THE MOST EXQUISITE COMPOSITION OF BIOTOPE BEDS
BIOTOPE BEDS
Our new Biotope Beds is a unique and original addition to the Wio hardscape range! We feel that biotopers, aquascapers, terrarium creators and everyone in-between will value and enjoy our latest offering! The Biotope Beds is comprised of sand and gravel blends which we have developed after careful study of natural habitats around the world. This means we have looked at the colour, composition, gradients and geology of aquatic habitats and used this knowledge to create authentic and natural style substrates which will be especially useful for those interested in developing biotopes, but which could also find a home in aquascapes and emersed displays.
Examples include substrates comprised of blended dark sands, crushed snail shells and pale gravels designed to replicate the crystal clear highland streams of Bonito, in Western Brazil and combinations of reddish and brown sands to mimic the earthy colours of the waterways of the Western Ghats mountains in southern India. We have even developed substrates based entirely on crushed and whole snail shells, perfect for use in Lake Tanganyika biotope displays. We have also produced substrates intended to represent the streams and pools from deep within the Amazon rainforest, containing a mix of dark sands and organic materials such as leaf litter.
This series will expand and develop and we hope you are excited about it as we are!
NAUTILUS LIGHT
Inspired by the karst streams of Bonito in western Brazil.
Our Nautilus series is a unique product based on careful research of wild habitats. Nautilus light is compromised of small, medium and several large shells and is inspired by the substrates found in Lake Malawi, where a number of fishes have evolved to use shells as shelters and to build nests.
Nautilus light is inspired by the substrates & pale shells that are found in the karst streams of Bonito in western Brazil, home to many popular aquarium fishes and plants.
Available in bags of 2 & 5kg.
* Size mix from 0,1 - 5cm.
* Suitable for any type of design.
* 100% natural material -- non-toxic choice for your aquarium decor
* Does not affect water hardness.
* Easy to manipulate and spread in your aquarium.
NAUTILUS DARK
Inspired by the Lake Turkana in Africa.
Whether an aquascaper looking for an unusual and unique alternative to decorative sands and gravels or a biotope wishing to recreate natural habitats, the Nautilus range is the ideal substrate.
This dark version was inspired by images of the bed of Lake Turkana in Africa and by the blends of sand and black snail shells found in streams and ditches in the Pantanal wetlands of Brazil.
Available in bags of 2 & 5kg.
* Size mix from 0,1 - 5cm.
* Suitable for any type of design.
* 100% natural material -- non-toxic choice for your aquarium decor
* Does not affect water hardness.
* Easy to manipulate and spread in your aquarium.
NAUTILUS TAN
Inspired by the Great Rift Lakes, Africa.
This substrate is perfect for recreating biotopes of lakes, estuarine and marine environments. Comprised of a mix of different-sized shells, this product brings natural realism to your biotope.
Fishes which engage with shells as part of their life cycles, by crushing, moving, or living inside them, will benefit from the behavioural enrichment this substrate can provide.
Available in bags of 2 & 5kg.
* Size mix from 0,1 - 5cm.
* Suitable for any type of design.
* 100% natural material -- non-toxic choice for your aquarium decor
* Does not affect water hardness.
* Easy to manipulate and spread in your aquarium.
GLACIER
Inspired by the cold glacier waters of Lake McDonald in the USA.
Although so much of our decor and substrate materials are inspired by tropical habitats, the temperate world has much to offer! Our Glacier substrate is a carefully selected blend of gravel and pebbles, inspired by the mountain lakes of North America.
This richly coloured and engaging substrate is perfect for rheophilic or lentic biotopes or for adding detail and gradients to aquascapes.
Available in bags of 2 & 5kg
* Size mix from 0,1 - 5cm.
* Suitable for any type of design.
* 100% natural material -- non-toxic choice for your aquarium decor
* Does not affect water hardness.
* Easy to manipulate and spread in your aquarium.
IBON
Inspired by the ibons of Pyrenees, Spain and France.
Bringing stark contrast to green plants and generating a moody ambience, our Ibon substrate was inspired by high mountain rivers and streams, where rock shale and rubble are worn by the water into smooth cool pebbles.
Mixed with light sand, this unusual product is designed to challenge, inspire and delight nature-artists.
Available in bags of 2 & 5kg
* Size mix from 0,1 - 5cm.
