The HAP encourages members to propagate the aquarium plants they grow in their aquariums and is open to any member of the SVAS. Species not listed will be credited and class assignment will be made on an individual basis by the HAP coordinator, and/or the SVAS Board.

Participants can earn five different levels of breeders awards. The highest level, the Master Aquatic Horticulturist award, has additional levels awarded for each 400 points earned. Points earned in all classes are cumulative.

Procedures
SVAS tries to make submitting HAP points as easy as possible. You can submit your plant reproductions  to the HAP chair during the meeting, or, e-mail at HAP Admin.  Here is information that needs to  be included in a propagation report:

• The plant genus, species (if known, or description of plant if not known), and common name
• Manner by which it was reproduced (stem cutting, runner, stalk, rhizome division, etc). If submitting class "E" items, note which one.
• How many reproductions (remember, we give credit for up to two per species)
• If you want to get more serious, you can also include information about your tank (filtration, fertilization, fish, algae, snails, lighting, water chemistry, etc)

Regulations

1. A doubling of the original amount of plant material is necessary to receive credit for reproducing bunch plants or floating plants.
2. The reproduction of one separate plant is sufficient in the case of plants that produce runners (like Amazon swords).
3. Plants produced sexually must be large enough to identify as the same as the parent plant.
4. Ferns/plants reproduced by rhizome division (such as Anubias) must be free of the parent plant and at least 1/4 the size of the parent plant.
5. Propagation by seed points will be awarded in addition to points awarded for flowering.
6. Points for flowering of plants may be awarded for either submerged or immersed specimens.

Additional Criteria

1. Points are awarded for only two reproductions of each species.
2. Seeds must have been propagated from the breeder's own plants.
3. Reports should be given to the HAP chairperson or any SVAS board member either by email or at the monthly meeting.
4. Must be a member in good standing (dues paid) of SVAS.
5. All participants are encouraged to give a short oral report of the details involved in propagation of plants that have been submitted for points. An article to be published in the monthly bulletin would be greatly appreciated for any plants, especially in class D or E.
6. Propagations and/or tanks should be witnessed by a SVAS member. A photograph is an acceptable alternative.

Award Levels

1. Novice Plant Breeder, 50 points, any class
   
2. Aquatic Horticulturist, 100 points, max 50 in class A
3. Advanced Aquatic Horticulturist, 200 points, at least one in class C,E
4. Expert Aquatic Horticulturist, 300 points, oral or written report
5. Master Aquatic Horticulturist, 400 points, write at least one report for the bulletin and present a program at a general meeting

Certificates awarded at each level. Plaque listing all species spawned awarded at Master Aquatic Horticulturist and at each 400 point increments thereafter.

Classifications

Class A --- 5 points

• All bunch plants or floating plants unless otherwise mentioned
• Salvinia (floating fern)
• Azolla (fairy moss, actually a floating fern)
• Eichhornia crassipes (water hyacinth)
• Pistia stratiotes (water lettuce)
• Vesicularia dubyana (Java moss)
• Lemna sp. (duckweed)
• Hygrophila, Nomaphila, Synnema (green hygro, giant hygro, wysteria, etc.)
• Ceratophyllum (hornwort)
• Limnophila (ambulia)
• Bacopa
• Potamogeton (pondweed)
• Najas
• Utricularia (bladderwort)
• Hydrilla
• Myriophyllum (milfoil, foxtail)
• Nitella sp. (hairgrass)
• Elodea/Egeria (anachris)

Class B --- 10 points

• Riccia fluitans (crystalwort)
• Valisneria sp.
• Sagittaria sp.
• Hydrocotyle (pennywort)
• Ceratopteris (water sprite)
• Microsorum pteropus (Java fern)
• Echinodorus tenellus, et. al. (pygmy chain swords)
• Rotala sp.
• Isotes sp.
• Elocharis (spike rush)
• Didiplis diandra
• Lobelia cardinalis
• Ludwigia sp.
• Cabomba sp.

Class C --- 15 points

• Cryptocoryne sp.
• Aponogeton sp. except A. madagascareiensis
• Barclaya longifolia
• Anubias sp.
• Echinodorus sp. (except for pygmy chain swords)
• Nymphaea, Nuphar, Nymphoides (water lily, pond lily, banana plant)
• Lagenardra sp.
• Samolus sp. (water cabbage)
• Ammania sp.

Class D --- 25 points

• Aponogeton madagascariensis (M. lace plant)
• Ottelia alismoidees
• Eriocaulon sp.
• Tonia sp.

Class E --- special, 25 points

• Flowering of any plant (two per species allowable)
• Propagation of any plant from seeds produced by an aquatist's plant (two propagations per species are allowable)

Additional Points

1. Submission of article for publication on club website:               5 points
2. Submission of clear digital photo for publication on website:    2 points
3. Donation of any plants to SVAS for auction:                             2 points
4. Propagation of any plant that is a first for SVAS member:        2 points