Central New York Aquarium Society

The Aquatic Horticulture Awards Program recognizes outstanding achievement in the growth and propagation of aquatic plants.The AHAP also seeks knowledge of aquatic plants and their requirements, with the added benefit of gorgeous aquariums. The AHAP Program also hopes to establish a record of aquatic plant species and their required conditions, to be available to all members

All members are eligible for the Aquatic Horticulture Award Program. If a member does not renew his/her membership, their points will be kept on the "inactive" list until they renew their membership once again.

All members are eligible for the Aquatic Horticulture Award Program. If a member does not renew his/her membership, their points will be kept on the "inactive" list until they renew their membership once again. The AHAP committee consists of a chairman and at least 2 additional appointed members the current AHAP committee is listed on the Contact CNYAS page.

The committees duties are witnessing the propagation of aquatic plants, maintaining an accurate record of the points standing, and reporting to the club and obtaining/presenting awards. A list of the current standings will also be posted under the AHAP Leader board.

 

REPRODUCTION REQUIREMENTS

1. For all species, verification and registration of propagation in Groups A through E may be verified by a member of the AHAP Committee in the active member's residence.

2. Floating plants. Doubling of the original amount/area.

3. Bunch plants. Doubling of the original plant in height.

4. Reproduction by runner or division. Reproduction is achieved when a newly formed plant is grown in aquarist's tank from a runner or rhizome that was grown in the aquarist's tank. The newly formed plant must live independently from the parent plant for 30 days while the parent plant is still alive and in good health.

5. Flowering. Must be witnessed when in full bloom, attached to the plant, in the member's aquarium/pond.

6. Reproduction sexually (from seed). One plant reproduced by sexual means from an aquarist's own parent plant. Seeds and reproduced plants must be from the member's own parent plant, not from a supplier or breeder. The Chairman of the AHAP Committee witnesses new plant 30 days after developing into a miniature plant. The reproduction must be verified at least twice; once when flowering and once when the young plants are old enough to be recognized as being the young of the parent plant.


ADDITIONAL CRITERIA

1. Plants reproduced must conform with the following definition of an aquatic plant: "An aquatic plant is one which, in the wild or native state, can be grown in the submerged state as a normal occurrence at some time during the course of any one complete season."

2. Plants must be identified by the aquarist and verification made by the AHAP Committee. A good book for identification is Aquarium Plants: The Practical Guide by Pablo Tepoot or Aquarium Plants by Dr. Rataj & Thomas Horeman.

3. In order to have his/her points recorded, the aquarist must submit a completed, witnessed Report Form. A club member may review the forms on file from the Chairman who will make them available at all club meetings.

4. For Groups E and F the aquarist must write an article for publication in the club bulletin or orally at a meeting.

5. The propagation must take place in the aquarist's own tank.

6. Any plant not included in the point grouping will be assigned points by the AHAP Committee upon request.

7. Any questions you may have as to the interpretation of the rules or any suggestions as to their improvements should be submitted to the AHAP Chairman.

8. All propagations are recorded and kept on file.

9. It is mandatory that completed sheets be submitted to the AHAP chairman before points are to be awarded for any group.

 

Beginning Aquatic Horticulturalist: 50 Pts.
Aquarist must accumulate a total of 50 points.

Aquatic Horticulturalist: 100 Pts.
Aquarist must accumulate a total of 100 points. In addition to completing the Beginning requirements, an additional 50 points must be earned.

Senior Aquatic Horticulturalist: 150 Pts.
Aquarist must accumulate a total of 150 points. Aquatic Horticulturist plus 2 species from Group C, and 2 from Group D, and propagate 20 species total.

Expert Aquatic Horticulturalist: 200 Pts.
Aquarist must accumulate a total of 200 points. Senior Aquatic Horticulturist plus 1 species from Group E and propagate 28 species total.

Master Aquatic Horticulturalist: 300 Pts.
Aquarist must accumulate a total of 300 points. Expert Aquatic Horticulturist plus an additional species from Group E and a total of 35 species propagated.

Grand Master Horticulturalist: 450 Pts.
Aquarist must accumulate a total of 450 points. Master Aquatic Horticulturist plus an additional species from Group E, 1 species from Group F, and a total of 55 species propagated.

Species Award
Given to participating AHAP members who complete 11 of the 14 species classes.