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

[TheStoriesOfTop7] Hideaway - Long Tran Hoang / VietNam - IAPLC 2016

Mr. Long Tran Hoang from Vietnam was ranked 7th in the World Ranking with his "Hideaway". His stone arrangement and aquatic plants grown on the stones look very natural. Mr. Long's excellent skills and good sense can be felt throughout his work. Mr. Mitsuo Yamasaki, one of the judges from Japan, selected this layout as his Best Aquarium and highly regarded its underwater feel and meticulous creation.

IAPLC 2016 Gallery - Look back history - World Ranking 0007 - Bronze Prize 

Hideaway

Author: Ant Long Tran Hoang / VietNam

Aquarium Size/W152×D78×H45 (cm)

Aquatic Plants

Fissidens nobilis sp. Mini

Cryptocoryne parva

Bucephalandra sp.

Anubias barteri var. nana 'petite'

Microsorum pteropus sp.

Taxiphyllum sp.

Riccardia chamedryfolia sp.

Bolbitis heudelotii

Marsilea hirsute

Fish & Invertebrates

Hyphessobrycon amandae

Carinotetraodon lorteti sp. 'dwaft puffer'

Neocaridina heteropoda sp. red cherry

AWARDS

World Ranking 0007 Bronze Prize IAPLC 2016

Comments

My layout this year describes an underwater living part of nature. It required a lot of special materials, time and efforts to complete. However, final task for my layout was not completed with the quality I expected because of last minute mistakes in planting. So, I was not expecting a good result this year. However, the EMS envelope from IAPLC arrived at my house again. This was a big suprise and I wanted to jump for joy when I saw it. After a few minutes to calm down, I took pictures of the envelope and opened it, and it's 7th ranking. My layout received IAPLC 2016 Bronze Prize! After informed the result to my family, I called ADA Vietnam, my friends in both Vietnam and International IAPLC teams to let them know this great news. To make this information more interesting, I also talked over the results with them, waited for envelopes arriving for other team members, and announced rankings at the same time. This unexpected result is a factor to encourage me, as well as my friends in IAPLC Vietnam and IAPLC International teams, to continue spending time and efforts for IAPLC next year. I thank the IAPLC steering committee for this amazing contest in which international aquascapers enjoy Nature Aquarium art, and thank IAPLC judges for spending many hours evaluating entries. Moreover, thanks a lot to my friends in Vietnam, Spain, Portugal, Thailand, Brazil and France for exchanging lots of experiences and supports during the creation process and adjustment of this layout.

Comment of Mr. Mitsuo Yamasaki (JAPAN)

It is my honor to be appointed as a judge who selects Best Aquarium from the top 100 layouts. I have something to say about layouts in IAPLC. It could be a biased view of a stubborn person, but I would still like to insist that the layout in this contest should use many plant species because this is an aquatic plants layout con- test. I wish to see sound and beautiful layouts that are rich in plant variety. The work selected by this stubborn old man governed by such a view on aquascape is "Hideaway. The stones, which are the foundation of the layout, are arranged truly skillfully and the color of stone surface glimpsed between the aquatic plants and mosses is so effective, natural and splendid. The large depressed area on the center rock provides a haven for fish. It also appears very soothing to those who see it. In addition, truly awesome beauty is produced by the crossing of the power brought out by natural lines running from both sides towards the center. When I see this layout, I can feel the facial expression of humble aquatic plants. I value this layout as the best, sensitive and meticulous work.

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