30+ Contest Aquascapes at the Aquatic Experience 2018

Here are all the aquascapes from the live aquascaping contest at the Aquatic Experience 2018 show in New Jersey. Filmed before the deadline so some scapes were worked on afterwards.
Which aquascape was your favourite?
Keep on scaping!
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[@newmexicoaquatics282]

Wow. My favorite is the scape at the very very end, with the black neons. What a beauty! Thanks for sharing the Aquatic Experience with those of us that could not make it. Cherri-O!- Little Bobby

[@Maevinn]

Mortified to be included with such great scapes. 😂. Thanks, George! Great to see you again. 😊

[@plcc07777]

#3 Large Tank...AWESOME !!! #1 Nano Tank...Love the cave effect.

[@joshl.6826]

So many great scapes, but I think the scapes at 13:22 and 15:10 are my favourites. 13:22 has the unique use of the circular driftwood, which kinda frames the grassy hillside scene as if looking through a portal. 15:10 feels like a more naturalistic forest scene, but still maintains an attractive composition with the path and branches directing the eye toward the light - it's almost like the edge of an ancient forest with the path leading to open grasslands. Man, these scapes can really capture the imagination!

[@owengornicki8086]

My favorite large one was the really simple vallisneria one. It was surprisingly not technical and very simple, but it reminded me of a more classic nature aquarium and the fish definitely seemed at home. The small pathway was great. My favorite nano was the dark one with the tillandsia plants growing on the wood.

[@joeharvilla898]

The plant George was wondering about is echindoras aflame (purple knight). Beautiful plant!!

[@DannyMcLaneDC]

*at the end... "And there's this bullsh*t tank or whateva" LOL! I love learning from yours videos tours.

[@bernhardkawell68]

A lot of very well scaped tanks. ..it's ajoy to see them. ..George thanks for showing us all of them. .have a lot of fun

[@GeorgeFarmerStudios]

Thanks Bernhard 👍

[@shirleymcintyre4263]

The 3rd tank is stunning

[@h20culture44]

Great commentary and explanation of all the sub-types of aquascaping. I always seem to learn a thing or two in every video!

[@GeorgeFarmerStudios]

Thanks 🙏

[@sunnycal2293]

There were some really beautiful scapes you showed us. Loved this all.

[@michelkraan2431]

Nice Video! The first nano scape With the red cave is my favorite..

[@zackscape8979]

Michel Kraan thanks that one was mine check out the growth on it at my instagram zack_scape

[@adamdownes4725]

Awesome tank well done!

[@mikef3300]

Welcome to the States George. It’s great to have you. Don’t envy you as a judge for a few of those nano tanks. Some of them look very nice and it’s tough to pick the best.

[@GeorgeFarmerStudios]

Thanks Mike 👍

[@88losi]

Classic nature style of course

[@mikeinca3762]

Wow! The #3 aquascape of the larger tanks was awesome! The Nanos were incredible! I’m definitely going this year! I’m about 45 minutes north of it!

[@DavidRK-cr3xk]

The first one, very natural

[@NYGOLD]

Great video! it was a pleasure meeting you at the AE.

[@GeorgeFarmerStudios]

Thanks 🙏

[@SimplyBetta]

I really enjoyed some of the more unusual scapes like the jagged desert-like cave at 10:58, the carnivorous plants at 12:28, and the lumpy bumpy lava rock tank at 14:23. Im happy to have learned about how to set up an nice backlight, too

[@DannysAquariums]

Some awesome aquascapes at the Aquatic Experience! Have fun George! Some tanks have crystal clear water, that’s so nice! 😉

[@betsycummings7391]

In the large category - tuff choices. I really, really wanted to vote for #1 - I know who scaped it, and I found the layout very interesting. I think it was very innovative in the simplicity of it, and putting the rocks behind some of the plants making a sort of zig zag look was very unique. I wish the filter tubes were hidden at the back as it was distracting - I hope they are either moved or removed for the judging. I give it my runner up award. In the end, however, I have to go with #3. It just drew me right in to the tank and I loved the use of the wood and all of the different plants of various shapes and shades. It looked like a much more mature tank. Of course, I could say almost the same thing about entry #5, but it didn't quite grab me the way #3 did and I felt it was a bit over done. Too much of everything if that makes sense. It's still a very nice entry, although I felt #3 was more balanced, a bit more open, and more natural looking. I was absolutely intrigued by many of the tanks, but in the nano category the one with the wood coming out of the top (and cleverly hiding the light underneath the wood) with the air plants in it was fantastic and not a style I've seen before. I give that one my runner up award. I could have given this one my vote except that I felt the circled wood/window was so expertly done it got my vote. In the nano category, you didn't give us numbers to use, so the best I can do is describe it. (EDIT: I watched again, and I *THINK* the entry is #13, but not entirely positive.) I absolutely, hands down, loved the scape with the circled wood in the front, looking almost like a window, drawing the eye toward the back of the tank, where the aquascaper used smaller plants (and lots of color) to give an awesome feeling of depth to the tank.