* Suitable for any type of design.
* 100% natural material -- non-toxic choice for your aquarium decor
* Does not affect water hardness.
* Easy to manipulate and spread in your aquarium.
MERE
Inspired by Pool Malebo in Congo, Africa.
Bringing an organic, warm and interesting dynamic to your display, Mere is a unique concept designed to inspire nature artists. Inspired by the mellow sands and forest debris found in the mighty Pool Malebo of the Congo River in Africa.
This substrate is perfect for mimicking the habitats of deltas, lakes and lagoons, where organic material has been deposited by currents and floods.
Available in bags of 2 & 5kg
* Size mix from 0,1 - 40cm.
* Suitable for any type of design.
* 100% natural material -- non-toxic choice for your aquarium decor
* Does not affect water hardness.
* Easy to manipulate and spread in your aquarium.
BECK
Inspired by Garrotxa volcanic area, Spain.
This substrate comprises textured stones showing shades of light to dark grey, mixed with dark strips of bark, twigs and lighter crushed leaves. Detail is added with shells in different subtle shades or showing bright white spots. All this is placed together with dark grey, textured volcanic sand from the mountains of Catalonia. Used to create a moody ambience, or contrasted with bright green plants, Beck brings original and inspiring opportunities for the nature artist and their imagination.
“We need to sit on the rim of the well of darkness and fish for the fallen light with patience.” The words of the Chilean poet Pablo Neruda tell us that the appreciation of the contrasts of life are part of the human experience. In nature and in art, it is the differences between light and dark, their presence or absence which can create beauty and visual appeal. We have thought about this for our new biotope bed, Beck.
Available in bags of 2 & 5kg
* Size mix from 0,1 - 40cm.
* Suitable for any type of design.
* 100% natural material -- non-toxic choice for your aquarium decor
* Does not affect water hardness.
* Easy to manipulate and spread in your aquarium.
RIVULET
Inspired by Yakushima island in Japan.
Harmony and balance are as vital to art as they are to ecosystems. We have thought carefully about this when developing our latest product, Rivulet, a biotope bed inspired by Yakushima Island in Japan.
By carefully blending and balancing natural materials including pale, smooth stones, dark and light-coloured leaves, small twigs and branches and tiny shells in light and dark shades together with soft, pale sand, we have aimed to show the natural balance of organic materials, textures, colours, and shapes found in wild habitats. Crucially, the specific selection of each element for its beauty, detail, and contribution to the whole, creates a harmony which is both authentically natural and calming to the eye.
Available in bags of 2 & 5kg
* Size mix from 0,1 - 40cm.
* Suitable for any type of design.
* 100% natural material -- non-toxic choice for your aquarium decor
* Does not affect water hardness.
* Easy to manipulate and spread in your aquarium.
CRIKEY
Inspired by the Great Red Continent, Australia.
This carefully crafted substrate is comprised of a blend of sand and reddish gravel, mixed with crushed pieces of red rocks. Added to this is a selection of botanicals and even some tiny snail shells! This provides a truly authentic recipe for a natural habitat display.
The warm, ochre colours conjure up visions of the Great Red Continent and the woody material and shells add dark and light contrast and detail. This would be the perfect addition to a biotope for small Rainbowfishes or even a paludarium-style display for crabs!
Available in bags of 2 & 5kg
* Size mix from 0,1 - 40cm.
* Suitable for any type of design.
* 100% natural material -- non-toxic choice for your aquarium decor
* Does not affect water hardness.
* Easy to manipulate and spread in your aquarium.
EVERGLADES
Inspired in the sub-tropical lands of North America.
A genuine ‘natural style’ substrate with dried seed pods from North America, magnolia leaves, crushed leaves and fallen wood pieces and tiny roots to suggest the forest along the riverbanks. This 'natural style’ substrate is exactly the type of matrix of organic materials and sands you might encounter in a range of habitats, but especially in lowland rivers and swamps, where the slow currents allow leaves, twigs and other primal matter to sink to the bottom, where they provide refuge and foraging opportunities for countless animals.
Available in bags of 2 & 5kg
* Size mix from 0,1 - 40cm.
* Suitable for any type of design.
* 100% natural material -- non-toxic choice for your aquarium decor
* Does not affect water hardness.
* Easy to manipulate and spread in your aquarium.