AGAIAC 2026 / Aquatic Garden / 220L+

#1266 The Hanging Gardens of Babylon

Luis Carlos Ardid Galarraga • Brazil Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil

Luis Carlos Ardid Galarraga

Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil

Quick Stats

Style: Aquatic Garden
Size: 120x60x50 cm
Volume: 360 L (95.1 gal.)
Plant Species: 19
Fish Species: 4

Judges' Comments

Awesome and different work. The proposal of the title is good, but for me, this layout reminds me more the course of a river, where we observe its flow through the riverbed... half of eyes' point of view above and another below the water surface. The effect of the reflexes in the surface, despite it not unprecident, it was absolutely well done and it is a great highlight of this layout. They conferes sense of depht, and infinite perspective, and in addition to that, the solution to use some floating plants with light green colour was a masterpiece of the naturality. This ouststanding natural effect reminded me of riverbanks with their riparian vegetation. Even trought the aquascaper tried to criated some dynamic foreground, maybe more details would be increased the natural atmosphere, like another gravel, with colour and sizes different. Finally, works like this motiveted us to keep going... something fresh and bold. Congratulations.

— Andre Longarco

Beautiful work! The roots hanging from above and their reflection on the water surface create a very striking mirror effect. I really like the tangle of wood crossing the valley like a natural bridge, with a planted terrace on top. It splits the scene into two levels and becomes the real centrepiece. The contrast between the warm, reddish tone of the wood and the green of the plants is lovely too, giving the whole scene a vivid atmosphere. I also love the glimpse of a landscape in the background, which hints that there is more beyond and leaves the viewer free to imagine what might be down there

— Gloria Ciriello

This aquascape uses a unique approach, giving the entire scene more depth and offering a turly eye-opening experience.

— Dave Chow

Along a Quiet Stream At first glance, this is a relatively simple composition, built largely around two similarly sized triangular structures, one on either side of the aquarium. What makes the design special, however, is the elegant connection between them, formed by a bridge of driftwood, and the fascinating use of surface reflections. The hanging roots extend the composition upwards in a truly distinctive way, filling the upper part of the image with an intricate interplay of structures and reflections. The roots near the top of the composition, together with the small mound of stones in the background between the two main areas, introduce subtle layers of depth. These details lend a little more three-dimensionality to an otherwise predominantly two-dimensional layout. I find the arrangement both clever and tasteful. My main reservation concerns the condition of parts of the planting. The choice and placement of the plants are very successful, but in places, their appearance suggests that they may have been introduced into the layout only recently and have not yet had sufficient time to settle in and integrate fully. I cannot help feeling that, given a little more time to mature and a photograph taken at a later stage, this aquascape could have revealed its full beauty. It has a lightness and an airy character all its own, and I would have loved to see it captured at the point when every element had reached its full potential. Overall, I enjoyed this distinctive composition very much and I was pleased to include it in my personal top ten. Congratulations on this very appealing work!

— Frederic Fuß

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