Amazing progression and part of why we are here

[Joel Armstrong]

My first 75 gal, probably 2 months in the hobby

Same tank ~3 yrs later

~5 years later, 2018 AGA Dutch 3rd place

Hi Joe,

Wow!, very impressive.

Is your 3rd place AGA Dutch tank 5 or 8 years after your first tank pic?

 

[Burr740 68]

Hi Joe,

Wow!, very impressive.

Is your 3rd place AGA Dutch tank 5 or 8 years after your first tank pic?

Thanks!. Roughly 8. That tank was the second year I enterd the AGA. Funny enough my first year was the only time Ive come in 1st. All the years since Ive been 2nd or 3rd

Heres the 1st place from 2017. Its a 48"x24''x24" 120 gal. Its probably my 4th or 5th favorite out of them all, not even crazy about it really, lol

 

[HardeeParty 11]

Where we are now:

View attachment 2546

Thought I’d revive this with an update after a major overhaul.

 

[Joel Armstrong]

Thanks!. Roughly 8. That tank was the second year I enterd the AGA. Funny enough my first year was the only time Ive come in 1st. All the years since Ive been 2nd or 3rd

Heres the 1st place from 2017. Its a 48"x24''x24" 120 gal. Its probably my 4th or 5th favorite out of them all, not even crazy about it really, lol

Thanks Joe,

The reason behind my question.... I was curious about how long it took for you to become so good at the presentation of planted tanks.

I've looked at pictures of your first place tank a few times actually. Must have been a lot of work!

For me, I find it's a slow process to improve on presentation skills. I still have so much to learn

Well done Joe !

Thanks again.

 

[Freshflora]

Thanks Joe,

The reason behind my question.... I was curious about how long it took for you to become so good at the presentation of planted tanks.

I've looked at pictures of your first place tank a few times actually. Must have been a lot of work!

For me, I find it's a slow process to improve on presentation skills. I still have so much to learn

Well done Joe !

Thanks again.

Correct me if I’m wrong @Burr740, but one of the things that stands out as a significant factor for Joe for his arrangement/scaping progression was his willingness and ability to do major rescapes during his first 3 years in the high tech arena. If you read through his journals, pretty much every 3-6 months in the first few years he would redo an entire half of the tank at least, often the whole tank. I think being willing to really get his hands wet was huge.