
If you want to enter one of the most prestigious and lucrative live aquascaping contests at the best aquarium festival in North America, you’ve come to the right place! Selected contestants have 12 hours over two days to create a masterpiece alongside other top scapers. Oh, and there’s cash prizes! Sound good?
Application for this contest is open to all! But the field of aquascapers will be selected by Aquashella event organizers. And it is a LIVE contest, so you must be present to participate. Make sure you fill out the form completely and we’ll be in touch. Applications will no longer be accepted 30 days prior to the event or when the field is filled.

It’s important that aquascapers can be present for as much of the contest as possible. Here is a basic schedule of the event. Scaping has been scheduled during show hours to allow attendees to watch the process, and interact with aquascapers as you are assembling your entry. Upon selection additional details will be provided.
Friday
1:30 pm — Kick-off meeting with contestants and judges
2:00-6:00 pm — Aquascaping session
6:00-7:00 pm — Clean up area
Saturday
9:00-5:00 pm — Aquascaping session
5:00-6:00 pm — Clean up area
6:00 pm — Judging begins
Sunday
9:00 am — Water changes and tank touch-ups for the showcase day
10:30 am — Awards announced
3:00 pm — People’s Choice Award announced
Contestants are responsible for their own travel expenses.
Grand Champion — $1000
Second Place — $500
Third Place — $250
Fourth and Fifth Place — On-stage recognition and high fives
Plus awards will be given at the award ceremony for exemplary work in these categories:
Q: What happens to the finished aquascapes?
All final scapes and equipment are property of Aquashella and will be available for purchase via silent auction.
Q: Do I have to pay to get into the event?
Each contestant (including team members) will receive a full conference badge for admission to the exhibit hall floor.
Q: What is provided?
Everything you need to make a beautiful aquascape! The following is provided:

Time | Festival Floor | Speaker Stage | Feature Stage |
10:00am | VIP Entry | ||
10:15am | |||
10:30am | Aquariums and Their Effects on Mental-Wellbeing w/ Evan Johnson, Founder, Ivan the Angelfish | VIP Meet & Greet w/Creators @ 10:30! | |
11:00am | 11 am Entry | Aquashella Masterclass w/ Yusuke Homma | Speed Scaping Round 1 |
12:00pm | 12 pm Entry | Aquashella Masterclass continued | Saltwater Jeopardy LIVE! |
1:00pm | 1 pm Entry | Kids Aquascaping Contest sponsored by Pet Supplies Plus | |
1:15pm | Igniting Your Success: Live Coral Sales and Marketing Secrets w/ Bobby Moon, Kush Corals | ||
1:30pm | Christa's Shrimp Special w/ Christa Caneda | ||
2:00pm | 2 pm Entry | Aquashella Masterclass - Planting w/ Yusuke Homma | Kids Terrascaping Contest sponsored by Custom Cages & Vision Cages |
3:00pm | 3 pm or later Entry | Live Book Reading - Duncan's Reef Rescue w/ Remy | |
3:15pm | Panel Discussion: Current Pressures on the Aquarium Trade w/ Pet Advocacy Network & USAqua | Speed Scaping Round 2 | |
3:45pm | CO2 in Freshwater Aquariums w/ Chantz Cramer, Biotype One/Badfish Florida | ||
4:00pm | |||
4:30pm | Aquarium Business w/ Brian Levinson, Tank it Easy | ||
5:00pm | Charity Raffle begins after 5pm presentation wraps | ||
6:00pm | Festival Close | ||
Time | Festival Floor | Speaker Stage | Feature Stage |
