October Meeting

Saturday, October 24, 1:00 PM
Location: Cunningham Residence, Columbia, MD

Fall is here, the temperatures are finally cooling down, and it’s time to get together with your fellow aquatic plant nerds!

Join us for our October GWAPA meeting as we get hands-on and aquascape Cunningham’s 180-gallon rimless tank! This will be a fun, interactive event where everyone can participate, share ideas, and weigh in on hardscape and plant placement. Who knows? You might even pick up a few new aquascaping tricks along the way!

We’ll also be kicking off the nomination process for this year’s GWAPA Board election, with voting taking place at our December Holiday Party.

Whether you’re into planted tanks, aquascaping, aquatic plants, fish, or just enjoy hanging out with people who understand why you needed that one more plant, come join us!

As always, GWAPA meetings are a great chance to meet fellow hobbyists, share ideas, check out what everyone is growing, and maybe even go home with a few new plants—because apparently, we never have enough!

Bring some snacks and drinks to share, come ready to get your hands wet, and let’s have some good old-fashioned planted tank geekery!

September Meeting

Saturday, September 26, at 1:00pm

Location: GWAPA member John Gonzalez’s home.

“Planted Discus & Dutch Aquascaping“

Get ready for a fantastic afternoon of planted aquariums, discus, and aquascaping inspiration with John Gonzalez and Tim Gross!

Read description…

John will kick things off with a short talk about his impressive 210-gallon Planted Discus Tank, giving us a look at how he balances the needs of discus with a lush planted aquarium.

Then, we’ll dive deep into the world of Dutch Aquascaping with Tim Gross! Tim will give a detailed presentation on the history, techniques, plant selection, composition, and design principles behind the classic Dutch style. He’ll also share insights from his own experience, including his award-winning AGA Dutch Aquascaping entry from 2025.

Whether you’re a longtime Dutch-style enthusiast or have always wondered how those incredible rows of perfectly arranged plants come together, this is a talk you won’t want to miss!

Come hang out with fellow GWAPA members, check out John’s 210-gallon tank, and get inspired to try something new in your own aquarium.

About the speakers:

John Gonzalez:

Many aquarists believe discus fish and heavily planted aquariums are nearly impossible to keep together due to their seemingly conflicting requirements. John challenges that misconception with his thriving 300-gallon discus aquarium, where healthy discus and vibrant plants coexist successfully. He’ll share his substrate system, including the dirt and gravel layers, explain the nutrients and supplements he adds to the water column, and discuss the techniques he uses to create a balanced, flourishing ecosystem where both discus and aquatic plants can thrive.

Tim Gross:

Tim’s passion for planted aquariums began in 1991, when he was 12 years old and received my first 10-gallon aquarium for his birthday. Inspired by Barry James’s Aquarium Plants and its beautiful examples of Dutch aquascaping, he quickly became fascinated with creating planted tanks. What began as a friendly competition with childhood friends grew into a lifelong passion for aquatic plants, aquascaping, and the aquarium hobby.

Tim has been a member of the Greater Pittsburgh Aquarium Society, Inc. (GPASI) since 2002 and served for 15 years as coordinator of its Aquatic Horticultural Awards Program (AHAP), where he became a Master Horticulturalist. He was also a founding member of the Pittsburgh Area Planted Aquarium Society (PAPAS). Since joining the Aquatic Gardeners Association (AGA) in 2006, he has competed in its international aquascaping contest since 2017, earning multiple top finishes, including First Place in Wabi-Kusa, Second Place and two First Place finishes in the Dutch category, and Top Ten and Second Place finishes in the Aquatic Garden category.

After more than three decades in the hobby, Tim continues to learn, experiment, compete, and share my enthusiasm for planted aquariums and aquascaping with others.

August Meeting

GWAPA & JRAS Collecting Trip Adventure!

August 29th, 10am-4pm (rain date will be the following Saturday)

Hardware River Wildlife Management Area Boat Ramp

5128 W River Rd., Scottsdale, VA 24590

Ready to get your feet wet and spend a day exploring nature with fellow aquatic hobbyists? Join GWAPA and our friends from JRAS for a fun-filled collecting trip at the Hardware River as we search for native aquatic plants, fish, and other fascinating freshwater critters! Whether you’re a seasoned collector or trying it for the first time, this is a fantastic opportunity to learn, share techniques, and enjoy a day outdoors with great company.

    Don’t Forget to Bring:
    • A valid Virginia fishing license (required for all participants)
    • Sunscreen
    • A hat
    • Plenty of fluids to stay hydrated
    • Snacks
    • Collection containers, buckets, or bags for your finds
    • A change of clothes
    • A towel
    • Shoes you don’t mind getting wet and muddy

    Expect to get a little muddy, discover some hidden aquatic treasures, and have plenty of laughs along the way. Whether you come home with a few new plants or simply great memories, it’s always a fun day in the field.

    Come join us for an adventure—you never know what we’ll find!

    Keep coming back for exact meeting location closer to the trip!

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