Instructions

This page explains how to prepare and organize the information required for the BAC submission forms.
It follows the exact structure of the forms used on the BAP Platform:

1. Biotope in Nature (BIN) – documentation of a real natural habitat
2. Biotope Aquarium Model (BAM) – your aquarium recreation of that habitat

Reading these instructions before filling in the forms (in English) will help you understand:

• which data you need to collect
• which information is essential and which is optional
• where accuracy matters most

These are instructions, not rules. Rules and eligibility criteria are explained on the Guidelines page.

1. Registration

Before submitting any entry, you must:

• Create a user profile on the BAP Platform
• Complete your shipping address and phone number

This information is required for:

• participant identification
• delivery of diplomas, prizes, or sponsor products (if applicable)

Name of the biotope

Provide a clear and descriptive name, including:

• type of waterbody
• geographical reference

Example:
Igarapè Preto, Upper Rio Negro Basin, Brazil

Avoid generic titles that do not clearly identify the habitat.

Introduction text

Write a short introduction describing:

• the habitat’s ecological relevance
• notable environmental characteristics
• why this biotope is interesting or representative

2–3 short paragraphs are sufficient.
Clarity is more important than length.

Location

Complete as many fields as possible, including:

• Country
• Geographical region
• State / Province
• Basin
• Waterbody type
• Waterbody name

If available, add:

• GPS coordinates (latitude & longitude)

Exact GPS data is highly recommended but not mandatory.

Media – Biotope in Nature (BIN)

Photos and videos in this section should document the real natural habitat.

Photos

• Upload clear, natural, and unedited images
• Horizontal format only
• Images must not be digitally altered, retouched, or over-processed
• Minimum recommended resolution: 2400 px on the longest side
• Accepted formats: JPG / JPEG
• Maximum 5 photos

Photos may show:

• the aquatic environment above and/or below water
• substrate, vegetation, and general habitat structure

Videos

• Videos are important and may help document:
  • water movement
  • habitat structure
  • general environmental conditions
  • Video links hosted on YouTube are accepted

Large video files (up to 2 GB) can be shared via:

• WeTransfer
• MyAirBridge

File naming (strongly recommended) format: bin-waterbody-location-country-number-initials.jpg

Example:

• Photo – bin-riojufaris-rionegro-brazil-1-rperez.jpg
• Video – bin-riojufaris-rionegro-brazil-2-rperez.mp4

Aquatic life (in nature)

This section documents all living organisms observed in your Biotope in Nature (BIN).

Aquatic inhabitants

• Add the scientific family, genus, and species names (Latin) of all fishes, amphibians, reptiles, crustaceans, and molluscs present in the habitat
• Use the “Add aquatic inhabitant” button in the form to enter each species

Aquatic vegetation

• Add the scientific family, genus, and species names (Latin) of all plants and mosses growing in the habitat
• Use the “Add aquatic vegetation” button in the form

Tips for accurate names

• Verify species names using reliable databases such as:

  • Eschmeyer’s Catalog of Fishes
  • Plants of the World Online
  • Websites useful for aquatic research

• Accuracy is more important than completeness: list only species you are confident about

Proper documentation of both fauna and flora is mandatory for evaluation, as it ensures scientific accuracy and ecological coherence.

Water properties

This section documents the physical characteristics of the biotope water.

Fields to complete (select from the drop-down menu):

• Water type (e.g., blackwater, clearwater, etc.)
• Water colour
• Water transparency
• Concentration of sediments
• Water temperature
• Water flow / current type

Select the option that best matches your field observation. Accuracy and consistency with your photos and aquatic life are important. Proper documentation of water properties helps the Jury and BAP Experts understand the habitat conditions and evaluate your biotope reconstruction.

Chemical parameters

This section documents the chemical characteristics of the biotope water.

Fields to complete (if data is available):

• • pH
  • Conductivity
  • GH (General Hardness)
  • KH (Carbonate Hardness)
  • Dissolved Oxygen

Provide measured values if you have access to water testing equipment. If exact measurements are not available, it is acceptable to leave fields blank: do not estimate values without reliable data. Recording chemical parameters improves the scientific value of your entry but is not mandatory if measurements were not taken in the field.

Water parameters help BAP Experts and the Jury assess the natural conditions and suitability for aquarium replication.

Aquatic Biotope

This section documents the observation or sampling event in your Biotope in Nature (BIN).

Fields to complete:

• • • Date of collection / observation
    • Collecting area (e.g., specific site within the waterbody)
    • Water depth
    • Air temperature
    • Sunlight / light conditions

Provide exact dates if known, otherwise approximate. Water depth can be estimated if precise measurement tools were not available. Note sunlight conditions (full sun, partial shade, shaded) as this affects aquatic life and vegetation.

Recording the details of the sampling or observation event increases the scientific accuracy of your entry and supports proper evaluation.

Substrate in Nature

This section documents the types of substrate present in your Biotope in Nature (BIN).

Fields to complete (select from the drop-down menu):

• Sand
• Pebble / Gravel
• Stone
• Silt / Mud
• Leaves
• Driftwood
• Submerged terrestrial vegetation

Select all substrate types that are visibly present in the habitat. Focus on dominant and characteristic elements of the biotope. Proper documentation of the substrate supports both scientific evaluation and biotope replication in the aquarium.

This information helps the Jury and BAP Experts assess the ecological accuracy of your aquarium recreation.

Environment

This section documents the overall environment of your Biotope in Nature (BIN), both above and below water.

