Aquascaping Live! 2017 Small Planted Tanks

Aquascaper Vang Thao is beaming with the news that his small tank entry earned a well-deserved 3rd place recognition in a field of 30 participants.

The end of 2017 was busy for the staff of AMAZONAS and CORAL Magazines, and as a result, some projects, however much we love them, had to get put on the back burner. So now that the dust has settled from the new year, we made some time to revisit special projects—in this case, our coverage of the Aquascaping Live! competition from early November 2017.

This aquascaping competition is sanctioned by the Aquatic Gardeners Association and has been held each year at Aquatic Experience – Chicago. 2017 was perhaps particularly noteworthy as it would be the capstone on a multi-year run for the competition’s location. This year, 2018, the Aquatic Experience will be held October 17-19, at the Meadowlands Convention Center in Secaucus, New Jersey.

While many of us in the Midwest are downright heartbroken to see the move, our East Coast readers should be paying close attention to the Aquatic Experience, which has proven to be unlike any other; it’s diverse enough to truly expand your horizons and is very family-friendly.

The small tank category is a favorite; while the large tank competition requires a team and a petition to be included, the small tank competition is first-come, first-served, an open individual competition. Judging by the remarkable aquascapes on display in the small-tanks category, aquascapers who journey to and compete in the 2018 Aquascaping Live! event have a high standard to live up to. Not much appears to have changed from the 2016 competition, so if you want to learn more about what was provided, and what the rules were, be sure to review our coverage of the earlier 2016 Small Tank Aquascaping Live! competition.

We hope you enjoy this all-encompassing look at the entries fielded for the 2017 small aquarium category, and tell us: Which do you think deserved the top slot? Which aquascape was over-rated or under-appreciated? We look forward to your comments and thoughts on these stunning aquascaping examples.

2017 Small Tank Aquascaping Competition: Aquatic Experience – Chicago

Aquascape by Alex Wenchal

3rd Place Aquascape by Vang Thao

Aquascape by Edward Tang

Aquascape by Joe Strybel

Aquascape by Kory Smith

Aquascape by Rich Schram

Aquascape by Sam Rutka

Aquascape by Nathan Reeverts

Aquascape by Wojciech Puzniak

2016’s small-tank category winner John Pini earned the 1st place honor again with this entry for 2017.

Aquascape by Brady Kerewich

Aquascape by Sean Peck

A second look at Sean Peck’s entry, with a subtle difference noticed the second day. Lighting seems to be playing an important role in aquascaping these days!