JURY

This year, the contest entries will be evaluated by 18 jury members divided into 3 teams. Each team specializes in its own criterion. The members of the jury will evaluate the entries, not consulting with others. The average points for each criterion will be summed up to make the total points. Points given by the organizers for the fulfillment of the requirements during registering application will be added to the points given by the members of the jury.

The total points = Criteria of the members of the jury (Criterion 1. Viability (JM 1 + JM 2 + JM 3 + JM 4 + JM 5 + JM 6)/6) + (Criterion 2. Design (JM 7 + JM 8 + JM 9 + JM 10 + JM 11 + JM 12)/6) + (Criterion 3. Conformity (JM 13 + JM 14 + JM 15 + JM 16 + JM 17 + JM 18)/6) + Criteria of the organizers (Criterion 4. Information about biotope + Criterion 5. Information about aquarium + Criterion 6. Quality of photos).

JM – jury member.

Team 1 evaluates the system viability

Kamil Hazy (Poland)

Nathan Hill (Great Britain)

Fishkeeper since the age of four. Editor of Practical Fishkeeping magazine. After studying aquatics and ornamental fish management, he went on to be an aquarist for a large public aquarium, a retail manager of multiple sites for the UK’s largest aquatic store chain, a freelance writer and a journalist across a range of aquarium publications, a lecturer in aquatics and a full-time features writer before settling in his current role. He has also acted as master of ceremonies to large aquatics events in the UK. As well as his fishkeeping credentials, he also holds a bachelor’s degree in philosophy.

Dimitris Lysikatos (Greece)

Aquarist for over 25 years with a love to predatory fish. Last 19 years he is dedicated to Loricariids and South America biotopes. He is one of the creators and the current owner of Aquazone.gr (the biggest aquatic portal in Greece since 2005 with more than 20.000 members) and a jury member of Greek biotope contests. Since 2016 he started biotope research expeditions to South America to collect fish and film. He is currently organizing his next trips and destinations.

Michael Salter (Canada)

Aquarist for over 25 years. Actively interested in biotopes for the last 16 years, especially in biotopes of West Africa. Currently he maintains several West and Central African biotopes. He filmed freshwater aquatic habitats in Thailand. Creator and administrator of the Facebook group Mormyrid Keepers. Member of the jury of Biotope Aquarium Design Contest 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018.

Jeroen Vanhooren (Belgium)

Hobbyist for 30 years, three years active in biotope aquaristic. Owner of a room with 8 biotope aquaria. Is interested in studying biotopes all over the world. Administrator of Biotope Aquaristics Facebook group. Co-author with Chris Englezou of several blogs on biotope aquaria at cefishessentials.com. 3rd place in the finals of the Heiko Bleher’s International Biotope Aquarium Contest in 2016. Participant of BADC 2016 and 2017. Participated with ten aquaria with the 7th place as the best result. Member of the jury of Biotope Aquarium Design Contest 2018.

Walter Vázquez (Argentina)

Winner of Biotope Aquarium Design Contest 2018.  Argentine aquarist, for 33 years. Lover and specialized in the cichlids of the African Rift Valley. Carries out the only web page in Argentina dedicated to African cichlids. Manages the Facebook group Argentina Biotope Aquariums. He wrote two articles on biotope aquariums in Sweden’s “Ciklid Bladet” magazine and “Biotope One” website Photographer, filmmaker and video editor, the latter is your daily professional work activity. He is part of the organization of the first Biotope Aquarium Contest in Argentina, A.P.B Contest.

Team 2 evaluates natural beauty of biotope aquaria

Leo Angel (Israel)

He has been fond of creating biotope aquariums for the last 5-7 years. Member of the Aquatic Gardeners Association, Inc., founder of the information portal “All About Eriocaulons”, co-owner and administrator of the GreenForum International Aquarists Forum, author of articles in The Aquatic Gardener (TAG) magazine, which is published under the auspices of the Aquatic Gardeners Association (AGA), multiple sponsor of various international competitions for children and adults of aquarium design. Ranked 9th in the 2017 Biotope Aquarium Design Contest.

Mert Aykuta (Turkey)

Aquarist for 18 years. Professional biotope aquarium designer for last 7 years. Expert in creating North African biotopes aquaria. Currently maintains African great lakes (Tanganyika, Malawi) biotopes. One of the founders and administrator of the Facebook group Biotope Aquarium Design Turkey. Winner of Biotope Aquarium Design Contest 2016. 2nd place in International Biotope Aquarium Contest by Heiko Bleher 2016 in Milan. Member of the jury of Biotope Aquarium Design Contest 2017-2022.