Fields to complete:

• Environment type (general description of the habitat)
• Riparian zone (vegetation and features along the water’s edge)
• Terrestrial vegetation (plants and trees surrounding the waterbody)
• Surrounding area / landscape features (mountains, forest, urban areas, etc.)
• Underwater landscape (plants, rocks, driftwood, substrate structures)
• Threats to ecology (factors that may endanger the biotope, e.g., pollution, invasive species, human impact)

Provide clear, concise descriptions; photos and videos can complement your text. Highlight unique ecological features or special characteristics of the habitat. Note any observed threats or disturbances affecting the biotope. Accurate documentation of the environment is important for scientific evaluation and ensures your aquarium recreation reflects the real habitat.

This section helps the Jury and BAP Experts understand habitat context and ecological accuracy.

Information sources

This section documents the references you used to gather data for your Biotope in Nature (BIN).

Fields to complete:

• Bibliography: List all books, scientific papers, and printed publications consulted for your biotope research
• Sitography: List all online sources, databases, and websites used

Note: Biotope references are an important part of your entry and will be reviewed by the BAC International Jury. Proper sourcing enhances the scientific credibility of your submission.

Note on evaluation (BIN)

This section explains how your Biotope in Nature (BIN) data is considered during the BAC evaluation.

The BAC Jury evaluates only the participant’s submitted entry.
This means that only your combined submission (BIN + BAM) is taken into account.

If your Biotope Aquarium Model (BAM) is based on a BIN created by another author, only the aquarium model (BAM) will be evaluated. The BIN provided by a different contributor is not part of the evaluation.

In practice:

• Your BIN serves as the ecological reference for your aquarium model
• The Jury scores only what you submit
• A third-party BIN cannot be evaluated as part of your entry

For detailed scoring and judging criteria, please refer to the Evaluation Criteria page.

Location

Use the same location data you entered for the BIN — this ensures consistency.

What to include:

• Country
• Geographical region
• State / Province
• Basin / waterbody name
• GPS coordinates (same as BIN)

Media – Biotope Aquarium Model (BAM)

Photos and videos are obligatory for all BAM submissions.

Photos (required)

• • • 6 photos mandatory
    • Must be clear, sharp, and unedited
    • Horizontal format, JPG / JPEG
    • Required views:
      • 1 full frontal view of the entire aquarium
      • 4 images showing aquarium inhabitants and details
      • 1 image showing aquarium & participant with a sheet of paper with “BAP BIOTOPE AQUARIUM Contest 2026” written on it.

Technical recommendations:

• • • Remove or mask equipment (filters, heaters, tubing, etc.) before photographing
    • Ensure the entire front glass is visible
    • Avoid reflections, strong color casts, or heavy contrast
    • Macro-only images cannot replace required views

Videos (required)

• • • At least 1 video showing the full aquarium
    • Additional videos may be included to show:
      • natural behavior
      • schooling
      • interactions between species

Technical recommendations:

• • • Videos must be clear and stable
    • Do not focus solely on macro views; the full tank should be visible in the main video

Footage files (up to 2 GB) can be shared via:

• • • WeTransfer
    • MyAirBridge

File naming (strongly recommended) format: bin-waterbody-location-country-number-initials.jpg

Example:

Water properties

This section documents the physical water conditions maintained in the aquarium.

Select from the drop-down menu the options that best describe the water in your Biotope Aquarium Model:

• Water type
• Water colour
• Water transparency
• Sediment concentration
• Water temperature
• Flow / current type

The selected values should be consistent with the referenced BIN and appropriate for the aquatic life kept in the aquarium. Coherence between water properties, layout, and species selection is essential.

Accurate documentation helps the Jury and BAP Experts evaluate how faithfully the natural habitat has been translated into an aquarium environment.

Chemical parameters

This section documents the chemical characteristics of the aquarium water.

• pH
• Conductivity
• GH (General Hardness)
• KH (Carbonate Hardness)
• Dissolved Oxygen

If exact measurements are not available, the fields may be left blank. Do not estimate or approximate values without proper data.

Aquarium setup

This section documents how you physically recreated the biotope.

What to include:

• Tank dimensions (length × width × height)

Aquarium description

This section describes how your aquarium was designed, equipped, and maintained to recreate a natural biotope.

Aquarium layout and decoration

Describe the composition of your aquarium and the main choices made to reflect the natural habitat. When relevant, address the following points:

• Reasons for selecting the species included in your BAM
• Observed behaviour of the species in the aquarium
• Reasons for limiting the number of species
• Species present in the natural biotope but not included, and why
• Species you would consider adding in the future and expected interactions or behavioural changes

Aquarium equipment

Describe the equipment used (e.g. filtration, heating, lighting) and its role in maintaining stable biotope conditions.

Fish care

Describe the actions taken to keep fish healthy and active, including feeding practices and behavioural monitoring.

Plant care

Describe how plants are maintained, including lighting, pruning, and nutrient management if applicable.

Water care and maintenance

Describe your regular maintenance routine, including water changes, cleaning, and general stability of water parameters.

Substrate in the aquarium

Select from the drop-down menu all substrate elements present in your Biotope Aquarium Model (BAM):

• Sand
• Pebble / Gravel
• Stone
• Silt / Mud
• Leaves
• Driftwood
• Submerged terrestrial vegetation

The selected substrates should reflect the referenced Biotope in Nature (BIN) and be appropriate for the aquatic life in the aquarium.

Time schedule

• • • April 20, 2026 – Pre-registration call
    • May 20, 2026 – Submissions open
    • June 20, 2026 – Submissions close
      
    • July 20 – August 20, 2026 – Evaluation period
    • September 20, 2026 – Results announced
    • October 20, 2026 – Prize-giving

How to fill out the form “BIOTOPE IN NATURE”? Watch our video guide!

How to fill out the form “BIOTOPE AQUARIUM Model”? Watch our video guide!