By Natasha Khardina
Presenting the top winners of the 5th edition of the Biotope Aquarium Contest (BAC2024), organized by the BIOTOPE AQUARIUM Project (BAP), an independent educational project that aims at motivating aquarists to study the surrounding aquatic environments by applying their knowledge in the recreation of biotope aquariums.
BIOTOPE IN NATURE
What is BIOTOPE AQUARIUM?
A biotope aquarium involves creating a carefully designed aquarium that replicates a specific natural habitat, including the water conditions, plant species, and fish that live in that ecosystem. The goal is to recreate an accurate and balanced mini-ecosystem that mimics a natural environment, such as a river, lake, or stream, in order to provide a habitat that is both visually pleasing and ecologically sound.
The concept of biotope aquarium has gained popularity among aquarium enthusiasts over recent years, and the movement continues to evolve in 2024. A biotope aquarium is designed to recreate the natural environment of a specific geographical location, often mimicking the water conditions, flora, and fauna found in that region. The idea is to create a more authentic, balanced, and sustainable aquatic ecosystem, which differs from the traditional aquascaping or purely ornamental approaches that focus on aesthetics over natural accuracy.
Keeping a biotope aquarium offers several unique benefits that go far beyond the traditional aquarium hobby. If you’re considering creating one, here are some compelling reasons why you might choose a biotope approach:
- Authenticity and connection to Nature
- Conservation and Ethical Responsibility
- Educational value
- Better health for your fish
- Aesthetic appeal
- Long-term sustainability
- Unique challenge
- Involvement in a global community
- Increased interest in niche species
Choosing to keep a biotope aquarium is not just about creating a visually stunning tank; it’s about fostering a deeper connection to the natural world, supporting conservation efforts, and providing your fish with the most appropriate environment for their well-being. It can be a rewarding and educational experience that combines creativity, science, and sustainability. Whether you are an experienced aquarist or a newcomer looking to deepen your understanding of aquatic ecosystems, a biotope aquarium is a fantastic way to engage with the hobby on a deeper level.
And not just that! The ability to recreate natural habitats in the aquarium allows the aquarists to compete in the BIOTOPE AQUARIUM Contest organised by BIOTOPE AQUARIUM Project, and evaluated by top experts in aquatic research and aquarium keeping.
Here we are, presenting the winners of this unique competition in its 5th edition BIOTOPE AQUARIM Contest (BAC2024) exclusively sponsored by top aquatic companies in one of the chosen categories – Fluval, Eheim, Sicce, JBL, Aquael and San Francisco Bay Brand.
For those aquarists who wish to participate in the BIOTOPE AQUARIUM Contest next year (BAC2025) we invite you to safe the date – on 20st April 2025 the professional biotope challenge continues.
North America – sponsored by FLUVAL
Approved by: Fritz Rohde (NANFA) and Lawrence Kent (NANFA)
BAM: Mobile River basin, Alabama, USA, by DionTre Speller (USA):
“An 80L (approximately 20-gallon) aquarium biotope for rainbow shiners aims to replicate the natural habitat of these vibrant fish found in the Mobile River basin, Alabama. The setup includes a sandy or fine gravel substrate, with rocks and driftwood to simulate the riverbed and provide hiding spots. Native aquatic plants such as Vallisneria sp. and Ludwigia sp. are added to create a lush environment and offer natural filtration.
The tank water is kept cool, between 15-24°C (60-75°F ), with a pH of 6.5-7.5, and moderately hard. A strong filter ensures well-oxygenated water, mimicking their natural fast-flowing streams.
A school of at least six rainbow shiners, along with peaceful tank mates like small darters or barbs, thrives in this biotope, showcasing their striking colors and active behavior in a naturalistic and balanced ecosystem. Regular maintenance, including weekly water changes and a varied diet of high-quality flakes and live or frozen foods, keeps the biotope healthy.”
