nice "littles" in this category and it is nice to see some "newcomers"! For you newcomers remember to pull your equipment out of the tank before taking your contest photos next year and welcome to the fun of aquascaping contests!!!
— Karen Randall
TOP 10 AGA 2020 Aquatic Garden, 28L ~ 55L
Probably this category contains the most popular size of aquariums the world. In my opinion still a difficult size because good proportions between hardscape plants and fishes in small tanks like these is very hard to reach. But this year some works are very complex well-designed and truly impressive. It is always a pleasure for me to evaluate such great jobs like these. Congratulations.
— Andre Longarco
This is often the size tank that first-time aquarists start with and so they need to explore the aquascaping craft within a relatively small space. What our competitors in this category have achieved this year is wonderful!
— Kris Weinhold
There were not many works with a high degree of completion.
— Masashi Ono
It is hard to do high-level work in this size tank but a few of you have managed remarkably well. It is also a tank size that is widely available to many people so it is a wonderful size to practice on. Keep doing that! Over and over! Keep taking photos of your work and entering contests! The more scapes you create the better your "eye" will become and the better your skills will become!
— Karen Randall
TOP 10 AGA 2020 Aquatic Garden, 55L ~ 80L
This medium sized class of aquariums have truly bred some of the nicer scapes in the contest. The talent to create tremendous depth within this space is well represented this year.
— Kris Weinhold
It was not a large enough tank but some of the works were very skillful in expressing a large landscape.
— Masashi Ono
Some of you have done a really fantastic job making quite-small tanks look amazingly large. What a lovely use of space! Others of you are continuing to practice and learn your craft; keep up the good work!
— Karen Randall
I consider this category very challenging because it is located in an intermediate size between small and medium aquariums. The great difficulty is to harmonize the proportions between the composition materials fauna and flora. But it is generally in this category that the great exponents of aquapaisagismo emerge that use it as a springboard and laboratory for greater challenges.
This year was no different we have a lot of good things to share with you I sincerely hope you enjoy it as I did.
— Andre Longarco
TOP 10 AGA 2020 Aquatic Garden, 80L ~ 162L
There's a great selection of medium-sized aquascapes this year!
— Kris Weinhold
I had a hard time judging them because they were all very strong works. There were many wonderful works.
— Masashi Ono
There are some really nice beautifully composed scapes in this category and these tanks are tanks that are very manageable in the home. I love to see what you are all doing! Keep up the good work!
— Karen Randall
This category is always very strong and features beautiful aquariums as there are aquascapers all over the world that are specialized in working in this size of aquariums.
It always surprises us with great layouts which confuse us due to the grandeur and proportions practically unimaginable in aquariums of this size. Enjoy it!!!
— Andre Longarco
TOP 10 AGA 2020 Aquatic Garden, 162L ~ 220L
Wow! This is a VERY strong category. Hard to know where to begin with these lovely tanks!!! I am glad to see there were only a couple of disqualifications among this size category. The rest of you can hold your heads proud! This is what our contest should be about!
— Karen Randall
This category is the gateway between the big tanks and small ones. They're big enough to open up hardscape choices but still require a lot of the smaller plant choices. This year there are some really nice scapes in this category.
— Kris Weinhold
I look forward to more works with great harmony between fish and water plants.
— Masashi Ono
It is here in this category that things start to get serious !!!
It serves as a base and reference for the vast majority of aquarists worldwide.
Innovations surprising exciting works everything can be found in these next aquariums. Revel in these wonders!
— Andre Longarco
TOP 10 AGA 2020 Aquatic Garden, 220L ~ 320L
Without a doubt the category that most captivated my eyes. Getting into the top 10 of it is really complex. It was really difficult to make a ranking since there are more than 15 works whose level is amazing. My congratulations to all the participants and especially to the winners.
— Juan Puchades
This size of tank is just about the perfect size to aquascape. It's large enough that you have a lot of choices to use plant size to create depth and several different dimensions to create very creative hardscapes. This category has some of the best aquascapes in the contest this year.
— Kris Weinhold
There are so many high level works of expression and completeness. So wonderful!!
— Masashi Ono
Wow wow wow. This size category consistently tends to have some of the best work and this year doesn't disappoint. I think any in the top ten could have won if the others weren't there!!!
Now to the sad part... To add to what Andre has said very few of these tanks that have been disqualified would have lowered their scores appreciably by simply using allowable global edits to show us their work. Please do not tarnish our beautiful hobby with cheating. It breaks my heart.
— Karen Randall
This is Formula 1 for aquascapers! This is where the magic happens! Great aquascapers of the world all compete in this category parading their works of art and their talent. If you want to learn or get inspired this is the place !!! Each year it becomes more difficult for judges to evaluate works so similar in technical complexity. May it last for many years.
— Andre Longarco
TOP 10 AGA 2020 Aquatic Garden, > 320L
It has been a wonderful experience to judge this category. Huge tanks full of harmony and perfect details. My respects for all aquascapers for such a great effort. I have learned a lot from many of you during my judging.