10:00am | VIP Entry | ||
10:15am | VIP Meet & Greet w/ Creators | ||
10:30am | Aquascaping Masterclass Q&A at Aqua Design Amano Booth #92 | ||
11:00am | 11 am Entry | ||
11:30am | Aquashella Aquascaping Contest Awards | Speed Scaping Elimination Round 3 | |
12:00pm | 12 pm Entry | From Beach Dreams to Giant Installations, a Saltwater Keeper's Journey w/ Frank Aguirre, Professional Aquarist | |
12:15pm | Speed Scaping Championship! | ||
12:45pm | Discovery and Development of New Strains & Colors of Tropical Fish w/ Phil Marraccini formerly of Summerland Tropical Fish Farms | Kids Aquascaping Contest sponsored by Pet Supplies Plus | |
1:00pm | 1 pm Entry | ||
1:30pm | Ethics and Best Management Practices for the Home Breeder w/ Jody Reed Uncle Joes Fish Shed | SHIZUKU Workshop presented by Aqua Design Amano | |
2:00pm | 2 pm and later Entry | SHIZUKU workshop continued | |
2:15pm | No Filter Aquariums w/ Lucas Bretz, LRB Aquatics | ||
3:00pm | Neocaridina & Caridina Shrimp Top Breeder Insights w/ Bene Tay, Shrimp Sanctuary | Freshwater Jeopardy LIVE! | |
4:00pm | Charity Raffle | ||
5:00pm | Festival Close |
Time | Festival Floor | Speaker Stage | Feature Stage |
10:00am | VIP Entry | VIP Meet & Greet with Creators at 10:15am | VIP Meet & Greet w/Creators @10:30am |
10:30am | Fishin’ For Knowledge: Our Favorite Fish in Science w/ Gettin' Fishy With it Podcast | Live DJ! | |
11:00am | 11am Entry | Aquashella Aquascaping Masterclass w/ Daichi Araki, Presentation, Substrate, and Hardscape | Freshwater Jeopardy LIVE! |
12:00pm | 12 pm Entry | Aquashella Aquascaping Masterclass w/ Daichi Araki, Presentation, Substrate, and Hardscape continued | Speed Scaping Contest - Round 1 |
1:00pm | 1 pm Entry | What are Competitive Koi? Learn What it Takes to Win w/ Fitz's Fish Ponds | Diverman Jeopardy ... Live underwater? |
2:00pm | 2 pm Entry | Aquashella Aquascaping Masterclass w/ Daichi Araki, Planting | Speed Scaping Contest - Round 2 |
3:00pm | 3 pm and later Entry | What the L? An Introduction to Plecos w/ Sabu Yamamoto, Saburai Aquatics | |
3:45pm | Panel Discussion: Current Pressures on the Aquarium Trade w/ Pet Advocacy Network and USAqua | Diverman Show - Live Interviews | |
4:30pm | Building a Legacy w/ Lori Barczyk, CEO/Founder, Legasea Aquarium and The Reptarium | ||
5:00pm | Charity Raffle | ||
6:00pm | Festival Close |
Time | Festival Floor | Speaker Stage | Feature Stage |
10:00am | VIP Entry | VIP Meet & Greet w/Creators @ 10:15am | |
11:00am | 11 am Entry | Aquashella Aquascaping Contest Awards | Speed Scaping Contest Round 3 |
12:00pm | 12 pm Entry | The Coral Food Nutrition Pyramid w/ Vanessa Glass, Home Brew Live Feeds | Speed Scaping Championships |
12:45pm | Ethics and Best Management Practices for the Home Breeder w/ Jody Reed Uncle Joes Fish Shed | Diverman Show and Tell | |
1:00pm | 1 pm Entry | ||
1:30pm | History & Development of the Tropical Fish Hobby - Livebearers! w/ Phil Marraccini formerly of Summerland Tropical Fish Farms | SHIZUKU Workshop Begins | |
2:00pm | 2 pm and later Entry | SHIZUKU Workshop | |
2:15pm | Natural Aquarium Methods w/ Lou "Father Fish" Maxwell | SHIZUKU Workshop | |
3:00pm | The Messy Reality of Making Fish Food w/ Katrine, Kats Aquatics | Saltwater Jeopardy | |
3:30pm | Diverman Show and Tell | ||
4:00pm | Charity Raffle | ||
5:00pm | Festival Close |
