It’s time to help contribute for biggest aquarium gallery online

SUBMIT HEREVIEW GALLERY

Fairy Hollow - IIAC 2021 #07 - Selcuk Durmaz / Turkey

902

First of all, I am very happy to take part in this competition. It is a great honor to be ranked 7th in the IIAC ranking. During the planning of this layout, the first main idea started with a small square photograph from a fairy tale book. With this photo, the first main theme of the design was formed and the back was completely improvised and this is how it started. From the hardscape process to the final, it was tiring but fun. As for plant choice, moss species that are compatible with root parts and in my opinion the moss natural with rhizome stems and plants planted at some points were preferred. I think the distance effect provides the best when considering the aquarium dimensions, and this effect was strengthened by the way I applied it at 3 different points. As an aquascaper, like many others with the same passion, water landscaping is a part of our lives. I'm happy to have meet this hoppy. I'm happy to be engaged in planted aquarium art. and thanks to this, I have made friends and friendships from all over the world. See you at the next competitions. 

IIAC 2021 World Ranking Announcement - World Ranking 0007 - Honorable Mention

Fairy Hollow

Author: Selcuk Durmaz / Turkey

Aquarium Size/W110 x D55 x H45 (cm)

Comments from Andrew M. Senske

Great storytelling in this layout. It reminds me of trekking through a thick jungle just to come to an awe-inspiring scene at the end of my long journey. If I were to change anything I would focus on plant species making a large impact on the viewer by using uncommon and underused plant species ie: Crepidomanes, bucephalandra color variants, bolbitis, etc. Overall greatly executed! 

Comments from Diego Marinelli

Exceptional natural scene reproduction. The first floor is fantastic: woods, roots and plants combine harmoniously giving rise to a spectacle that only mother nature can give us. The upper part shows all the skill of the author who managed to give depth to the composition in an equally natural way. A true masterpiece. 

Related on News & Press
Leave your comments
Lastest on News & Press

  • AGA 2012 World Ranking Announcement

    Once again we arrive at the close of the AGA's Annual International Aquascaping Contest with an oustanding number and quality of aquascapes having been submitted. Our team of esteemed judges have tabulated the scores and prepared the rankings for everyone to see. As in years past, there were many stunning aquascapes making the work of the judges especially difficult in choosing this year's best of show.

  • AGA 2013 World Ranking Announcement

    We are thrilled to announce the results of the 2013 AGA International Aquascaping Contest. There were 506 entries, a record number this year. There continues to be some truly inspirational and original ideas, and some interesting trends in aquascaping. Some categories were very difficult to judge because of the high number of quality entries.

  • Special benefits and prizes for IAPLC participants

    Since 2021, IAPLC has been offering various prizes to top-ranking participants, such as the TOP100 medal for the winners and official stickers for all applicants. As of 2025, the current benefits for participants and prizes for winners are as follows.

  • Resilience - IIAC 2023 #01 Juan Puchades / Spain

    Resilience is a project that was born thanks to a trip to Vivarium in the Netherlands. There I found a piece of wood that had multiple virtues: dynamism, uniqueness, natural beauty and a considerable size. I dedicated many hours to find similar pieces that could complement it. From that point on, the design had to strike the perfect balance between three elements: stone, wood and planting.

  • Curves - IIAC 2023 #02 Ant Long Tran Hoang / Vietnam

    Curves is the name as well as the shape of material of my aquarium. The suitable aquatic plant shapes emphasized curves of rock also created the flow of underwater streamline too, and the flow is the main idea of this layout.  

  • FALLEN - IIAC 2023 #03 Tran Duc Minh / Vietnam

    In my work this year, I aim to offer viewers a different perspective that allows them to experience strength, power, and strong reflections between dark and light, near and far, big and small, without deviating from the beauty of nature. In addition to taking meticulous care of the vanishing point, I utilized all the remaining space in the aquarium. Regarding the plants, I have tried to take care of them so that they are in the best growing conditions. Lastly, I am grateful and thankful to the IIAC Steering Committee and the judges for recognizing my work.

  • Evergreen Valley - IIAC 2023 #04 Bahtiar Gigi / Indonesia

    I was inspired by my city, the city of Depok, which has lots of caves in its rivers, and lots of very lush trees. And finally I made a middle cave in the aquarium.

  • Memory of the Eye - IIAC 2023 #05 Cho Jae-Sun / South Korea

    We first experience nature visually. This artwork stemmed from that visual inspiration, naturally prompting thoughts on how nature perceives us through its own visual lens. How will we appear to nature? We hope that we and nature will discover each other's beauty and cherish it.

  • Gerandong Cave - IIAC 2023 #06 Acho Choky / Indonesia

    Alhamdulillah.thank you to the IIAC contest organizers & all the judges who have judged them very well. The tank theme concept that I created this year was from my own inspiration & imagination. Even though it's not optimal, I'm very satisfied with the results of this year's ranking. Thank you IIAC, the judges & all my friends and team who always provide support. Always success IIAC, I'm looking forward to the next contest in 2024 greetings.

  • Towering Ancient Trees - IIAC 2023 #07 Guan Liwei / China

    Interesting angles using the wood for depth and hillside effect, nice path running through the hardscpe.

  • Sunken Woods - IIAC 2023 #08 Luis Cardoso / Portugal

    I tried to do a colorfull layout with underwater feeling, combining bold woods and a wide variety of plants, like the title says, the main idea is to look at big sunken woods aged by the time and covered with plants.

  • Sound of Silence - IIAC 2023 #09 Efrain Sequera / Spain

    In this work I have tried to create something powerful but at the same time transmits serenity. A strong contrast that captivates the viewer. I hope I achieved it and that you enjoy that feeling. The inspiration is taken from a large tree with strong roots in a cloud forest environment.

  • Twilight - IIAC 2023 #10 Pham Duc Manh / Vietnam

    The Rotala rotundifolia on the background is colorful and the transferring from green to red is very attractive. The construction of flaky sedimentary rock is also very well-balanced.

  • KIAC 2025 Announcement: Important Changes

    To accommodate more participants, this year's KIAC will open later than last year. The competition schedule has been finalized, and we are in the process of selecting judges.

  • Rhythmical Breeze - IIAC 2023 #11 Jeon Hyoungjoo / South Korea

    First of all, I am happy to be able to continue participating in the IIAC contest.

  • Hug - IIAC 2023 #12 Yoon Taegi / South Korea

    I didn't draw an image, but created it with the feeling of surrounding myself with the theme of nature's generosity, acceptance, and tolerance. As the title suggests, the theme is "Nature that Hugs." Thank you very much