We’re celebrating our 10-Year Anniversary Weekend in a big way — and we’re excited to welcome Tom Barr back to Pet Zone SD / Hakkai as our special guest speaker.

Join us Saturday, July 11 and Sunday, July 12, 2026 for a full weekend of aquascaping inspiration, planted tank knowledge, live demos, wabi-kusa tying, hardscape building, raffle giveaways, and community.

Over the years, our anniversary weekends have always been about more than just celebrating another year. They’ve been a way for us to bring hobbyists together, showcase the art of aquascaping, highlight freshwater aquarium culture, and create memorable hands-on experiences for our local San Diego fishkeeping community.

This year, we’re taking it even further.

Tom Barr Live at Pet Zone SD / Hakkai

Tom Barr is one of the most respected names in the planted aquarium and aquascaping world. Many hobbyists know him for his deep knowledge of aquatic plants, plant growth, fertilization, nature-inspired layouts, and his long-standing contributions to the freshwater aquarium hobby.

We’ve had the honor of hosting Tom Barr at past Pet Zone SD anniversary events, and we’re excited to bring him back for another special weekend of education, creativity, and aquascaping inspiration.

Whether you’re brand new to planted tanks or already deep into aquascaping, this is a rare chance to learn, ask questions, watch live builds, and get inspired directly from one of the hobby’s most influential voices.

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Event Details

Event: Tom Barr Live at Pet Zone SD: 10-Year Anniversary Aquascape Weekend
Dates: Saturday, July 11 & Sunday, July 12, 2026
Start Time: 12:30 PM both days
Location: Pet Zone SD / Hakkai
More details: Raffle info, specials, and event updates coming soon

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Saturday, July 11

Ikebana Philosophy in Aquascaping + Wabi-Kusa Tying

Day one will feature Tom Barr as our guest speaker for a special talk on Ikebana Philosophy in Aquascaping.

This session will explore how ideas from ikebana — balance, space, movement, simplicity, natural flow, and intentional placement — can influence the way we design planted aquariums and nature-inspired layouts.

Aquascaping is more than just placing rocks, wood, and plants into a tank. The best layouts often feel alive before water is even added. They guide the viewer’s eye, create emotion, and tell a story through structure, contrast, and restraint.

Tom will also be tying wabi-kusa, showcasing how aquatic plants can be arranged into living compositions that blend plant care, natural design, and hands-on creativity.

For anyone interested in planted tanks, emersed plant displays, terrarium-style aquascaping, or Japanese-inspired nature art, this will be a fun and inspiring session.

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Sunday, July 12

Hardscape Demo + Raffle Giveaway

Day two will focus on the foundation of every great aquascape: hardscape.

Tom Barr will be doing a live hardscape demo/build, covering layout structure, stone and wood placement, flow, balance, and how to create a strong visual foundation before planting begins.

Hardscape is one of the most important parts of aquascaping. It sets the direction for the entire layout and helps determine how plants, open space, depth, and movement will work together once the aquarium grows in.

We’ll also be hosting a raffle giveaway after the demo as part of our anniversary celebration. More raffle details will be announced as we get closer to the event.

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Celebrating 10 Years of Aquascaping, Fishkeeping & Community

This weekend is special for us.

From freshwater fish and aquarium plants to aquascape workshops, live demos, hardscape displays, rare livestock, and the growth of Hakkai, the last 10 years have been shaped by the hobbyists who continue to support us.

Our goal has always been to create a space where aquarists can discover new ideas, learn from experienced hobbyists, connect with the community, and get inspired for their next aquarium.

Hosting Tom Barr again for our 10-Year Anniversary Weekend feels like the perfect way to celebrate that journey.

Whether you’re coming for the planted tank knowledge, the aquascape demos, the wabi-kusa tying, the hardscape build, the raffle, or just to hang out with fellow fish nerds — we’d love to see you there.

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Mark Your Calendars

Tom Barr Live at Pet Zone SD / Hakkai
10-Year Anniversary Aquascape Weekend
Saturday, July 11 & Sunday, July 12, 2026
Starts at 12:30 PM both days

More event details, raffle info, and anniversary specials will be announced soon.

Come celebrate with us, learn something new, and get inspired for your next aquascape.