Apollo Nida -- Now a Prisoner ... Leaves Pissed Off Wife Behind

Apollo Nida is on his way to prison right now -- at the time this story was posted -- but we've learned he went out with a nightclub bang that has royally pissed off his wife.

Phaedra Parks is telling friends Apollo has essentially abandoned his family for the last 2 months ... choosing drinking and strip clubs over his wife and 2 kids.

She says over the last week things got so bad and so tense she feared physical abuse ... although nothing happened. The 2 haven't even spoken in a week.

Apollo now begins his 8 year prison sentence for cashing stolen checks and laundering more than 2 million dollars.

We spoke to Apollo ... who had no comment ... but we're told he's pissed off at her for various reasons, including the fact that she didn't show up for his court hearings and she's been on a book tour during the last few months ... rather than comforting him.