AGA Convention 2026

[BenB]

Just found out all these tanks and stands with accompanying stuff like aquascape will be in the auction. They will probably go for a good price but a fraction of what you'd pay for new. Wish I had this opportunity when it was in Raleigh.





Several of these and Wabi Kusa tanks as well.


We knew about this one. Stand, filter, and all the ADA supplies with it.

 

[ElleDee]

FYI, the Dave Chow tank just went for $4k at auction

 

[JayP]

FYI, the Dave Chow tank just went for $4k at auction

I'm assuming that's with every piece of ADA equipment shown in the pictures? And it looks to be about a 90P?

 

[ElleDee]

I'm assuming that's with every piece of ADA equipment shown in the pictures? And it looks to be about a 90P?

Yes, a fully decked out 90P. I don't think it included a CO2 system, but definitely tank, light, stand, superjet filter, lily pipes, back screen, I think fertilizers, and skimmer. And everything in the tank of course, which has the full ADA substrate system with all the additives. And the irreplaceable aquascape of course, but I assume you are doing the math on how much the thing would retail for

 

[JayP]

Yes, a fully decked out 90P. I don't think it included a CO2 system, but definitely tank, light, stand, superjet filter, lily pipes, back screen, I think fertilizers, and skimmer. And everything in the tank of course, which has the full ADA substrate system with all the additives. And the irreplaceable aquascape of course, but I assume you are doing the math on how much the thing would retail for

Yep, always doin the math . That's not bad. You're basically getting the Dave chow scape for free. Getting it home in one piece will be the challenge.

 

[ElleDee]

Yep, always doin the math . That's not bad. You're basically getting the Dave chow scape for free. Getting it home in one piece will be the challenge.

Yeah, it's a good deal considering, but not too obscene of a steal. That's a lot of money to drop at one time regardless and like you said the transportation situation is going to be rough even if you don't have to move it far.

 

[BenB]

I've been flying so I'm glad others answered.
Crazy that it went for $4K. I'm jealous and congrats to who got it.
I have this pic I was going to post tomorrow in reply, but since my flight is delayed, here you go. Yeah, you get all this. There was a CO2 cylinder with it, but I'd be surprised if you get that. Otherwise there was the difuser. There is also an ADA surface skimmer that I don't think you can see. Also, don't forget the lighted background. Setup has everything. As ElleDee said, it was fully and I mean fully decked out. Not an exaggeration, people whispered around it.

@ElleDee Any idea what the other tanks went for? They were primo as well.

 

[BranchScape]

4k isn't bad at all imo. The biggest issue is moving it like you said. So how ,any people would you say were in attendance? I thought it would be packed but seemed pretty intimate.

 

[Noahspapa]

I’m told Dave’s tank sold for $4,000 at the auction.

 

[BenB]

For everyone that was discussing Aquashella in Dallas, I'm going to start a new thread.
I'm not committed to going yet. I'm just looking. I'd really like to go, and I need to get it done and organized before prices really go high.

Edit: I forgot that it would be Luca doing the demonstration. That renewed a bit of interest.

 

[BenB]

I have one more pic to post. At the AGA I ran into forum members @ElleDee and @Noahspapa .
They will tell you how much fun it is. Also, I harassed and badgered @Long Sun Aquascaping into joining and maybe actually participating.

 

[JayP]

I have one more pic to post. At the AGA I ran into forum members @ElleDee and @Noahspapa .
They will tell you how much fun it is. Also, I harassed and badgered @Long Sun Aquascaping into joining and maybe actually participating.
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So how do you get the "MENTOR" name tag and i assume it means you have some task/responsibility at the convention?

 

[BenB]

So how do you get the "MENTOR" name tag and i assume it means you have some task/responsibility at the convention?

You have to be insanely cool and talented.

But really......

The aquascaping and wabi kusa workshops have mentors who help people with ideas or getting going or whatever they need. If you kind of know what you want, they might only help you spritz your plants occasionally or help you find supplies. However, some people don't know where they want to start. So you're helping them from step 1.

When you come in 2028, as a reminder, if you participate in one of the workshops, you get to keep your tank, light, tools, and all the plants and hardscape you put in it.

 

[JayP]

You have to be insanely cool and talented.

