What do you think?
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Winning NBAT Tank 2024
- Thread starter Unexpected
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First place with H. Trip???????? Who would have thought 
I think there’s too much of the same shade of green and the yellowish tinge washes everything out. I think you would have had it in the bag if your plants cooperated with you
I think there’s too much of the same shade of green and the yellowish tinge washes everything out. I think you would have had it in the bag if your plants cooperated with you
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- #3
Yeah, it seems the level of tanks has dropped over there a bit. Don't get me wrong, awesome tank, but...on the surface it's definitely... Simpler?
I agree, I mean there is clearly strong growth out of all those plants so kudos for growing them so lush. But I’m missing the wow factor
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- #5
Perfectly said.
Lets do a video to dissect 
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- #7
Picking up camera gear tonight!Lets do a video to dissect
Well it is Dutch by definition.. Not seeing a lot of shaping?
or maybe they're going for a topiary look nowAnyway where's the fruit stand
It would be nice to see the competing tanks…. First place means best of what entered….
Hate to voice a slightly different opinion but, I like the inclusion of the wood and moss and the right side of the tank seems strong and the shadow on the left is nice. However it is missing wow for sure but as mentioned its about entries and moving entry date targets and you not having your tank ready for etc who knows. Also maybe wow is more IAPLC and they are trying to distance themselves from the need of wow Personally I'm all about wow and the mystical spiritual representation within the created world, but I can see them wanting to be different?
I think there’s plenty of WOW with a well manicured and organized true Dutch scape. I do agree that separation from IAPLC is necessary. If I’m being honest, the obsession with diorama style scapes is getting very old.
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- #13
Agree, the left side is very nice, but everything else kind falls short. Sadly, the level of Dutch tanks is in decline as a whole. And unless what I'm seeing is photo artifact, that Rugosa has algae. Like @Pepere asks, it would be interesting to see the top 5 tanks.
Other discussions are observing the same decline with Dutch tanks, I guess you could say, it's seemingly a dying art form.
There's definitely wow in Dutch, 2017 is beyond wow in my head.
I think this is because the shift has gone towards painting a “scene” rather than growing the plants and highlighting them based on their shapes, heights, colors and textures.
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- #15
That and probably just the lack of available content about Dutch tanks as a whole.
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What do you think?View attachment 6658
They exercised remarkable restraint in the use of red plants…
You are right that Rugosa does have algae that was a good catch, I honestly thought it was lobelia cardinalis and makes sense to why it seemed so raggedy to me. The other tanks must not have been offering much. It is sad that it does seem to be that dutch is a dying art form. I agree with @Mr.Shenanagins that I'm sick of the diorama style aquascapes.
I thought the difformis looked a bit wild and could use some manicuring. To me it is interesting that the street disappears behind a piece of driftwood. I also feel that this tank is lacking a focal point. The front right side needs something as I feel they are showing too much substrate(Something I will probably lose points on). You are correct that the left side is very nice but the street and the front right is missing an element to me, to make this the winner for the year.
Gonna be honest I kinda like it. Very serene. I sometimes feel like the AGA tanks lean towards Joe Harvey/Pavlina Pevna style of high light, difficult plants presented very structured and orderly. I don't mind a little realism - this looks like a tank that is manageable in this state in the long term
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