We keep on noticing yearly progress in the category but still many entries suffer from either plant-collectoritis (too many species) or red-plant-fetish (way too many strong red plants in the aquascape which makes you lose focus).
Also when you enter for the Dutch Style you need to focus on contrast between your plant groups. They need to be clearly different than the plants next to it in color height leaf shapes etc.
And what can I say; just look at the champion in this category and what he has done in his 3.10 cm tank. Contrast all the way from left to right great sense of depth and most of all: a true example of Dutch Style Aquascaping.
— Marco Aukes
While Marco is absolutely right in his comments about the entries I have to say I am pleased with the improvement we are seeing in this category. While most entries still have some obvious flaws I can see a real effort to learn about and practice this style of tank.
When we started the biotope category few entries were good. Now there are many really great ones. I hope that people will continue to take this category seriously learn from the Dutch masters and we will over time continue to see even more of the progress we have seen in the last few years! Keep up the good work!
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Also when you enter for the Dutch Style you need to focus on contrast between your plant groups. They need to be clearly different than the plants next to it in color height leaf shapes etc.
And what can I say; just look at the champion in this category and what he has done in his 3.10 cm tank. Contrast all the way from left to right great sense of depth and most of all: a true example of Dutch Style Aquascaping.
When we started the biotope category few entries were good. Now there are many really great ones. I hope that people will continue to take this category seriously learn from the Dutch masters and we will over time continue to see even more of the progress we have seen in the last few years! Keep up the good work!