Guidelines

How to participate in the BIOTOPE AQUARIUM CONTEST

By submitting an entry, you agree to follow the BAC Guidelines and Instructions.
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Time schedule

  • April 20, 2023 – Pre-registration call
  • May 20, 2023 – Submissions open
  • July 20 August 15, 2023 – Submissions closed
  • August 20, 2023 – Start of the evaluation process
  • September 20, 2023 – The evaluation is concluded
  • October 20, 2023 – Publication of the results
  • November 20, 2023 – Prize-giving

Who can participate?

EVERYONE! The contest is FREE: NO FEES are required to submit your entry. Any freshwater and brackish water aquarium is welcome to enter the BIOTOPE AQUARIUM Contest.

Limits on BAC participation:

Your tank must be NEW ENTRY – first time ever in the contest. To avoid double entries, it is not allowed to submit the BAP entry (including a photograph of the same work taken from a different angle) to other biotope/aquascape contests (except BAP authorized contests). The biotope aquarium entries that violate this condition may become subject to disqualification, before and after the determination of the world ranking.

The top 3 entries ranked with 50 and less points are not presented with sponsor’s products awards, unless the sponsors decide otherwise.

Dear Biotopers,

BIOTOPE AQUARIUM Project and International Aquatic Plants Layout Contest (IAPLC), international competitions of two different aquarium styles but with the same core, have agreed to respect each other’s educational efforts and creativity.

Starting from February, 2022, BAC and IAPLC steering committee have adapted similar participation restrictions, in order to avoid double entries and to respect the Jury’s evaluation work. According to this agreement, IAPLC contestants with a biotope style entry are not allowed to participate in the BAC and vice versa, BAC participants are not allowed to enter IAPLC or other biotope contests (except BAP authorized contests).

How to particpate?

It’s easy! The participation in the contest is regulated through the BAP Platform. All biotope entries, including photos/videos must be submitted online following the unified procedure for everyone.

To participate, just register and follow the Instructions.

Which biotope data are required?

You have to supply the following datas:

  • BIOTOPE IN NATURE: name of the biotope, introduction text, location, photo/video, inhabitants, aquatic vegetation, water chemistry, substrate in Nature, aquatic biotope, environment, bibliography/sitography
  • BIOTOPE AQUARIUM MODEL: title of the biotope aquarium, introduction text, location, photo/video, inhabitants, aquatic vegetation, water chemistry, aquarium information, substrate in aquarium, bibliography/sitography

Provide as complete and accurate information as you can, it will benefit the biotope community.

Once you have supplied the form with the GPS data, your biotopes will appear on the BAP Map.

An example?

Here are 2 examples to look at:

Take a note: the biotope references are an important information source and will be checked by the BAC judges!

How many biotope aquariums can I submit?

Unlimited

Special “Rio Negro” winner prize

In 2023, BAC partner Project Piaba established a unique award for the biotope aquariums replicating the Rio Negro region – RIO NEGRO Expedition 2024  of a value of $3500 to raise awareness among the aquarium community about the ecological and social situation of the Rio Negro region and its habitats, promoting the aquatic biodiversity of this region.

Check out the special requirements to participate in the RIO NEGRO competition!

Evaluation process

The 16 members of the independent BAC International Jury (2 in each Category) are experts specialized in the particular geographical region.

They are selected and appointed by the BAP Contest committee, based on their independence and reputation in the field of Biotope Science and Aquarium Hobby.

The BAP Jury will assess the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners for each one of the 8 Categories (24 winners in total) once all datas of the submitted biotope aquariums are checked, organized, uploaded to the BAP database and forwarded to the Judges.

Evaluation criteria

These are the factors that will be considered by the International Jury in order to assess the winners:

BIOTOPE IN NATURE

  • Quality and reliability of information about the original biotope

BIOTOPE AQUARIUM MODEL

  • Variety and system’s viability
  • Conformity to the BIOTOPE IN NATURE
  • Natural beauty
  • Quality and accuracy of the aquarium data

Quality of the visual support

  • Photo
  • Video
  • Graphic Material (aquarium layout, etc…)

For more details visit BAC Evaluation Criteria

Attention: Lower-ranked entries may not be included in the BAP-MAP.

Biotope data submission forms

You have to fill out 2 forms:

  1. BIOTOPE IN NATURE
  2. BIOTOPE AQUARIUM MODEL

These are two simple forms to fill in with the information about your biotope. In doing so, you can manage the data in a very easy manner without forgetting to mention something important.

BAC forms are thought to make your participation easy and fun! They are standardized and will allow us a precise and fast elaboration of your biotope data.

By following our advices you will do it in the best possible way. And become our BAC Champion!

What happens to my ©content?

All BIOTOPES IN NATURE and BIOTOPE AQUARIUM MODELS submitted by participants will be published on the BAP Platform and will remain of FREE ACCESS to the BAP community.

Copyrights of BAC entries belong to BIOTOPE AQUARIUM Project (BAP) and can be used by BAP and authorized third parties. The use of any entry for advertisement and/or publication purposes without BAP consent is strictly prohibited.

Private disclosure of entry on social networking media must only take place after official disclosure by BAP.

Still questions? Contact us!

Sponsored by
AQUAEL, Sponsor of the BIOTOPE AQUARIUM Contest
Fluval, Sponsor of the BIOTOPE AQUARIUM Contest
Project Piaba logo
AQUARIUM MUNSTER, Sponsor of the BIOTOPE AQUARIUM Contest
SICCE, Sponsor of the BIOTOPE AQUARIUM Contest