North America – sponsored by FLUVAL
Approved by: Fritz Rohde (NANFA) and Lawrence Kent (NANFA)
BAM: Humber river, Kleinburg, Ontario, Canada, by Rui Sun (USA):
“An 80L (approximately 20-gallon) aquarium biotope for rainbow shiners aims to replicate the natural habitat of these vibrant fish found in the Mobile River basin, Alabama. The setup includes a sandy or fine gravel substrate, with rocks and driftwood to simulate the riverbed and provide hiding spots. Native aquatic plants such as Vallisneria sp. and Ludwigia sp. are added to create a lush environment and offer natural filtration.
The tank water is kept cool, between 15-24°C (60-75°F ), with a pH of 6.5-7.5, and moderately hard. A strong filter ensures well-oxygenated water, mimicking their natural fast-flowing streams.
A school of at least six rainbow shiners, along with peaceful tank mates like small darters or barbs, thrives in this biotope, showcasing their striking colors and active behavior in a naturalistic and balanced ecosystem. Regular maintenance, including weekly water changes and a varied diet of high-quality flakes and live or frozen foods, keeps the biotope healthy.”
Central America & Caribbean – sponsored by AQUAEL
Approved by: Jairo Arroyave (UNAM) and Michael Köck (Goodeid Project)
BAM: Laguna el Arco, La Marquesa National Park, Mexico, by Amadeo Hernández Pérez (Mexico):
“This 200L aquarium represents the high water flow in the San Jose River, where fish move across algae-covered rocks in crystal clear water. The fish are divided between those that inhabit the open waters and those that find their territory between the crevices of the stones.”
South America – sponsored by BIOTOPE AQUARIUM Aquarium
Approved by: Roberto E. Reis (PUCRS) and Pablo C. Lehmann (PUCRS)
BAM: Stream in the Orinoco River Basin, Venezuela, by Shivansh Rajpoot (India):
“This 250L biotope aquarium replicates the Orinoco River basin’s ecosystem. It features fine Golden River Sand and lush aquatic plants like Eleocharis vivipara and Echinodorus sp.
The diverse fish community includes Apistogramma pandurini, Cardinal Tetra, Rummy Nose, and various Corydoradinae species, showcasing the river’s biodiversity. The water, with a pH of 4.5 and a TDS of 190, mirrors the natural conditions of the basin. An Azur Beam 3 light enhances the colors and promotes plant growth, while the Sunsun 304B filter and aeration system ensure clear water and simulate river currents. This setup offers a vibrant and authentic representation of the Orinoco River basin’s aquatic life.”
Europe – sponsored by SICCE
Approved by: Alexey Malyshev and Francesco Denitto
BAM – single entry: Río Izoria, Valle de Aiala, Álava, Spain, by Asier Murga Arteta (Spain):
There are many reasons to study and investigate this biotope. Apart from the personal satisfaction of creating it, I also felt the desire to show the world this “unknown” and exciting cyprinid – Phoxinus bigerri.
Having it so close to my home (just 2km) encouraged me to give my contribution to enriching relatively little data on this fish and its biotope.
“The 240L aquarium is set up with 2 external filters (Oase BioMaster 350) with a flute-type water outlet from the top to imitate the waterfall of the well. The Eheim Vivaline aquarium has dimensions 120x40x50cm.
I would like to point out that these 30 specimens of Phoxinus bigerri were caught unharmed with a fishing net. After keeping them in the aquarium, respecting and recreating their biotope as much as possible, they were released into their original habitat.
I kept these different fish imitating their seasons of the year with the intention of being true to nature, because each of the 4 aquarium photos has a different and real story.”
Africa – sponsored by JBL
Approved by: Ad Konings (CichlidPress) and Anton Lamboj (UniWien)
BAM: Soukou River, Nianaya, Kindia Prefecture, Guinea, by David Nørholm (Denmark):
“I have tried to recreate the beautiful and distinctive Soukou River from Guinea in West Africa. I was drawn to this particular river because it contains a unique mix of both aquarium-relevant plants and fish, as well as a beautiful and charming underwater landscape.
My intention is to recreate the transition zone of this area, as it is often where many of the smaller species found in the aquarium trade live. At the same time, it is possible to create a unique transition from underwater plants to emergent plants. Here, I have chosen to focus on the unique Anubias plant, which often grows above water in nature and is only periodically submerged. In my biotope, I have planted Anubias in the transition zone so that it grows both underwater and above water.”