[@baikia777]

No. 1 by L.R.Bretz haha.. the filter tube is for diatom filter to clear up the water. He'll remove it before the judging.

[@GeorgeFarmerStudios]

Great comments thanks 🙏

[@adamdownes4725]

YES!! 100% agree with both of your choices, they stood out to me the most as well. That nano with the window look was very innovative, I could watch both tanks all day.

[@Joe-wv7pv]

I like the first one super simple but very realistic beach shore

[@rouvenh.6687]

Love your videos, George!!! Thank you, thank you, thank you all i can say!!!!! Keep on scaping

[@GeorgeFarmerStudios]

Thanks 🙏

[@tanksforlooking5576]

Mine's the one with the plants growing out the top and spilling over the side. Didn't win anything yesterday, but maybe People's Choice today 😁 there's an albino clawed frog in there, too, but it hid for the entire day yesterday so nobody got to see it

[@Maevinn]

Did you find the missing Betta?

[@tanksforlooking5576]

@@Maevinn no! And the frog never showed up, either! It's okay though, everybody I did bring home is doing great :)

[@Maevinn]

Bummer!

[@iKnoYooNikka]

I love these videos displaying some of the coolest live aquascapes ever. Thanks for sharing and giving us insight into what's the latest and greatest! Some of your comments are hilarious, especially when you say, "...interesting" hahaha. Keep on scapin'!

[@theoschannel7114]

Beautiful

[@Sagadi]

Awesome video! The floating one is Pistia stratiotes.

[@vampgaia]

In the large category, I liked the 3rd one you showed us - with the cool trees. It looked like a forest, a nice place to spend the afternoon. In the nano category, there were so many I thought were beautiful. The first one you showed us with the cave area that had some backlighting was very cool. I liked the color of the plants as well. I always love color in my tanks. I also liked the second one, I wanted to take a walk down the path and into the woods. The tenth one had some lovely plants. I found the layout calming. Plus, I love Rummy Nosed Tetras. Thirteen had the half moon shaped wood with wonderful depth. There were so many great scapes, but those are a few of my favorites. I tend to prefer scapes with paths that lead me in and plants with pops of color. I definitely have a style preference. Have a safe trip home.

[@GeorgeFarmerStudios]

Great comments thanks 🙏

[@sidwellavfc]

Really cool! I love seeing so many scapes together like this, it’s really good for some inspiration. Have fun!

[@ProfessorAquaria]

A few stunning ones in the Nano category. Then you see the other ones and you can't help but wonder, "What were they thinking"? But to each his own. Thank you for the video. At least this way we get some exposure to what's happening in the Aquascaping world. We don't have anything like these events in South Africa.

[@Fishing_Addiction_Miami]

Wow amazing video!!! Great work!!!

[@btdarterschannel112]

Great video! Thanks for taking us along! I'm not sure which tank is my favorite. One of the nano-scapes, I think. I liked the ones with really strong hardscape. Can't pick one, though.

[@erikalsgaard6836]

Large tank #5!

[@shinrabeta1]

16:45 was absolutely the best. That's what my third scape is gonna look like.

[@bristlypleco722]

you are great.

[@GeorgeFarmerStudios]

Thanks 🙏

[@sharonbendtsen2973]

Favorite in the large was the last one. The big ryoboku. But I did like the sand with corkscrew Val as well. In the nano. Not sure need to look at them again

[@Brantov]

Interesting... very nice.

[@fishtales2597]

The floating plants in the vallisnaria aquarium is salvinia, its quite good for coverage and isnt like duckweed where you can never get rid of it.

[@roshanraj5838]

Hi George.. in the large category.. I vote for number 5.. whereas in the nano category.. it's really a difficult decision to pick one.. hence my options would be.. all the ones with pretty solid hardscapes.. which are quite a few of them.. u are the better person to choose the best among them.. Good luck 👍 #keeponscaping

[@GeorgeFarmerStudios]

Thanks Roshan 👍

[@GeorgeFarmerStudios]

Thanks Roshan 👍

[@simonwhite6103]

No 1 but with a giant pebble in the foreground seriously! Lol

[@shesellsfish]

OMG...I don't know how you can be a judge, I want to bring all of them to my house, of course I'd have to buy a bigger house. They are all beautiful, but there is just something unique about the one with the cave. I know the red light is unintentional and comes from the table far behind it...but that cave would still be awesome no matter what was in the background behind it.

