May 25 2026 – Meeting

A fish-friendly reminder from the Ottawa Valley Aquarium Society…

Our OVAS 2025-2026 has been amazing thus far! Don’t miss our May presentation featuring, seasoned YouTuber and aquascaper, Kalem Holmes! This is a great opportunity to meet him in person, hear his insights, and learn from his experience in the aquascaping world. This meeting will also feature a Betta bowl show, 5 gallon aquascape competition, and the 2026-2027 executive elections.

Presentation

My Planted Tank Philosophy [Kalem Holmes]

Kalem Holmes is an aquascaper and planted tank hobbyist who has spent over a decade experimenting with planted aquariums and aquatic plants. Over the years he has documented his journey sharing educational content on his social media under Kalem’s Fish Tanks (YouTube) and @kalemsfishtanks (Instagram) where he shares tips and tricks, tank builds, behind the scenes and of course, the occasional failure and harsh lessons this hobby teaches.

Over this time Kalem has developed his own philosophy when it comes to keeping planted tanks that focuses on keeping planted tanks simpler, especially in an era with so much conflicting information. In this presentation he will discuss his planted tank philosophy. The mindset, principles and equipment that have generated years of thriving aquariums.

Contests

OVAS 2026 Small Aquascape Competition:
A container of 5 gallons or less must be aquascaped and water filled. The member is responsible for setup and shutdown. The location has a few electrical outlets that are to be shared and tap water is accessible from the bathrooms and small kitchen. There are lots of PRIZES!

Betta Bowl Show:
Bring your Betta any suitable container for display purposes.

All contest voting will be done by members in attendance.

Elections

All voting for the 2026-2027 executive elections will be done by members in attendance. If you’d like to participate as an executive member and help manage club activities, please reach out to one of our executive members prior to the voting period. You may also nominate another member to join the executive.

The following positions are available for consideration:

President
Vice President
Treasurer
Secretary
Membership chair
Program chair
Sponsorship chair
Online presence
Auction chair
Webmaster

Members’ Corner

All members are invited to showcase their aquarium related projects and discoveries at our meetings! You, or an executive member, can share your photos, videos, or other content of up to 5 minutes, at the beginning of our meetings. Please talk to the exec about submitting your content.

OVAS Merchandise

OVAS T-Shirts are now available! They are $25, and offered in sizes 2XL, XL, L, M, & S. Celebrate the club and fish-keeping. The shirt-back features a cool vintage motif, and the front features the OVAS logo, on blue.

Meeting Location

Monday, May 25, 2026
7:00 PM
J.A. Dulude Arena
941 Clyde Avenue, Ottawa, ON, K2C 4B2

Sponsor** special discount announcement!
There will be door prizes!
Members are encouraged to set up vendor tables, so bring some cash if looking to shop.

Dates to Remember

June 2026 Summer Event: TBD

Reminders

If you’ve documented your fish breeding efforts or plant propagation this year and successfully rehomed offspring or plants through our auction or other in-person events, consider participating in our Breeders Award Program (BAP) or Aquatic Horticulture Award Program (AHAP). Speak to an OVAS Executive member for more information!

OVAS memberships can be renewed for the 2025-2026 season at our monthly meetings or online.

This is a FREE event sponsored by the Ottawa Valley Aquarium Society. Anyone with an interest in aquariums and related hobbies is welcome to attend. OVAS presentations are a great place to meet other aquarium hobbyists, exchange ideas, and learn more about fish and aquatic plant keeping. Bring your friends!