But really......

The aquascaping and wabi kusa workshops have mentors who help people with ideas or getting going or whatever they need. If you kind of know what you want, they might only help you spritz your plants occasionally or help you find supplies. However, some people don't know where they want to start. So you're helping them from step 1.

When you come in 2028, as a reminder, if you participate in one of the workshops, you get to keep your tank, light, tools, and all the plants and hardscape you put in it.

This actually brings up another question I had about these aquascaping workshops. I see they have all these TC plants to pick from, but it seems many of these scapes are setup for failure by planting a bunch of TC right away in fresh aquasoil and no cycling/maturing time.

 

[Long Sun Aquascaping]

Count me in as a Scape Crunch participant! The workshop felt more like the live scaping contests at Aquashella (which I highly, highly recommend. Ryan Noel does an outstanding job organizing them). In other words, these scapes were very hardscape-dominant and not necessarily in the best shape to be transitioned to a long-term setup immediately. I took the workshop as more of a "here's how to aquascape!" more than "this will easily transition to your home!" Since I had to catch a flight to Texas, I left my tank and supplies behind. I hope someone made good use of them or donated them to someone new to the hobby.

 

[ElleDee]

This actually brings up another question I had about these aquascaping workshops. I see they have all these TC plants to pick from, but it seems many of these scapes are setup for failure by planting a bunch of TC right away in fresh aquasoil and no cycling/maturing time.

So, I did the AGA aquascaping workshop in 2024. There may have been some changes this year, but looking at the tanks it seemed basically the same. The aquasoil we used didn't have a big ammonia spike, but no, nothing was cycled. I am not sure that we had a lot of TC cups available to use (maybe just hairgrass?), but they did have them this year for sure. There was plenty of other material if you wanted to avoid them though.

I will say that I went into the workshop thinking the long term, but looking back that want not the best way to approach it. I should have gone for maximum impact and what looked good for the weekend! It was a bit dreamlike to have unlimited materials and an experienced mentor, so it would have been smart to focus on the immediate experience. I should have gone crazy with hardscape and not worried about the maintenance. As soon at the workshop was over and I stepped back to look at what everyone else had done I found that my approach had been a little small-minded. Ah well, I tried my best!

And I ended up dismantling it when I got home anyway, though all the individual parts have gotten a lot of use. I took every plant available I was really interested in and use it in my scape, even if I had to shoehorn it in there and I still have a lot of those plants. It was still a great experience and I learned a lot though!

 

[BenB]

This actually brings up another question I had about these aquascaping workshops. I see they have all these TC plants to pick from, but it seems many of these scapes are setup for failure by planting a bunch of TC right away in fresh aquasoil and no cycling/maturing time.

All of these tanks were in inert soil donated by Pisces USA. I don't see how anyone would get them home easily without packing them full of bubble wrap.

 

[Naturescapes_Rocco]

I have FOMO!

 

[GreggZ]

Just wanted to say thanks to all who participated in this thread. While I couldn't make it there it's nice that I can live vicariously through your posts! The sharing is much appreciated.

I did go to the 2022 AGA outside of Chicago and it was a great experience. The best part by far was getting to meet so many people I have interacted with over the years. That and just being with a bunch of like minded plant nerds for a few days was a blast.

Let's face it, outside of our little world few people have any interest in hearing about our obsession............but at the AGA that's all anyone wants to talk about!!

So this brings back memories. Here's me and Joe Harvey having the Scotch that I promised I would buy him if we ever met in person. That alone was worth the trip!

 

[JayP]

Just wanted to say thanks to all who participated in this thread. While I couldn't make it there it's nice that I can live vicariously through your posts! The sharing is much appreciated.

I did go to the 2022 AGA outside of Chicago and it was a great experience. The best part by far was getting to meet so many people I have interacted with over the years. That and just being with a bunch of like minded plant nerds for a few days was a blast.

Let's face it, outside of our little world few people have any interest in hearing about our obsession............but at the AGA that's all anyone wants to talk about!!

So this brings back memories. Here's me and Joe Harvey having the Scotch that I promised him I would buy him if we ever met in person. That alone was worth the trip!

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Well now you've made me depressed that I have to wait two years for another opportunity to go to one.