I think I did ok. I won "Best of Show" for Plants and the same honor for Tetras. My winning plant was my "Kleiner Bar" swordplant, which had grown into a monster, with several leaves extending above the water level. Oddly.....I still have no idea which of my tetras won. In decreasing amounts of my esteem, my tetras included marbled hatchetfish, hanging pencilfish, emperor tetras, cardinal tetras, Beckford's pencilfish, and glo-light tetras. At the next meeting, I'll have to ask the lady who kept score, which of them won. After Best, come 1'st, 2'nd, and 3'rd place ribbons. I know I got one of those in the "Aquarium Beautiful" category, but I don't know about any other ribbons I might have won yet. I have to admit, the aquariums which beat mine in that category were fantastic, including some of the most beautiful angelfish I have ever seen (extremely tall dorsal and anal fins).

The unfortunate consequence of entering that contest, though, was that 3/4 of my fish died. Since the tank was heavily planted, it would have been impossible to net out the fish beforehand, and transport them in a bag, so we lowered the water level to about 2 inches, put the tank in the back of a pickup, and drove it there. I don't know if the sloshing in the tank caused the fish to collide with the glass, the plants, or the driftwood, or maybe rub their bellies in the gravel. The little water in the tank might have dropped in temperature, with the wind blowing across the tank as we drove. If the water sloshed enough as we drove, the fish might have occassionally been left out of the water, till it sloshed back. I did learn from the experience though. Next year, I won't enter such a big tank, and I'll use fish netted from a tank (not so heavily planted), placed in a large plastic bag for the trip, then released into the tank after it's been set up.

If any of the rest of you plan to enter any fish shows, pay heed. I also recommend that you buy a much better filter than you need. The water in the tanks that beat mine was brilliantly clear. And the brightness of the light not only helps the plants grow before the show, but it attracts the judges during the show.

Now I have about 2 weeks to go before the meeting in which I get my plaque. It'll be hanging on the wall right over the aquarium.......Now, if I can arrange for some spotlights for the plaque.