[TheStoriesOfTop7] To my Friend in Heaven - Adriano Montoro Nicácio / Brazil - IAPLC 2016

Mr. Adriano Montoro Nicácio from Brazil was ranked 5th in the World Ranking with his "To my friend in heaven." Stable composi- tion and colorful aquatic plants are the features popularly seen in the entries from Brazil. Two judges selected his work as Best Aquarium and the additional points awarded to Best Aquarium helped push up his world ranking

IAPLC 2016 Gallery - Look back history - World Ranking 0005 - Bronze Prize 

To my Friend in Heaven 

Author: Adriano Montoro Nicácio / Brazil

Aquarium Size/W120×D45×H37 (cm)

Aquatic Plants

Callitriche sp.

Hemianthus micranthemoides

Hydrocotyle tripartite

Rotala najenshan

Rotala rotundifolia

Rotala Mexicana

Rotala green

Rotala sp. Pink

Glossostigma elatinoides

Utricularia graminifolia

Eleocharis sp. Japan

Eleocharis parvula

Staurogyne sp.

Pogostemon helferi

Limnophila sp. Vietnam

Vesicularia sp.

Bacopa sp. Reflexa

Hygrophila pinnatifida

Fish & Invertebrates

Paracheirodon axelrodi

Hyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodi

Neocaridina davidi

AWARDS

World Ranking 0005 Bronze Prize IAPLC 2016
AGA 2016 - Aquatic Garden 120 ~ 200L, 2nd Place

Comments

When I received the letter with the IAPLC 2016 results, I took a deep breath and kept calm. I didn't want to let go of that moment so soon and in a selfish way, since my friends of the team, who helped me a lot with their advice, deserved to be part of this very happy moment. Before I opened the letter, I sent a photo of it to my Aquabase Layout Team friends, and they told me what that was. I was very anxious because I could imagine I got a good result, but I didn't believe that I could be among the best top results. Then I opened the letter in a live transmission through Facebook to share this happiness with everybody, and it was very very intense to see the widespread joy. This layout was very spe- cial for me because, besides to honor a great friend who died in 2015, I wanted to symbolize the master Amano's passage. All my family and friends knew about the result, and the congratulations messages were countless. I had no idea that I could be within the top 7 results and even now I don't believe that at all. Obviously I'm very satisfied with this recognition and I promise I will give my best in the next year. The dream has just began! Every year Brazil gets stronger and more united for the development of the Nature Aquarium, and I'm very happy to be part of this story. I thank all the judges for their evaluation and acknowledge Aqua Design Amano staff for the impeccable planning of the greatest Nature Aquarium contest of the world

Comment of Mr. Yu-Fa Huang (TAIWAN)

I would like to itemize the evaluation for the piece I have chosen as my Best Aquarium. 1. This piece was created with characteristic stones with a number of dents as the central part of layout. It has excellent overall composition and balance, and at the same time expresses vivid natural atmosphere. 2. As to the arrangement of aquatic plants, it gives soft and warm impression thanks to the color balance between Callitriche sp. and Hemianthus micranthemoides, and red stem plants in the background. 3. When the pho- tograph of the tank was taken, it was done at the right moment to capture fishes, which made this piece even more attractive. When we see this tank, it looks as if birds were peacefully flying over a mountain. The photo opportunity was not missed and it was photo- graphed at a really good timing. 4. Compared to the average tank height of 45 cm, this tank has only 37 cm high, but it is completed with well-balanced aquascape. Based on these points, this entry reflects the creator's incredibly high skill level with well-balanced aquascape. Based on these points, this entry reflects the creator's incredibly high skill level.

Comment of Ms. Karen Randall (U.S.A.)

My choice for Best Aquarium this year is "To my friend in heaven". While this is not a terribly innovative aquarium, it is exquisitely well done and gets top marks in the other judging criteria. The rockwork is beautiful, and the gravel path is very natural looking. The plants are not just well chosen, and beauti- fully grown and maintained, they have also been trimmed with great skill. The fish chosen are lovely, and clearly comfortable in their surroundings.

Awesome layout very colorful and strong. The natural atmosphere is the key to like this aquarium. Everythin is in harmony. Well done.
— André Longarço

What I love about this work is its elegance perfectly defined lines color mixing and superior reflexes make it a worthy aquarium to be among the top !!!
Congrats.
— Balbi Vaquero