Shows / Water Colors Aquarium Gallery
Water Colors Aquarium Gallery
Ben, owner of Water Colors Aquarium Gallery in Grand Rapids, MI is joined by his store managers Amy and Charles to discuss the aquarium hobby.
Episodes
- Water Colors Aquarium Gallery
110. April Fools! Our Top 4 Stupidest Fish of All Time featuring Johnathon Butkus
Just when you thought we weren’t going to release an episode this week, we pull a fast one. In this episode of the podcast, Johnathon Butkus from Oase…
- Water Colors Aquarium Gallery
Announcement: Upcoming Live Stream!
You asked for it! We’ll be dipping our toes in the water with our first YouTube livestream on Tuesday, April 4 at 7:15 EST (Link below). The topic of…
- Water Colors Aquarium Gallery
109. Aquarium Fish Nutrition: The Science of What to Feed Your Fishes
People often worry about whether they’re feeding their cats and dogs the right food. In your quest to find the right food for your furry pets…
- Water Colors Aquarium Gallery
108. Worst Aquarium Advice We’ve Seen Online
In this episode of the podcast, the Water Colors team shares their thoughts on the worst aquarium advice they could find on the internet. You can share the…
- Water Colors Aquarium Gallery
107. Bubble-Nesting Bettas
In the Betta genus, there are two documented modes of incubation: bubble-nesting and mouthbrooding. Among the bubble-nesters, domestic strains of Betta…
- Water Colors Aquarium Gallery
106. DIY: The Good, The Ugly, and the Just Plain Bad
DIY projects are something that most hobbyists try at some point in time. Whether it be to try saving a few dollars or because the industry doesn’t have…
- Water Colors Aquarium Gallery
105. Planted Aquarium Dosing 101
Getting started with planted aquariums can be intimidating. In this episode of the Podcast, the Water Colors team explore the chemistry of planted aquarium…
- Water Colors Aquarium Gallery
104. Listener Questions February 2023
Finally, the long awaited episode where the Water Colors team reads your listener questions! A big thank you to everyone who submitted questions for his…
- Water Colors Aquarium Gallery
103. Butterflyfishes: Unparalleled Jewels of the Reef
Butterflyfishes are some of the most colorful of all reef fishes, earning the affection of many marine aquarists. In this episode of the podcast, the Water…
- Water Colors Aquarium Gallery
102. West Side Story: 5 Real African Cichlids
When you say “African cichlids”, you usually conjure up images of “peacocks” from Lake Malawi. This connotation is reductive because it…
- Water Colors Aquarium Gallery
101. Top 5 Fish that Don’t Need a Heater
For various reasons, many aquarists don’t want to have a heater in their aquarium. In this episode of the podcast: the Water Colors staff discusses fish…
- Water Colors Aquarium Gallery
100. Top 5 Drinks to Have While Recording a Podcast
Today, we have a special podcast for our 100th episode! And what better way to celebrate then to discuss our favorite drinks to have while we are recording…
- Water Colors Aquarium Gallery
99. Licorice Gouramis: Little Gems of the Rainforest
In this episode of the podcast; Charles leads the Water Colors team on a discussion on a specific genus of anabantoids that we are all particularly fond of…
- Water Colors Aquarium Gallery
98. Aquarium Myths That Just Won’t Go Away
Ben, Amy, and Charles have explored aquarium-related myths in the past, but since many of these myths seem determined to stick around the staff at Water Colors…
- Water Colors Aquarium Gallery
97. Revisiting the Topic: Fish You Won’t See at Water Colors Aquarium Gallery
The Water Colors team revisits the topic of our first podcast episode: What fish species will you never see at Water Colors and why? The three of us have had…
- Water Colors Aquarium Gallery
96. Aquarium Burnout and How to Avoid It
Just like any hobby, it’s common to experience burnout as an aquarist. Sometimes you find yourself in over your head, or maybe you had a disaster that…
- Water Colors Aquarium Gallery
95. Questions Asked by Water Colors Staff
In this episode, Ben, Amy, and Charles answer questions submitted by the Water Colors Aquarium Gallery staff! The questions submitted range wildly, from…
- Water Colors Aquarium Gallery
94. Store Business: Saltwater Fishes To Always Keep In Stock
In this episode of the podcast, the Water Colors team discuss and debate what species of saltwater fishes our store should always have in stock and why…
- Water Colors Aquarium Gallery
93. Geophagus: The Goldilocks for Some Fishkeepers
