Vivarium 2011

[frosties]

Well my comments are as follows:

8th place - you were very unlucky here Luis. You were the rank outsider as a foreigner taking part in a dutch competition. What is surprising is the entries. None of them were in true dutch style - very nature aquarium style in layout. There were a few good aquariums, and in my opinion, you should have come a strong third, maybe even second. Eighth is a joke! But you took part and look at it this way - you were first in the international entry stakes... takes a lot of guts to go up against a home team and set a precedence for future entries. Yes lick your wounds - and get stronger. You now know what people like in holland... Learn from it and smash them next year.

The show looks great - I honestly wish I could have been there with you - but sadly I have too much on this year to do it. I remain apauled at UKAPS for not supporting you. They publicised they were taking a coach trip to Vivarium 2011 and they could have clearly brought back the tank and CO2 systems to the UK for you - but they did not... They have unfolded their stance - and shown that clearly they are worried. Looking at their scapes - one or two of them were good - but they are not all that... Learn from this... support will not be provided from your UK Aquatic Plant Society unless you tow their party line. But try and try again!

Comments have been made already about next year. I promise you this Luis... Subject to Finances and cost of exhibiting, PlantedTanks will attend the show and provide a trade stand. You will have full support from PlantedTanks and its suppliers. This will be provided for any person who attends and competes in the competitions.
If the cost of exhibiting is prohibitive, I will look at the provision of transport to the event, to transport ALL plants, equipment etc for anyone who wishes to partake in the event. Full support from PlantedTanks will be given. Count me in as a member of the team.

When details for next year are publicised, we shall look closely at what we can do as a forum to enter and attend this event.

[ghostsword]

... support will not be provided from your UK Aquatic Plant Society unless you tow their party line. But try and try again!

:) I will rather do it alone again and prepare better than tow party line. Already got plans for next year, no more stems.

The dutch like jungles, the tank that won was trully spectacular.  Next year, if I compete, finances permiting, as it can cost quite a bit, I will do a mix of moss, ferns and emerse.

It was sad that I had to give away the tank and CO2 500gram bottle, but what can be said? We learn and move on, getting better as we go along.

There were a lot of stand/shops selling plants, so I am not sure if planted tanks can compete with them, they are local to the area, unless you will sell something very diferent. I would say sell ready scaped nanos, and small co2 difusers and bottles.

The dutch like to buy ready tanks.

[James]

Shame about the 8th position, think you deserved better but looks like you had an awesome time and thats the important thing.  Would love to go to something like this myself in the future, shame there isnt anything similar in the UK.

[Alex]

Just finished reading this thread, seems as though you had some fun and some upset the ying and yang of aquatics?  Sorry you didn't get any higher  but now you know what you're up against and can go back with more confidence. Your set up was great! first time I've seen the pics as I've been on my phone most of the weekend instead of my pc so not seen them in their full'ness.

Al

[mlgt]

Well done for taking place. I like the look of the tank. You have learnt alot and come along way from the first time we met.
Keep at it and I reckon you will get there.

Its fantastic you are so enthusiastic and passionate to doing something like this. Takes alot of balls :)

Well done again.

Rik

[ghostsword]

Thanks.

The taking part was very good, and I am still trying to digest what I have learnt on the show, both with my aquascape and what I have learnt from the lectures and stands.

I couple of lessons are evident:
- do not take stems on the airplane, they do not survive the trip.
- do not put substrate on the tank without the light on.
- understand the difference between the public vote and judges vote, you cannot cater for both.

[ghostsword]

If you do not have a CO2 kit, and are looking from something that will last you almost a lifetime, then what you need to get is the Dupla kit.

The difuser, co2 cable, bottle and regulator are top notch. The difuser especially, it is made of plastic, but it gives really fine bubbles and in 30 minutes all my plants were pearling under a 18W light. :)

[johnny70]

http://series.peterdehoog.nl/vivarium2011/

I didn't realise just how big this thing is 

[ghostsword]

It was a massive show.. You guys need to go next year.. Let's organise a stand.. I will pitch in if needed.

[ghostsword]

This is a photo of my tank, taken by a pro:

http://series.peterdehoog.nl/vivarium2011/

[pauld]

you had a go thats all that matters , lessons to be learned yes but end of day do u scape for ur pleasure or to keep sum dutch bloke happy .

[Alex]

you had a go thats all that matters , lessons to be learned yes but end of day do u scape for ur pleasure or to keep sum dutch bloke happy .

He only went for the Half Cow burger!

[nigel siddall]

out of the ten tanks i put yours in the top 3 easy great job and i hope you give it another go next year mate