Re: [AGA Contest] Re:Biotopes

["S. Hieber" <shieber@yahoo.com>]

--- Steven Pituch <spituch@ev1.net> wrote:
> My intent in presenting these guidelines was to simplify,
> not make the
> biotope category more complicated. 

I think it definitely clarifies, but not necessarily
simply. But it's not a simple category.

> Not sure if it helps
> now after I've
> studied the feedback so far.
> 
> Just to clarify.
> 
> The three biotope classifications are presented to the
> contestant to help
> give direction.  If the contestant studies these
> classifications and then
> can classify his/her entry then he has a better
> understanding of biotopes as
> defined for the sense of this contest.
> The classifications are not meant to be judged
> separately.   I still believe
> that the biotopes should be judged as one category
> regardless of size or
> classification.  So there's no change in this area from
> previous contests.
> Also this is part of the documentation that is meant to
> make the biotope
> entries educational.
> . . .  Biotopers
> tend to study the plants they collect, so they appreciate
> learning about
> prohibited plants, as they are usually prohibited for a
> good reason.   I
> also don't want the contestants to repeat the mistake
> I made with my previous entry, showing water hyacinth
> floating in my
> aquarium, and giving my address as Texas!

Maybe we should jsut warn about the issue. It relates to
all aquascapes, not just biotopes, no?

> 
> I think that if the AGA were to eliminate the biotope
> category
> it would disappoint a significant number of its members. 

Yes. I think the cat is picking up.


> You have to
> realize that most of us on this list are very much into
> aquascaping in some
> way or another.  However, even though the AGA contest is
> not, the AGA itself
> is a planted aquaria club.  

The contest isn't exclusively a planted aquascape contest,
but the emphasis has been pretty obvious, seems to me. But
I think it does the contest good to have the broader reach,
to express the broader interest.

> . . . I do think also that eventually aquascaping will 
> develop
> towards more
> biotypical arrangements.  . .So
> biotopes may
> influence aquascaping eventually just like the advances
> made in technology
> to promote the high quality of aquascaping are used by
> almost all aquarists.
> 

> So its true that it is an aquascaping contest, and the
> biotope category did
> not develop
> like the other categories.  If we really want to make it
> a pure aquascaping
> contest then we should get rid of the biotope category. 


Why is a biotope layout not an aquascape? I don't think one
is any less so just because it is representational.

> But I think then
> the AGA
> contest would not represent the overall membership as
> well as it does now.
> If you look at TAG, you see that the articles aren't just
> about aquascaping.
> Many articles are about the plants themselves such as
> where they are
> collected, the joy of collecting, and how they grow.
> 
> In any event we need to create a
> non-planted
> aquascaping category.  

I'm missing something here. What has non-planted to do with
biotopes except that some have few or no plants, while many
(most) biotopes do?

> If it is decided that the AGA
> contest should continue
> to have a
> biotope category, and if the biotope category is to
> survive, it
> needs some sort of encouragement in the form of some
> guidance.

Everyone agrees with this last point, no? Speak up if you
disagree.

sh

=====
-  -   -   -   -   -   -   -
Erik Olson annouces AGA 2004 Annual Aquascaping Awards
at the annual Convention Nov 12, 13 & 14; 
Details & Registration at www.aquatic-gardeners.org  & www.gwapa.org


        
                
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