Aquascaping Contest

45P Aquascaping Contest Guidelines – Aquarium Expo 2025

The following guidelines and criteria will be used when judging the 45P Aquascaping Contest at the Aquarium Expo 2025. The contest judge will exclusively use these criteria to award points on the different aspects of the layout.

1. Viewing Perspective: The layout will only be judged squarely from the front, similar to viewing a photo taken from the front of the tank. The sides, back, and top of the tank will not be considered viewing angles and will not be judged. However, it is good practice to keep these areas neat and presentable for extended viewing pleasure after the contest.

2. Equipment: All additional equipment (heater, filter, aeration) must be removed from the tank prior to and during judging. It is advisable to keep it removed during viewing times at the Expo as well.

3. Lighting: Adequate lighting must be provided for each layout during all judging and viewing periods. Each contestant is responsible for supplying their own lighting requirements.

4. Livestock Inclusion: Every layout must include livestock. Given the limited size of the layout, shrimp can be used either in place of or in combination with fish. It is crucial to match the size of the livestock to the size of the layout, both for aesthetics and the wellbeing of the livestock.

5. Scoring: A total of up to 100 points can be awarded, with the following aspects individually considered:
– Aesthetic Impression (20/100 points): Overall composition and balance of the layout from the front.
– Proportions and Natural Realism (20/100 points): Does the layout look natural and create visual depth? Are livestock sizes in proportion to other elements?
– Use of Materials (10/100 points): Imaginative and original use of hardscape, substrate, and other materials.
– Plant Health and Placement (20/100 points): Health and maturity of plants, free of algae, and natural and creative use of plants.
– Water Clarity and Cleanliness (10/100 points): Clarity of water and overall cleanliness of the tank and its contents.
– Sustainability (20/100 points): Is the layout sustainable over the long term for extended use after the contest?

6. Judging Outcomes: The total points of each entry will determine its standing in the contest. In the unlikely event of a tie for any of the top three positions, the official judge will appoint a random co-judge, and they will then re-judge the entries in question separately and individually to determine a winner.

7. Contestant Responsibilities: Contestants are solely and individually responsible for all aspects of their entries as well as the feeding, care, and upkeep of all livestock, at all times before, during, and after the judging and viewing periods.

8. Claims: No claims of any nature regarding an individual’s entry in this contest will be entertained by Eastern Cape Aquarium and Aquascaping Club (ECAAC), its Executive Committee, or Membership.

9. Finality of Results: The results of the contest as determined and announced by the appointed judge will be considered final.