— Juan Puchades
I love big tanks and appreciate the different kind of challenge that they create compared to much smaller tanks. In these tanks the maintenance hardscape and plant material is so much more. It's physically harder to maintain the larger tanks. Even water changes take more time. Of course the possibilities the extra space afford are endless and the attention to detail much be that much greater as a small area can detract from an otherwise wonderful scape.
— Kris Weinhold
I could find so many amazing works in this category!!
Well done !!
— Masashi Ono
Bold and beautiful group of tanks as always in this largest category. Well done!
That said For those of you who find yourselves disqualified: You are wonderful artists or you would not be in competition for the top slots anyway. Do you really think that cloning tiny fish into the scene is going to make that much of a difference? If you can't win without cheating your tank is not ready. But I know many of you and I truly believe you can. PLEASE do not cheapen our beautiful art form!
— Karen Randall
This category separates boys from men! Here everything is in the superlative everything is very intense and audacious. Not only for its size but mainly for the great challenges. For me this category always surprises for the great discoveries that we make in every small detail that is lost in the immensity of these giants. Imposing hardcapes large volumes many plants ... an overdose of aquascaping. Make the most of it.
— Andre Longarco
TOP 05 AGA 2020 Biotope Aquascape
The entries this year are very high quality and were hard to judge! The Biotope category is near and dear to my heart and I couldn't be happier to see how much it's grown and the ever-increasing effort put into designing beautiful accurate and natural-looking aquaria. Keep up the good work!
— Phil Edwards
TOP 05 AGA 2020 Dutch Aquascape
What a fabulous collection of pretty tanks! Horticultural skill in the hobby today is truly impressive. Having watched the AGA contest closely for 20 years and having been through the pre-CO2 phosphate-phobic days I'm thrilled that people can grow plants so well these days.
Sadly only 4 of 26 entries this year can claim to be true Dutch tanks. Some of the best looking tanks are ranked low because aquarists simply do not know the rules of Dutch composition. I expect several entrants to feel wronged because less attractive tanks ranked higher than theirs.
Wall-to-wall meadows of red stem plants does not make it a Dutch tank. The thought 'If only they knew the rules they'd easily win this!' crossed my mind several times.
To counter this I will help the AGA publish a free downloadable PDF that clearly outlines the Do's and Dont's of Dutch style aquascaping. Read it. Apply it. Come back next year and dominate.
— Vin Kutty
The entries in this category keep getting better and better! As always scoring the top entries came down to tiny little details. You should all be proud.
Sadly we're still having issues with people not reading the rules and submitting tanks that don't fit the requirements for being a true Dutch aquascape. This is a type of aquascape that requires adherence to a strict set of guidelines to be considered appropriate for the category. When designing your aquascape please take the time to research what an actual Dutch aquascape is and read the category rules carefully before entering.
— Phil Edwards
The Dutch Style category really is meant for the scapes that are defined by the rules of this style: limitation in amount of plants strong contrasts in leaf shapes and colours and good variation in heights of the plants. We also want to see strong and healthy groups of plants that clearly stand out from their "neighbours". Of course the style is also influenced by more modern touches and approaches but that still does not mean the basics should be put aside.
Luckily we see more and more competitors entering this category that follow those basics. And one will see from the top rankings that there are many different approaches on the style.
If your tank is low ranked that does not mean it does not look nice. It most of the times means that you have not followed the basic principles of the Dutch Style.
— Marco Aukes
TOP 05 AGA 2020 Wabi-Kusa
I am thrilled to see the improvement and increase in entries in this category in just two years! Beautiful work! Just a couple of things for people to keep in mind. You MUST show your water area for this contest...even if you need to add a separate less "artistic photo" to show us it is there. And it is very clear in the rules that terrestrial plants are not allowed and you will be disqualified for using them. So please don't be disappointed in the judges when that happens! (and just because a plant can survive for a while under water does NOT make it an aquatic plant!) Finally there is NO requirement for animals in a Wabi-Kusa. Do NOT lower your score by putting animals in a container that is really too small. We WILL mark you down for that! If animals are included it must be an appropriate home for animals!
— Karen Randall
TOP 05 AGA 2020 Paludarium
I don't know what else to say other than "Wow!" The quality of the entries has increased substantially! I would be extremely proud to have a lot of these in my home. Unfortunately we've had entries that don't fit the conditions of being a Paludarium. When considering entering in the future take a moment to read through the category guidelines to make sure your entry is an actual Paludarium rather than a vivarium with a little water or a full aquarium with a few plants with some emergent growth.
— Phil Edwards
I am thrilled to see the quality of entries continue to increase in this category though I continue to see a need for entrants to work on the plants used in the water section. I know it can be hard to get that area lit well enough but that is part of the challenge to be met!!! More importantly people must NOT use this category as a "catch-all" for aquariums with plants sticking out the top (which is not a paludarium) or for terrariums with a dribble of water somewhere. That is not a paludarum either! We try to be generous with our interpretation but the water AND land areas MUST show careful work and development not just be an after-thought or add-on.
— Karen Randall
Leave your comments