The International Aquatic Plants Layout Contest (abbreviated: IAPLC) describes itself as the world's largest competition for nature and planted aquarium design. Since 2000, it has been held once a year by the Japanese manufacturer Aqua Design Amano (ADA). The IAPLC is a photo contest in the field of aquascaping. In 2018, over 2,000 aquarium designers from over 60 countries took part in this contest.

Terms of participation

In principle, every aquarist is invited to take part in the IAPLC. However, only aquariums with freshwater plants can take part in the contest. Terrariums or saltwater layouts are not permitted. Also, only the submersed parts underwater are included in the judging; emersed setups or plants growing out of the water, as in an open Nature Aquarium, do not count. The size of the aquarium does not matter.
Entries are submitted online via a form on the IAPLC website. A time window is set each year for this, which usually opens on April 1 and closes on May 31.

Participation in the IAPLC is free. You should submit an unedited frontal image of the aquarium in JPEG format with an image size under 5 MB. The contest participant should also be the creator of the layout and must be named. Only one entry can be submitted at a time, and simultaneous participation in other aquascaping contests not authorized by ADA is not permitted. What is important for the photographer is that participation involves the transfer of a right of use (ADA even speaks of a transfer of copyright).
However, there are a number of approved aquascaping contests in which you may take part at the same time. These are: the AGA International Aquascaping Contest, the CONCURSO BRASILEIRO DE AQUAPAISAGISMO (CBAP), the European Aquatic Plants Layout Contest (EAPLC), the Hungarian Aquascaping Contest (HAC), the IBERIAN AQUATIC & EMERSE CONTEST (IAEC), the The Great Indian Aquascaping Contest (TGIAC) and the THE SOUTH AFRICAN AQUASCAPING CONTEST.

If you capture an aquarium layout in a picture at its peak, aquascapers call this a "final shot". Do you want to take part in an aquascaping contest and are still looking for tips on photography? Then take a look at our articles on this topic ("Photographing an aquarium, part 1", "Part 2" and "Preparing for the final shot").

Prizes and awards

The International Aquatic Plants Layout Contest (IAPLC) is certainly one of the most renowned aquascaping contests and offers high-value prizes. Achieving a good ranking in this contest is one of the highest honors for many aquascapers worldwide. The annual winner of the IAPLC is awarded the "Gold Prize" and prize money of 1,000,000 JPY (approx. €8,100). Second place receives the "Silver Prize" and 300,000 JPY prize money. Below that, two Bronze Prizes with 100,000 JPY prize money are awarded, followed by three "Honor Prizes", endowed with 50,000 JPY, and twenty "Winning Works", which are awarded 10,000 JPY prize money. Another 100 places below that receive the title "Winning Work" and a corresponding certificate.

All submitted works are then published by ADA in the annually published IAPLC Booklet, with the top rankings receiving a detailed description.

Jury

The jury for the IAPLC consists of a number of renowned international experts. A typical lineup looks as follows, although there can of course also be certain fluctuations in personnel:

• Hiroshi Yamada (JAPAN)
• Shogo Yamaguchi (JAPAN)
• Sergei M. Kochetov (RUSSIA)
• Yu-Fa Huang (TAIWAN)
• David Boruchowitz ( U.S.A.)
• Frantisek Kolin (CZECH REPUBLIC)
• Friedrich Bitter (GERMANY)
• Philippe Chevoleau (FRANCE)
• André Longarço (BRAZIL)
• Li Feng Cui (CHINA)

The judging process works as follows: after the submission deadline (usually May 31), the TOP 127 are selected by an IAPLC committee in a primary screening process. In a second process, the jury now assesses these 127 works and draws up a ranking ("Ranking Point"). In addition, in the "Top Selection Point" process, each juror assesses his or her personal top ten according to the following criteria:

Recreation of a natural habitat for ornamental fish (maximum 50 points):

• Assessment of the work with regard to a healthy environment for fish
• Expression of the underwater world in this layout
• Condition of the plants and fish in the aquarium
• Assessment of the aquarium with regard to type, size, physiology and ecology of the inhabitants

Long-term maintenance (maximum 10 points):

• Weighing the possibility of long-term maintenance of the aquascape
• Assessment of whether the work in the final shot photo was created only for a short time, or only for the moment of the photo.

Technical skill of the creator (maximum 10 points):

• Assessment of the comprehensive techniques for creating and maintaining the layout

Originality and impression of the work (maximum 10 points):

• Assessment of the aquascaper's creativity and originality
• Perfection and attractiveness of the layout

Presentation of a natural atmosphere in the layout (maximum 10 points):

• Expression of the work with regard to a natural ecosystem
• Presentation with regard to transience
• Assessment of the creator's interpretation of nature

Composition and plant selection (maximum 10 points):

• Completeness of the layout composition
• Assessment of the balance in the choice of plants

In addition, each juror has the option of choosing a personal favorite ("Best Aquarium") from the works. This one then receives bonus points. Finally, the points from the "Ranking Point", "Top Selection Point" and "Best Aquarium" processes are added up, and from them the final placements for all participants are determined and announced.

As of 2019. Subject to change. You can find current information on the page for the International Aquatic Plants Layout Contest.