Petra Bašić (Croatia)

Aquarist for decade with years of biotope research experience. One of the organizers of biggest aquarium and terrarium exhibition in South East Europe AkTer Fest in Zagreb. Biotope and aquascape judge in CAC 2014. Currently managing director in Aquatic Design, company specializing in biotope and aquascape aquarium design. Also, a consultant for biotope aquarium design in the region. Moderator and editorial board member at regional aquaristic forum. Winner of Biotope Aquarium Design Contest 2014 and 2013. Member of the jury of Biotope Aquarium Design Contest 2015-2022.

Flavio Freitas (Brazil)

Aquarist for more than 30 years, 11 years of experience in nature aquarium with participation in several national and international contests with highlight in several works. Materials published in hobby magazines, websites. Moderator of the websites and lover of Amazonian biotopes for more than 10 years. In the last 5 years always putting himself in the top 10 and top 50 on the contests and even the title of the best South American biotope in 2016.

Sun Kai (China)

Aquascaping Societies Teacher of Ocean University of China. In 2018 took 2nd place in the international biotope aquarium design contest. Travels several times a year to the rainforests of Southeast Asia for nature exploration and inspiration. Traveled many times to Japan and Singapore to visit aquariums and nature museums to learn how best to combine aquarium and nature. Founded Tengwen aquascaping studio in 2009. Vice Chairman of the Qingdao Marine Conservation Society. Off-campus instructor of aquatic associations, Fisheries College of Ocean University of China. 2018 third place, 2019 fourth place in China Biotope Aquarium Contest. AGA contest champion in biotope category 2018.

Giorgi Khizanishvili (Georgia)

Aquarist with 31 years of experience. Amateur explorer of the local river and its flora and fauna . Participant in biotope aquarium designs contest 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020
Co-author of the Wild Aquarium article https://www.mikolji.com/articles/wild-aquarium-article/, Wild Aquarium published Ciklid Bladet Journal. Nº 2/, Sweden 2019, Wild Aquarium published ( Acuario Salvaje ) Revista Challwani, Chile, 5/2018, Author of the article “Dirty Effect” published in the magazines, Chile, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Iceland, Article “Dirty Effect” Revista Challwani, Chile, 6/2018, Article “Dirty Effect” ( “Smutsig effekt” ) Ciklid Bladet Journal. Nº 2/, Sweden 2019

Team 3 evaluates conformity of aquatic animals and decorations to the specified biotope

Peter Ford (Australia)

Competitor liaison officer for a large Aquascape competition in Melbourne Australia in 2020. 2 International judges were Herry Rasio & Takayuki Fukada San. He love going collecting and looking at environments where fish are in the wild to gain a better understanding of the way the fish and the environment work together . A true Bio type display is trying to duplicate as closely as possible to what is below the water surface in the location you are trying to duplicate. He have been keeping, breeding & Showing fish for the past 25+ years.

Alexey Malyshev (Russia)

Traveller and explorer of nature biotopes of Russia and other countries. Author of online publications about aquatic life of rivers and lakes in Russia. Winner of Biotope Aquarium Design Contest 2012. Silver prize winner of Biotope Aquarium Design Contest 2011. Member of the jury of Biotope Aquarium Design Contest 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018. Creator and administrator of the Facebook group Biotopefish.

Víctor Ortiz (Mexico)

Aquarist since he was 3 years old. Aquatic biologist with a master’s degree in conservation. Explorer of water bodies in southeastern Mexico and a promoter of biotope aquaristic as a tool for environmental education. He is responsible for the Endemic Killi Rescue Initiative in Oaxaca, Mexico. Author of articles in Killi Fish Associations bulletins, admin of the group “Biotope Aquariums of Mexico“, organizer and a judge of the “1st Mexican Biotope and Aquascaping Aquarium Competition 2018 (COMABA)“. Participant of BADC 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, AGA, CAC and AquaPetz contests from 2014 to 2017, where he managed to get 4 first places, 2 second places, 3 third places, one 11th and one 12th place. Member of the jury of Biotope Aquarium Design Contest 2018-2022.

Ivan Mikolji (Venezuela)

Researcher of wildlife found in Venezuela. Specializes in taking photos and videos of rare species. Author of documentaries about tropical fish in their nature biotopes. Founder and president of the Foundation of Fish of Venezuela. He now also protects continental freshwater bodies, including all kinds of aquatic flora and fauna. Member of the jury of Biotope Aquarium Design Contest 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2022.