In this episode, the Water Colors team discusses why Eartheaters, the fishes in the Subtribe Geophagina, are perfect aquarium inhabitants for many fishkeepers…
- Water Colors Aquarium Gallery
92. Aquariums for Kids: Fostering an Enduring Love for the Hobby
What comes to mind when you think of aquariums for kids? Rainbow gravel, castles, and dragons? In this episode, we discuss some alternate ideas for…
- Water Colors Aquarium Gallery
91. Dedicating a Fish Room for a Specialty
In this episode, we’re not talking about people who have fish rooms. We’re talking about the special kind of people that that take a fish room a…
- Water Colors Aquarium Gallery
90. Blackwater Aquariums: Turning a Fringe Habitat into a Mainstream Hobby
What exactly is a blackwater aquarium? In this episode of the podcast, the Water Colors team do their best to demystify what exactly makes an aquarium…
- Water Colors Aquarium Gallery
89. The Breeding Projects We’re Most Proud Of
The Water Colors team discusses their favorite aquarium breeding projects, including some monumental successes and even some failures. Some species are…
- Water Colors Aquarium Gallery
88. Biotopes: Examples of Replicating Wild Habitats
In this episode, the Water Colors team discuss a few biotope ideas! A biotope is an aquarium made to closely replicate a natural habitat, down to the plants…
- Water Colors Aquarium Gallery
87. Things We Wish We Had Known As Beginners
When you look back, what do you wish you knew about aquarium keeping before diving into the hobby? In this episode, the Water Colors team discuss some mistakes…
- Water Colors Aquarium Gallery
86. New Fish in the Hobby!
Listen to the team discuss their favorite species that are newly available in the industry. Comment below any new fish we missed that are on your radar…
- Water Colors Aquarium Gallery
85. Aquarium Horror Stories
If you’ve been around the hobby long enough, you’ve definitely heard some horror stories. In this episode, the team discusses the worst tragedies…
- Water Colors Aquarium Gallery
84. Beginner Planted Aquarium Mistakes
In this Top 5 episode, the Water Colors Aquarium Gallery team discusses beginner mistakes specific to planted aquariums. There are many missteps that most, if…
- Water Colors Aquarium Gallery
83. Beginner Reef Mistakes
Another Top 5 episode where the team discusses beginner mistakes in reef aquariums. There are a handful of mishaps that can be easily avoided with a little…
- Water Colors Aquarium Gallery
82. Conservation in Aquariums: Is It Enough?
“What do you mean you don’t want to do it right?!” – Ben In this episode, the Water Colors team discusses the complicated topic of…
- Water Colors Aquarium Gallery
81. Interview: Professional Aquascaping with Jeff Miotke
In this episode, the Water Colors team interviews professional aquascaper Jeff Miotke! Jeff is a friend of the store with a very successful career in…
- Water Colors Aquarium Gallery
80. Designer Clownfishes
In this episode, the team discusses designer clownfishes. Through selective breeding and careful manipulation, there are some stunning “fancy”…
- Water Colors Aquarium Gallery
79. Schooling Reef Fish
Today, the Water Colors team investigates the topic of schooling fish in saltwater aquariums. We’ll dive into several species that are commonly sold as…
- Water Colors Aquarium Gallery
78. Fish Rooms: Building a Room for Your Hobby
One tank turns into two, which turns into a few more… Before you know it, you have a dedicated room to house all your aquariums (and a hefty electric…
- Water Colors Aquarium Gallery
77. CARES Species
In this episode, the team at Water Colors discusses their Top 5 CARES fish species. The CARES Preservation Program (Conservation, Awareness, Recognition and…
- Water Colors Aquarium Gallery
76. State of the Aquarium Industry
In this episode, the team discusses the misinformation and unethical practices of many large scale aquarium businesses. Here at Water Colors, we’ve seen…
- Water Colors Aquarium Gallery
75. Captive-Bred Saltwater Fish – Part 2
This is part 2 of our Captive-Bred Saltwater Fish discussion, listen to Episode 74 for more information on this topic. The team is discussing captive-bred…
- Water Colors Aquarium Gallery
74. Captive-Bred Saltwater Fish
In this 2 part episode, the team is discussing captive-bred saltwater fish that are available in the hobby. Here at Water Colors, we’re both impressed…
- Water Colors Aquarium Gallery
73. Top 5 Brands
The team discusses our top 5 brands for aquarium products, and why we think they’re the best in their class. We stand by equipment that outperforms its…
- Water Colors Aquarium Gallery
