MAC Forum 2.0

Here's the line up!
Gratitude to ACT-ADA Malaysia Distributors for allowing me to repost pics here.

10-18!

19-27!

all pictures copyright of ADA.

Can't wait to view the no. 84 picture.

Need to wait 1,....27...........................................................84.

Mine even more pathetic
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............................................................................................ No X.

Thanks for sharing Stan. I am still waiting for the book from ADA. This year's overall quality is higher, you can actually place some tanks in the top 5 from other tanks in the top 20 and they won't feel out of place.

Hahaha... presenting #81! tadAAA!

Nice tank Stan...

Then who is the next? Isaac...littar...joo seng...

Looking at your tank, I wonder why it didn't feature higher in the ranking. One look and you know it's the work of a master.

isaacgoh wrote:
Thanks for sharing Stan. I am still waiting for the book from ADA. This year's overall quality is higher, you can actually place some tanks in the top .

5 from other tanks in the top 20 and they won't feel out of place.

Yup, on closer inspection the top tanks are very good indeed. The comments from the winners do give some insight to their works.
We thank them for inspiring us with some new ideas.[not just for competition ha!]

Amano said uncle stan still need years to become a master like him....... just joke.

Sometime we do copy or duplicate each other layout. But then, copy cat is not an issue. The main issue is...if you can copy and make it more beautiful. then you are the champion.

Drunken master? lol

Anyway, quote from the real Master:
Takashi Amano-
'I really appreciate for all the participants of the 6th International Aquatic Plants Layout Contest. I thank all the people who sent the wonderful layouts.
From this year’s contest, rule has been changed, and one can apply only one aquarium layout. Due to this rule change, we had a concern that number of applications may fall from last year’s contest, but in reality, the number of applicants an participating country exceeded the last contest, and both reached the highest level. Top prize winners should be proud of themselves.
When I looked at this year’s applications, I noticed many layouts with skills and originality. From this reason, it was very difficult to judge for jurors, and as a result, evaluation for the top winners was split among the judges. The total scores of top prize winners are very close, and the grand prize winner should be praised as a real top dog.
Looking over this year’s contest applications, I could feel the world layout trend from their styles, and noticed that planted aquarium layout matured one step further as culture. All the judges are now looking forward to seeing new development in the next year’s contest. '

Grand Prize (World Ranking No.1)
Mr. Chen Yu Lin (Taiwan)
Title: Autumnal colors

Evaluation [TA] :
Grand Prize winner layout is a relatively orthodox style, using Ouko stone as a layout material, and planting Glossostigma in the foreground, and Rotala nanjean in the background. Before anything, the composition balance and color impact are excellent in this layout. Especially the balance of beautifully trimmed right-and-left background thickets is excellent, and they created a depth in the layout. Even only Rotala nanjean is used for the stemmed plants thicket, they show variation of slight color difference from gentle red to yellow green. This layout is a compelling profound layout.

His comment [Mr Chen] :
Upon hearing that I received the grand prize, tears came out to my eyes. I am very appreciative to the judges for giving me such a great honor. I became interested in Aquariums about 5 year ago. I like ecological aquarium such as planted tank and reef tank. I focus on aqua plant layout within the last two years. This is my second entry in the ADA contest. I can not find the correct words to describe my excitement. I think I will enjoy this hobby for my whole life.

Aquarium Tank: W90xD45xH45(cm)

Aquatic Plants:
Rotala nanjean
Glossostigma elatinoides
Eleocharis parvula

Fish & Invertebrates:
Hemigrammus bleheri
Caridina japonica

Gold Prize (World Ranking No.2)
Mr. Masashi Ono (Japan)
Title: Relaxed Time

Evaluation:
The driftwood composition or plants arrangement are in high-quality finished forms. The layout and maintenance technique, using limited number of species, and growing those species in good forms, and maintaining impeccably even single leaf, is amazing. But it is unfortunate the layout lacks the impact.

His comment:
I was very surprised to see the result. I thought my layout is too common, and I did not expect to receive such a high prize. I tried to express a scene of aging driftwood, and its surrounding new-born plants and slow moving time flow by driftwood combination, using open space in luxury. I think this is an orthodox aquarium layout, but I am very glad such a layout was highly
evaluated.

Aquarium Tank: W114xD52xH52(cm)

Aquatic Plants:
Vallisneria nana
Microsorum sp.
Eleocharis xingua
Fantinalis antipyretica

Fish & Invertebrates:
Puntius sp.cf.denisoni
Crossocheilus siamensis
Caridina japonica

Silver Prize (World Ranking No.3)
Ms. Olga Baranovskaya (Ukraine)
Title: Rain is coming

Evaluation:
This layout has an unique atmosphere. Many species of aquatic plants are well-organized as a whole. From the way of using the driftwood, or the arrangement of the aquatic plants, as well as the whole composition with perspective, we could feel the creator’s unique artistic sense. This is very interesting layout, and every time we see, we have a new finding.

Her comment:
I was very delighted to have got such a high ranking! It is so great that there exists such a prestigious Contest where it is possible to share ideas, emotions and skills in the most beautiful and original field of art - aquascape - which thanks to its universal language is uniting the whole world! The highest level of this Contest makes it very important for me and my studio as professionals. I wanted to show mood and feelings rather than technical methods. I am glad that the impartial judges understood and appreciated my work.

Aquarium Tank: W125xD45xH45(cm)

Aquatic Plants:
Cladophora aegagrophira
Echinodorus tenellus "red"
Eleocharis acicularis
E.pusilla
Glossostigma elatinoides
Hydrocotyle verticillata
Lilaeopsis brasiliensis
Lindernia rotundifolia
Ludwigia sp.
Micranthenum micranthemoides
Microsorum sp.
Nymphaea sp.
Didiplis diandra
Rotala macrandra
Rotala macrandra var.
Rotala rotundifolia
Rotara rotundifolia（green）
Vesicularia dubyana
Riccia fluitans

Fish & Invertebrates:
Trigonostigma heteromorpha
Naocaridina denticulata