The long-awaited event, the VI International Congress of Aquarists took place in St.Petersburg on September 25-26. The Congress was organized by the VitaWater website (vitawater.ru), and St.Petersburg Company "JIVOY UGOLOK".
Congress participants in front of the lecture hall
Every Congress is unique, in spite the fact the Congresss of Aquarists occur annually on the regular basis. In fact, there is no other than VitaWater forum on aquariumistics that brings together so may enthusiasts united by the same hobby. And first of all this is thanks to friendly and hospitable hosts of the "JIVOY UGOLOK". Every year Dmitry Pershin, the director, and his team load themselves with a difficult burden of organizing the event, including the last two years, despite of all difficulties connected with the crisis.
Registration of participants
The sponsors of coarse must be specially honored. This year, for the first time in the history of the Congresss of Aquarists the cost of the purchased sponsorship packages allowed to cover more than two-thirds of total costs associated with the organization of the convention. The famous brand Atman (aquariums and aquarium equipment) represented by its exclusive distributor in Russia Vladislav Fedko, became a general sponsor of the congress. The companies Tetra and Aquatech, the journal Aquarium, St. Petersburg okeanarium "Neptune Planet", and a network of pet stores and hypermarkets "Le'Murrr" also served as sponsors of this congress.
Vladislav and Aliona Fedko, official distributors of Atman company in Russia represent the brand at the Congress
Lecture hall was decorated with the sponsors’ banners
Geography of the Congress is wide – Vologda, Moscow, Novokuznetsk, Ivanovo. Some aquarists arrived from Belarus, Ukraine and Finland, in other words the forum members from many cities of Russia and beyond participated in the St. Petersburg congress. A lot of hobbyists represented the Northern Capital, "the homeland" of the Congress, and its immediate suburbs. Such vivid interest in visiting the Congress is understandable. In addition to companionship, such conventions are always rich in novel and useful information. Diverse lectures covered many questions of aquariumistic, and every participant found something interesting – a herbalist and fishmonger, a landscaper and fish breeder, a shop owner and a lover of Nano Aquariums. During the first day the participants attended about ten lectures. The next day the interested ones had a chance to visit the famous St.Petersburg Oceanarium, and listen to the presentation on fish diseases by Vladimir Kovalev.
Briefly on the program of the Congress.
Already at 9.15 am on September 25, "JIVOY UGOLOK" has opened its doors to visitors. The Congress participants inspected all aquariums, areas for keeping plants, rooms for VitaWater forage production, and took a closer look at external Atman filters, still new to most of us.
Tour of the "JIVOY UGOLOK" quarantin zone
A new aquarium with unique lighting system was presented a year ago at the V Congress of Aquarists. Even a year later, this device continues to cause considerable interest. Its features and benefits were broadly discussed during the congress
Here you may test the Atman magnetic glass cleaners
The areas for aquarium plants were really crowded
One could have learnt about lots of different things during the tours to the "JIVOY UGOLOK", for example, about the structure of stands selling fish, equipped with back filtration
Directly in the "JIVOY UGOLOK" quarantine room the Atman equipment was demonstrated: internal and external filters, heaters, compressors. One of the sponsors of the Congress – the company Aquatech, provided an aquarium, with all this equipment installed. The congress participants could find out themselves how effective it worked.
The Russian proverb: "Better to see once than hear a hundred times" perfectly fits the case of aquarium equipment. At the congress everyone had a lucky opportunity to look at the Atman aquarium equipment in action, to ask the distributor the questions, to install the equipment into the aquarium with the instructor’s help.
And this is a very pleasant event for the organizers of the Congress and all veterans of aquarists’ congresses. As in 2009, a calendar of memorable dates and events happened since the previous congress, was presented
11 am, everyone gathered in the lecture hall. Traditionally the welcome speech was delivered by Elena Kovaliova, the moderator of the internet forum VitaWater.
Elena Kovaleva opens the congress with the welcome speech addressed to all participants
According to tradition, to encourage and to cheer up the participants Anatoly from Moscow presented a lecture on the Vitawater endemics and hydrobionts. The lecture was read with Anatoly’s usual artistry and humor, imitating the voice of the the famous host of of the teleshow "In the animal world (V mire zhivotnyh)", Nikolai Drozdov.
