The International Aquatic Plants Layout Contest 2019 received 1,867 entries from 72 countries and areas around the world. TOP OF THE WORLD 2019 features top 7 works and interviews with the winners.

THE INTERNATIONAL AQUATIC PLANTS LAYOUT CONTEST 2019
World Ranking: 5
BRONZE PRIZE
Siak Wee Yeo
Malaysia／Fallowness

Aquatic Plants
Limnophila sp ‘Vietnam’
Anubias baeteri var. nana ‘Petite’
Starogyne repens
Fissidens fontanus
Fissidens nobilis
Helanthium tenellum
Bolbitis heudelotii
Littorella uniflora
Riccardia chamedryfolia

Fish & Invertebrates
Hasemania nana ‘Gold’
Crossocheilus siamensis
Otocinclus sp.
Caridina cf. babaulti var. ‘Malaya’
Caridina multidentata

AJ: What was the most difficult aspect of creating and maintaining this layout work?

The most challenging part of this work is the structuring work. I need to arrange the trunk shape wood to be horizontal, but due to the limited tank space, I could neither express more to have a good perspective nor further improve the visual impression. As a result, I decided to proportion the trunk shape wood into different pcs, and “re-arrange” it by placing the bigger wood piece in the front and followed by the smaller piece behind it. Not only that, I choose Riccardia Chamedryfolia to be one of the main plants for my layout. I carefully attached Riccardia at the edge on horizontal wood to further express the natural feeling. Maintaining this plant is hard, due to the need to have very cold-water temperature, and the speed of growing was very slow.

 

AJ: What kind of aquascape do you want to create in the future? Do you have any dreams relating to the aquarium hobby?

I hope I can create a pure NA scape in near future but not for contest. I would like to enjoy the pure aquascape experience to suit my home design. I dream for a large aquarium like the one created in Mr. Amano’s house with large angel fish swimming in the living room.