AGAIAC 2026 / Biotope

#1012 Marginal Stream of Igarapé do Aturiá

Aturiá Creek, Barcelos, Amazonas, Brazil

Arthur Carvalho Valgueiro • Brazil Rio Bonito, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

9 rank

About This Aquascape

This aquarium was created as a faithful representation of the natural bank of Aturiá Creek. The goal was to reproduce the structure, atmosphere, and ecological characteristics of a Rio Negro blackwater habitat while providing an authentic environment for its native fish. Special attention was given to the arrangement of roots, branches, leaf litter, and open sandy areas to capture the appearance of this unique Amazonian ecosystem.

Biotope Information

This aquarium represents the natural root-lined bank of Aturiá Creek, a blackwater tributary of the Rio Negro in Barcelos, Amazonas, Brazil. The layout recreates the characteristic shoreline environment, where exposed roots, fallen branches, leaf litter, and fine white sand form a structurally complex habitat that provides shelter, feeding areas, and natural swimming pathways for native fish. The hardscape was carefully composed using naturally weathered driftwood and intertwined branches to reproduce the appearance of riparian vegetation extending into the water. Leaf litter, seed pods, and fine river sand were selected to reflect the physical structure and visual character of the creek bank. Soft, warm lighting was used to simulate the filtered sunlight passing through the dense forest canopy, creating the subdued atmosphere typical of Rio Negro blackwater environments. Rather than creating a decorative aquascape, the objective of this layout was to faithfully reproduce a real section of Aturiá Creek while maintaining ecological authenticity and natural aesthetics. The project was developed using field photographs from Aturiá Creek together

Arthur Carvalho Valgueiro

Rio Bonito, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Quick Stats

Style: Biotope
Size: 40x30x30 cm
Volume: 36 L (9.5 gal.)
Plant Species: 3
Fish Species: 1

Biotope Location

Aturiá Creek, Barcelos, Amazonas, Brazil (-0.975,-62.923)

Judges' Comments

An authentic and attractive composition, with convincing natural materials and a good sense of the habitat. My reservation is that the aquarium is comparatively small and the fish are represented by too few individuals. A larger group in more spacious accommodation would better support their natural social behaviour and long-term welfare.

— Tai Strietman

I have had the privilege of visiting Igarapé do Aturiá, so I particularly appreciate the representation of this habitat. I love the arrangement of the smaller branches and how effectively you captured the characteristic reddish tint of the water. One aspect I would have liked to see more of is how the fish interact with and utilize the space, as additional photographs showcasing their behavior and habitat use would have provided a better understanding of the environment.

— Kapil Mandrekar

This aquarium does a great job of representing the general characteristics of the habitat, with submerged roots, branches, leaf litter and sandy substrate all fitting the natural environment. However, the overall composition feels rather simple and could represent many similar habitats around the world. I would have liked to see more attention to the specific character of this location and a little more creativity in its interpretation. The cardinal tetras are an appropriate choice, although a fairly safe one. I also feel that an aquarium of this size doesn't quite do justice to such an active shoaling species, particularly in terms of swimming space and natural behaviour. Overall, a pleasant and reasonably accurate representation, but one that could benefit from a more ambitious approach.

— Rodrigo Silva

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