72. Saltwater Wet Pets
You know those fish that just make amazing pets? More personable, more interested, more interactive? In today’s episode, we discuss our top “wet…
- Water Colors Aquarium Gallery
71. Freshwater Wet Pets
You know those fish that just make amazing pets? More personable, more interested, more interactive? In today’s episode, we discuss our top “wet…
- Water Colors Aquarium Gallery
70. Discus
The Water Colors team discusses all things discus in todays episode! Tune in to learn about one of the most prestigious freshwater fish around. Literature…
- Water Colors Aquarium Gallery
69. Frequently Asked Saltwater Questions
The team discusses frequently asked saltwater questions, and dispels some common myths and assumptions. Lots of useful information for new hobbyists and…
- Water Colors Aquarium Gallery
68. Common Coral Questions
This episode is inspired by listener questions on our Facebook group! The team discusses frequently asked coral questions, ranging from some of the basics to…
- Water Colors Aquarium Gallery
67. Lacey Act Amendments
With the help of special guest Dr. Alisha Davidson, an expert in invasive species, the Water Colors team discusses the potential impending changes to the LACEY…
- Water Colors Aquarium Gallery
66. Our Top 5 Funniest Freshwater Fish
What makes a fish funny? In this episode: Ben, Amy, and Charles use a Top 5 list in an attempt to answer that question.
- Water Colors Aquarium Gallery
65. Debate: South America Vs. Asia
In this episode, Ben and Charles have a heated debate about fish from two different regions of the world, South America vs Asia. Which team would you pick? Who…
- Water Colors Aquarium Gallery
64. Top 5 Money Wasting Products
In this episode, the team complains (again)! Only this time, it’s about the worst money wasting aquarium products. Check out some of the most pointless…
- Water Colors Aquarium Gallery
63. 5 Plants We Hate
Plants we hate In this episode, the team discusses aquarium plants that we can’t stand. Whether they’re tough to manage, a pain to keep alive, or…
- Water Colors Aquarium Gallery
62. Saltwater Changes
Water changes are an essential part of aquarium keeping… or are they? There are a lot of people out there who claim that they can keep a healthy reef…
- Water Colors Aquarium Gallery
61. Five Killer Beginner Mistakes
Selling fish at a small local store, we get to see a lot of the aftermath of poor advice and improper maintenance. Many beginners, and even the…
- Water Colors Aquarium Gallery
60. Our Top Five Holy Grail Saltwater Fish
A list of saltwater holy grail fish is inherently much different than a list of freshwater holy grail fish. When there are fewer species to choose from, the…
- Water Colors Aquarium Gallery
59. Our Top Five Holy Grail Freshwater Fish
A holy grail fish can mean different things to different people, but for one reason or another these are the fish that set themselves apart from the others…
- Water Colors Aquarium Gallery
58. Common Planted Aquarium Questions
This week’s surprise episode may tiptoe into rant territory. Ben, Amy, and Charles have a freeform discussion on questions that they often get about…
- Water Colors Aquarium Gallery
57. Starting a Saltwater Nano
Nano aquariums are more popular than ever, and nano reefs in particular have had even the most dedicated freshwater hobbyists peeking over at the other side of…
Water Colors Aquarium Gallery56. Interview: Will Ogburn and Lauren Roy, University of Dayton Fish Lab
This week’s episode is going to swing us into the research side of fishkeeping. While most of us are exclusively hobbyists, we all have a lot to learn…
- Water Colors Aquarium Gallery
55. Our Top Five Cyprinids
Cyprinidae can be a difficult family of fish to really wrap your head around. It contains danios, barbs, rasboras, some loaches, and other associated species…
- Water Colors Aquarium Gallery
54. Five Fish You Didn’t Think You’d Like
Most long term aquarium hobbyists remember a particular fish species fondly as what drew them to aquariums, or as a significant step in their personal journey…
- Water Colors Aquarium Gallery
53. Why Can’t We Be Friends? Saltwater Compatibility
When venturing into saltwater for the first time, it can be easy to see the more complicated equipment or testing as the biggest mentality shift. In practice…
- Water Colors Aquarium Gallery
52. Our Top 5 Saltwater Mobile Invertebrates
Invertebrate diversity is one of the major advantages a saltwater aquarium has over freshwater. Most of the time, and for good reason, coral and other sessile…