Time | Festival Floor | Speaker Stage | Feature Stage |
10:00am | VIP Entry | VIP Meet & Greet w/Creators @ 10:30am | |
11:00am | 11 am Entry | Fish Tank vs Planted Aquariums, What Wins? w/ Lucas Bretz, LRB Aquatics | Live DJ! |
12:00pm | 12 pm Entry | CANCELLED - Building a Legacy w/ Lori Barczyk, LegaSea Aquarium & The Reptarium | Live DJ! |
1:00pm | 1 pm Entry | The Importance of Advocacy in the Hobby w/ Panelists from Pet Advocacy Network and USAqua | Open Mic - Tank Roast! |
2:00pm | 2 pm Entry | Experience the Diverse World of Macro Algae w/ Amanda Tamillo, The MacroLady | Kids Terrascaping with Vision Cages/Custom Cages |
3:00pm | 3 pm or later Entry | Be Successful Culturing Phytoplanton (Workshop) w/ Skyler Nelson, Reef Legends | Saltwater Jeopary Live! |
4:00pm | Keepin' it Clean, Dipping and Coral Pest Inspections w/ Marc Levenson, Melev's Reef | Live DJ! | |
5:00pm | Charity Raffle | ||
6:00pm | Festival Close |
Time | Festival Floor | Speaker Stage | Feature Stage |
10:00am | VIP Entry | VIP Meet & Greet w/Creators @ 10:15am | |
11:00am | 11 am Entry | Aquashella Aquascaping Contest Awards | Live DJ! |
12:00pm | 12 pm Entry | Discover the world of Crested Geckos w/ Kristen Hailey, CrestieWorx & Carnivorous Plants | Freshwater Jeopardy Live! |
1:00pm | 1 pm Entry | Living the Micro Tank Life w/ Harley Finberg, PNW Custom | Shizuku Workship with Aqua Design Amano; starting at 1:30pm |
2:00pm | 2 pm and later Entry | Ethnics, Conservation, and BMPs: The Path from Home Breeder to Trusted Supplier w/ Jody Reed, Uncle Joes Fish Shed | Shizuku Workshop continued |
3:00pm | Dream Big! Designing Showpiece Aquariums w/ Jeff Turner, Reef Aquaria Design | Live DJ! | |
4:00pm | Charity Raffle | Live DJ! | |
5:00pm | Festival Close |
Time | Festival Floor | Speaker Stage | |
10:00am | VIP Entry | VIP Meet & Greet w/Creators @ 10:30! | |
11:00am | 11 am Entry | Aquarium Biology with Taras Pleskun, Top Shelf Aquatics | |
12:00pm | 12 pm Entry | Aquarium Designs - Jeff Turner, Reef Aquaria Design | |
1:00pm | 1 pm Entry | No Filter Aquariums and Natural Setups with Lucas Bretz, LRB Aquatics | |
2:00pm | 2 pm Entry | Reptile Breeding, Husbandry and More with TikisGeckos | |
3:00pm | 3 pm or later Entry | Getting through the first 30 days without losing your mind with Dr. Tim, Dr. Tim's Aquatics | |
4:00pm | Lighting Techniques to Better Your Husbandry in Planted Tanks, Terrariums, Reptile Enclosures and More! with Tulio Dellaquilla, ReefBrite | ||
5:00pm | Charity Raffle after 5pm presentation wraps | Live DJ! | |
6:00pm | Festival Close |
Time | Festival Floor | Speaker Stage | |
10:00am | VIP Entry | VIP Meet & Greet w/Creators @ 10:15! | |
11:00am | 11 am Entry | Aquashella Aquascaping Contest Awards at 10:45 then Coral Farming and Coral ID with Chris Meckley at ACI Aquaculture at 11:15am | |
12:00pm | 12 pm Entry | From Farm to Family Room: A Fish's Journey with David Drake at 5D Tropical at 12:15pm | |
1:00pm | 1 pm Entry | Sustainability in Aquaculture and Mariculture with Jake Phillips at Biota NA | |
2:00pm | 2 pm and later Entry | Discus Breeding and Husbandry with Gabe Posada, Jack Wattley Discus | |
3:00pm | Giant Clams: Fragging isn't an option, but they still deserve your love with Julian Sprung, TwoLittleFishies | ||
4:00pm | Charity Raffle | Live DJ! | |
5:00pm | Festival Close |