Twenty-Nine Of the Best Nano Aquascapes In America

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Music licensed under creative commons. Music by Chris Zabriskie.

This week we're looking at 29 nano aquascapes that were entered into the Aquatic Experience's Aquascaping Live competition. Each tank had to be set up in a day live at the convention. The aquariums were judged by a panel and first through sixth were awarded to the lucky winners.

[TankTested]

I finally bit the bullet and created a Patreon. Please don't hate me.

[jonh]

Number 21, by John Pini was my favourite due to the multiple dimensions, depth and attention to scale, superb.

[catsarmy]

The better scapes all make the tank look bigger than it is through depth perception, and understanding rule of thirds, leading viewer focus, and light and shadows. Can see the difference in experience level of the participants. Great video! Good reference for my next nanoscape!

[absolutehuman]

This video lacks time codes! Let me fix it:

#1 0:19
#2 0:51
#3 1:24 - 3rd place
#4 1:55
#5 2:28
#6 2:58
#7 3:32
#8 4:05
#9 4:34
#10 5:05
#11 5:38
#12 6:10 - 2nd place
#13 6:43
#14 7:12
#15 7:42
#16 8:15
#17 8:47 (one of the best non-winning IMO)
#18 9:21 - 6th place
#19 9:51
#20 10:24
#21 10:55 - 1st place
#22 11:27
#23 11:59
#24 12:33
#25 13:04 (looks like my typical aquarium, lol)
#26 13:36
#27 14:10 - 4th place
#28 14:43
#29 15:16 - 5th place

[tobiasnerbring]

For me number 12 takes the win! I really feel like this is a cut taken out of a small tropical creek and that the small tetras call this their home! I would love to have that as a scape of my own, very well done!

[unlimitedgnar]

10:00 the guy forgot his plants at home lol

[PlantedElement]

This production was amazing! It actually allowed me to see them with a clearer mind thinks to the music and pace. Well done!

[mental_breakdance]

For some reason i was immediately attached to #1, im not even in the hobby but that idea of the driftwood in the front, I was hooked. You didnt look at it like a picture, it pulled you in and immersed you in this underwater jungle of minimalism, with that wood in the front it gave a three dimensional experience that surpassed all others. IMHO i greatly respect the judge.

[LWes]

Omg! I really loved your tank! I was looking for some inspiration because I just bought a nano tank, and I actually stopped the video to go back and play yours again (I didn't know it was yours yet) It really caught my eye! I enjoyed it very much, and I was mesmerized by how simple yet beautiful it was, I appreciated that it stood out from the rest. It's such a disappointment it didn't make it to the top rankings, but I felt really inspired by it! You have a new sub!

[rockytoptech]

I thoroughly enjoyed this video! I was watching this with my buddy and without knowing you were even part of the competition I'd commented on your setup mainly because as I was telling him, "Man I love how this looks natural and the the color of the rock and substrate was carefully chosen as it looks as if the rocks were slowly worn away over the years and formed the matching substrate!" Nice work. Very impressive. Subbed!

[vampgaia]

17 and 29 are my favorites. Both make me want to walk within the scape. In 17, I feel like the ocean is just over the ridge. And in 29, I want to explore the forest. Both had great depth of field and excellent attention to detail. Your cinematography is lovely.

[SamPonjican]

16 was my favorite but I remarked aloud to my wife when the first place entry came up. That is a truly unique layout! I’ve never seen hardscape up against the front glass, leaving an opening to view the layout behind the portal that opens up and creates incredible depth of field.

[Coralust]

These tanks are absolutely stunning and you photographed them perfectly displaying their beauty. Great video. 👍

[HAL-dmeh]

This wasn't only a very good video (I'm just getting back into the hobby) but you also just introduced me indirectly to Chris Zabriskie. THANK YOU!!

[roxbittman]

I really enjoyed this video, as I am currently in the process of developing a 10 gallon (well, 9 gal) planted tank, with stones. These contestants provide a lot of great inspiration! Thank you for making it!

[theones]

Thank you for introducing us to aquatic experience! We went and volunteered last week and had a fantastic time.

[shesellsfish]

I think you are a great aquascaper. I also think it's wonderful that you did such an amazing job videoing all of these beautiful tanks.

[michaelwang]

Thanks for recapping all the aquascapes in that beautiful video.

[NaturalAquariums]

Wow, what an incredible video with the beautiful scapes and cinematic film. First of all, I think they all look very nice, competition was definitely intense at 2018 AE. My personal favorites, in no particular order; 3, 8, 9, 12, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 21, 23, 27, and 29.

[Davvyk]

I was watching this for inspiration for my tank and I actually screenshotted yours to my notes so you won in my eyes!