[@baikia777]

I'm Indonesian, I'm surprised that you said no.3 is Indonesian style. I don't know if it's a distinct style because that kind of layout is done by a lot of aquascapers. But I did notice it's done mostly by Southeast Asian aquascapers. I think the style is a mix of jungle and diorama style as it emulate a section of a rainforest.

[@VanBurgen]

Wow...so many ideas 💡 which nano tank won?

[@NatureCubes]

Not quite at the level of IAPLC hahah but non the less there are some nice scapes there (My favorite is In the outro right at the end, that Iwagumi has a very strong rock work, and once grown in it would be amazing.)

[@inessilva5936]

Larger tank:# 5 cute with corys? 🐟 Nano:# 1, # 2 .. I like that iwagumi with bucephalandra on Top and that one with blue / white background 😁

[@thefishylife6823]

5:15 that's my favorite ,hands down the best I saw although it's hard watching on a cell phone to really appreciate the tank.....many you can answer my question after the contest but when you filmed this did you know which was your favorite or what you knew was going to win?

[@GeorgeFarmerStudios]

I knew my favourites but there’s other judges so couldn’t know the winner

[@stephennix3118]

Great video Geroge. Did you find out what the red plant was in the nano tank

[@GeorgeFarmerStudios]

Echinodorus “Purple Knight”

[@nf794]

Very very pretty Tanks, how do they get those bucephalandras so colourfull😍

[@ericks02]

my favourite is the one at the very very end. but for real my dude, the aquarium at 14 minutes, there is a plant front right on screen, what is it?i have a little blip of it that tagged along with some moss i got this passed weekend. i don't know what it is called to look it up and learn about it haha

[@sharonbendtsen2973]

Hey George. Are you going to the AGA convention in Seattle in may

[@chrissieberrill9943]

For me I think I like the last of the bog ones the best, and then probably the second of the small ones, followed by some of the more detailed ones with the sort of 'path' going on. Most of the iwagumi style ones look fairly weak to my untrained eye though....

[@chrissieberrill9943]

Ooh, plus that backlit one!

[@simoneventura2932]

9:53 and 4:56 are the best!!!

[@Urik985]

Просто супер Джорджи! Аквас с риобоку самый крутой

[@sayankaran3441]

Please make a video over all type of Aquarioum soil, Description about,, 1) price . 2) soil needed with respect to aquarioum size . 3) long lasting ability. Please please please please please 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@richardl.5426]

large category : number 3 of course! amazing layout and more mature tank. For the nano category... is it hard to choose the tank. they are: 1, 2, (7 no finish), so 8 (george style i think :p), not 10! poor fish..., 13! (probably the best as you say... no?), 17 (amazing ambience... i have a good feeling this tank, texture, colors, light...), 19 (long live the microsorum!), (21 no finish), so 22, 26 and 28! (the wood outside the tank... wow, very nice and innovative). peace george keep on scaping ;)

[@GeorgeFarmerStudios]

Cheers Richard 👍

[@sethmuller2764]

No dark water tanks!

[@woshigepro2]

that plant looks like echninodorus Aflame or echinodorus purple knight.

[@AquascapingAndStuff]

I like indpnesian style with a lot of wood but probably would newer try it as I'm afraid that there will be a lot of dead spots.... how do they manage to clean?!

[@GeorgeFarmerStudios]

They take a long time to maintain I guess 👍

[@adammillsindustries.]

Wow wow omg wow!!!!!! I can’t speak!!!

[@sharonbendtsen2973]

What is the blue fish in the 3rd tank

[@ridhwanahmadfarhansyah3292]

0:13 Read the acronym

[@Zaku186]

Do you use a Plenum? if not why?

[@GeorgeFarmerStudios]

Why should I?

[@Zaku186]

Well they are supposed to keep the substrate from going anaerobic while also keeping the dissolved oxygen in the soil down for the roots and they are supposed to suck detritus down into the substrate for the plants to feed on. im still new to all of this more advanced stuff but i was wondering what your thoughts on them were. this guy is where i learned about it. and he explains it better. kzbin.info/www/bejne/nXKmqqydoZiharM

[@freegaming9820]

Why your video's size are higher while quality is mediocre?

[@sanjithvarshan3047]

plz tell me i can sow carpet seee in stone

[@SoloTraveller0]

15:32 what’s going on???!

[@sanjithvarshan3047]

beacause substrate is costly

[@turnipsucks6416]

Disagree. Well planned, you can source and collect substrate for free. At least here in California I can. Dry river beds, rocks, etc. And a 75 lb bag of gravel sized lava rock cost's about $20. So in truth, planning aids greatly in cost.

[@cryptotippy8082]

ball bite us deformus

[@Jgra-qs6fn]

You know yours is shit when George doesn’t even say anything about it