Anatoly not only set up a sort of relaxing air at the Congress , but he also fulfilled another honorable mission: presented a calendar of memorable dates of the VitaWater forum (see the fragment of his presentation)
This year the second calendar has been published. The first one was printed out in 2009. Anatoly reported briefly about those unique issues
Then Elena and Vladimir Kovalev talked about the exhibition "Interzoo-2010" held this spring in Germany. The slide show was accompanied by their comments. Judging from the items exhibited, creation of minature marine aquariums, the "nano-sees" is a strong tendency in contemporary aquariumistics. Another trend – is a widespread distribution of LED-based illuminating systems forg of aquariums and palidariums.The story about the European largest zoological exhibition would not be complete, if the new products from the leading European brands of aquarium producers had not been mentioned. Yelena and Vladimir have paid a special attention to the "Tetra", one of the most popular brands. Tetra has been a world leader in fish food production for years. The company confirmed its reputation at the Interzoo 2010. This time the gel fish food "TetraNatura" was brought to the public attention. Recently this product has become available for Russian aquarists as well.
A slide from Vladimir and Elena Kovalev presentation: TetraNatura is an important novel item presented on the Interzoo 2010
New: Tetra Medica Lifeguard – a multi-purpose drug, is effective against fungi, bacteria, protozoan parasites and some parasitic worms
Noteworthy, the company "Tetra" is among the sponsors the VI International Congress of Aquarists. In this regard, we would like to thank this world's leading aquarium brand for the attention to the activities of Russian aquarists. This year, Viktor Koleberdin, the representative of Tetra in the North-West region of Russia, addressed the Congress participants with a welcome speech. In his presentation he provided a detailed information about new gel-based fish food formulation of the Tetra Natura series. This formulation consists of nutritious microgranules and natural foods such as loodworm, krill, Artemia and Cyclops.
Victor Koleberdin welcomes the participants on behalf of the "Tetra" company
A fragment of the presentation by the "Tetra" representative
A presentation by winners of the international competition of aquarists "World Aquarium Design Contest 2010" – Svetlana Kirillova and Paul Bautin, came next. This contest was organized by JBL and was held in Germany.
Russian participants greatly appreciated the hospitality and warmth of the host country. A congress of the contestants with JBL top officials was organized
In Russia, a contest "JBL, Zoosphere 2009 – Aquarium Lover" selected the candidates for the international championship of aquarium designers. At the Russian contest Svetlana took the first place and Pavel – the second. This summer Pavel also won the Grand Prix IAPLC 2010, the most prestigious award for aquatic landscapers. In Germany though he was only the third among the participants of his category ("amateurs"), while Svetlana was the second in the category "professionals". The participants of VI Congress of Aquarists heard the story about this international competition directly from the contestants. In addition, Eugene Borovik, a famous artist, a talented photographer and aquarium designer commented on the aquariums presented to the championship.
Presentation by Svetlana and Pavel about their trip to Germany and participation in "World Aquarium Design Contest 2010""
Eugene Borovik comments on the contest aquariums
Successful participation of Russians in international competitions was not overlooked by the Congress sponsors. Our contestants have received 10.000 rubles certificates for purchasing aquariums from Aquatech company. Pavel, who had already appreciated the advantages of Atman production, was awarded with an external filter of this brand, and Svetlana – with the certificate for the annual set of fish food from VitaWater. The latter prize was handed by the "JIVOY UGOLOK" director, Dmitry Pershin.
Dmitry Fedchenko, a founder and CEO of Aquatech awards Svetlana Kirillova and Pavel Bautin with gift certificates
Vladislav Fedko, an exclusive distributor of Atman equipment in Russia, awards Pavel Bautin with external filter DF-1300
Svetlana Kirillova receives an award from Dmitry Pershin, the "JIVOY UGOLOK" company director
Organizers and sponsors of the Congress with Russian participants of "World Aquarium Design Contest 2010"
A coffee break with delicious snacks was the next item of the Program. It was filled up with lively conversations, and then the participants came back to the lecture hall to listen to other presentations.
Aquarium Magazine – Popular scientific illustrated magazine for fans of aquarium fish and decorative water plants, as well as for owners of terrariums and insectariums Aquarium Magazine announcements
Oceanarium of St.Petersburg –
The largest oceanarium of Russia and the Eastern Europe occupies about 5000 square meters Official site
Аквариум. Современная Аквариумистика.
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