Southern, Central & Western Asia – sponsored by San Francisco Bay Brand
Approved by: Friedrich Bitter (Amazonas Magazine) and Sujoy Banerjee
BAM: Ermenek River, Yerköprü Nature Park, Mersin Province, Turkey, by Artem Korchagin (England):
“In my 500-liter aquarium, I have recreated a section that simulates the boundary between a deeper, faster-flowing part (the main channel) and a shallower, calmer coastal area (a micro-bay), where the current slows down and, depending on the bottom’s relief, often flows backward along the shore. Many fish are attracted to such zones, spending most of their time here – especially juveniles and young specimens – or visiting briefly.
Additionally, it’s logical and simple to reproduce such a zone in an aquarium with a standard circular water flow. The main feature of the terrain is the irregularly shaped boulders of various sizes – fragments of fallen cliffs (the river here flows through a deep, narrow gorge). The above-water parts of some boulders are covered with a specific plant community. The shallower areas are overgrown in places with reeds and, less frequently, sedges.
I was very impressed by the compact combination of a zone that is convenient for realistic imitation.”
Southeastern Asia & Oceania – sponsored by Eheim
Approved by: Greg Martin (ANGFA), Heiko Blessin and Heok Hee Ng (NUS)
BAM: Saigon River floodplain, Binh Duong, Vietnam, by Nguyen Minh Tri (Vietnam):
“Dermogenys pusilla is a very common fish found in almost any body of water with slow-moving or still water around my area. Ever since I was a kid, I’ve been fascinated by the unique appearance of these fish, yet I rarely see anyone recreate its biotope or the Saigon River environment in general. This has motivated me to give it a try and mimic a fraction of the Saigon River floodplain in my area.”
We invite you to take part in the upcoming BIOTOPE AQUARIUM Contest!
The BIOTOPE AQUARIUM Contest is the best way to bring together aquarists and scientists in an effort to document and monitor the conditions of aquatic habitats and their inhabitants, water quality and possible introduction of alien invasive species that cause damage to native ecosystems and even to people. Public awareness and active involvement of the aquarists play an important role in contributing to the successful implementation of the biotope mapping worldwide with its main instrument, BAP-Map.
The participation in the contest consists of 2 applications:
1. BIOTOPE IN NATURE (BIN) – the personal biotope exploration done in situ or through extensive online research with the involvement and contribution of other aquarists and scientists. This kind of cooperation allows to create a network of people interested in the conservation of aquatic environments and leads to concrete projects. The bibliography/sitography of the BIN might play a decisive role – being a demonstration of profound research, it can be helpful for other biotope fellows to understand that precise ecosystem.
2. BIOTOPE AQUARIUM MODEL (BAM) – the reproduction of the original aquatic biotope as a closed micro-ecosystem in the aquarium. This is more creative and fun part of the application, as the aquarists are required to show their practical skills and biotope knowledge by putting together the right components, such as water chemistry, substrate, light, filtering system, décor, in combination with the correct aquatic inhabitants in correct proportions – fishes, plants, crustaceans, mollusks – to give fish and plants species a home with appropriate niches for hiding and breeding. The most important thing here is to describe in detail one’s own practical experience with the biotope tank – to share their knowledge with aquarist colleagues.
BIOTOPE AQUARIUM Contest is divided into 8 categories, each one judged by the experts who did aquatic research in that particular region – ichthyologists, biologists, professional aquarists with a deep knowledge of local ecosystems and a vast fieldwork experience. The experts define the final ranking and advise all participants on how to improve their setups to make them as close as possible to the natural biotopes.
The international aquatic companies Aquael, Fluval, Sicce, Eheim, JBL and San Francisco Bay Brand understand how important it is for the aquatic hobby to evolve. They look forward to a positive change and embrace the biotope concept as a top level of the aquarium hobby.
BAP is gearing up for BAC2025 opening the registration on April 20st, 2025. We invite you and all hobbyists that take great pride in creating natural-looking environments in their aquariums to take part at the BIOTOPE AQUARIUM Contest (BAC2025)!