Water Colors Aquarium Gallery

10 Episodes
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By: 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.

The Great Damsel Debate
#163
Last Friday at 3:46 PM

The concept of damsel fish in aquariums goes back to the beginning of marine fishkeeping. They are often used as "throwaway" fish to cycle new tanks due to their cheap cost and hardy nature. Generally speaking, damsels also have a nasty reputation for aggression, despite their smaller size. Because of this, the aquarium community is rather split on the topic, with strong opinions on both sides. Ben and Calder debate where exactly these fish belong in the hobby, coming from different backgrounds and experiences with the fish in the family pomacentridae.     Join the discussion on the Water Colors Aquarium Gallery Po...


Women in the Aquarium Hobby
#162
04/12/2024

This episode is an open ended discussion surrounding women in the aquarium hobby. It's no surprise that women are underrepresented in the world of fish keeping, and we would love to dissect why this may be the case. Amy, with the help of three other well-respected women in our local aquarium scene, dive into this topic and speak about their own experiences as they progress as aquarists.   Join the discussion on the Water Colors Aquarium Gallery Podcast Listeners Facebook group! https://www.facebook.com/groups/788428861825086/   Enjoying the show? Support the gallery by shopping aquarium plants, merch, equipment, and more! https://wa...


Top 3 Places to See Fish in the Wild
#161
04/05/2024

The Water Colors team discusses the importance of travel in this unique episode! There are so many reasons to explore the world, but here we discuss our top 3 favorite places to view wild fish in their natural habitat. These experiences can teach us so much about our favorite species, and give us context as to how they behave in their environments. From wild killifish to soaring eagle rays; we'll hear about some ambitious dream locations and real-world anecdotes from recent travels in this episode. How far would you travel to see your favorite fishes?   Join the discussion on the Water C...


Top 5 Variations of the Blood-Red Parrot Cichlid
#160
04/01/2024

One of the most beloved fish in the Water Colors universe is the stunning Blood-red Parrot cichlid. They come in so many fun shapes and colors, what's not to love? Plus, they play so well with their tank mates! This episode is dedicated to our top 5 favorite variations of the most iconic aquarium fish of all time.   Join the discussion on the Water Colors Aquarium Gallery Podcast Listeners Facebook group! https://www.facebook.com/groups/788428861825086/   Enjoying the show? Support the gallery by shopping aquarium plants, merch, equipment, and more! https://watercolorsaquariumgallery.com/   Looking for more content? Become a YouTube member for...


Macroalgae 101
#159
03/29/2024

Utilizing macroalgae in reef tanks is a popular trend in modern day marine aquaria. It's an excellent way to add some variable textures and colors into your saltwater tank. With special guest Johnathon Butkus, the Water Colors team discusses topics such as care, taxonomy, compatible tank mates, and more. From the vibrant 'blue hypnea' to the alien-like 'dead man's fingers', we cover a variety of macroalgae species in this episode! Which is your favorite?   Join the discussion on the Water Colors Aquarium Gallery Podcast Listeners Facebook group! https://www.facebook.com/groups/788428861825086/   Enjoying the show? Support the gallery by shopping aq...


Parasites of the Caribbean: The Evolution of Cleaner Gobies
#158
03/22/2024

Elacatinus gobies are the perfect nano fish - small, stunning, and regularly captive bred! These awesome cleaner gobies are not obligate cleaners, and therefore work well in a large variety of reef tanks. Join us as we learn about this widespread genus of beautiful neon gobies - from care, to husbandry, to evolution and more. Fishes Discussed in this Episode: - Cayman sponge goby (Elacatinus centralis) - Cayman cleaner goby (Elacatinus cayman) - Shortstripe goby (Elacatinus chancei) - Belize sponge goby (Elacatinus colini) - Yellowline goby (Elacatinus horsti) - Linesnout goby (Elacatinus lori) - Spotlight goby (Elacatinus louisae) - Serranilla...


Top 5 Non-Cichlid South American Fish
#157
03/17/2024

Cichlids get too much love... so in this episode, we're discussing our top 5 list from South America - but we're excluding all cichlids! There are so many exciting fishes from South America that get overlooked due to the popularity of SA cichlids. This diverse list includes corydoras, tetras, puffers, killis, and even some unique oddball species. What are your favorites?   Join the discussion on the Water Colors Aquarium Gallery Podcast Listeners Facebook group! https://www.facebook.com/groups/788428861825086/   Enjoying the show? Support the gallery by shopping aquarium plants, merch, equipment, and more! https://watercolorsaquariumgallery.com/   Looking for more content? Become a Y...


Dottybacks
#156
03/08/2024

In this episode, the Water Colors team discusses dottybacks! We take a look at behavior, compatibility, species profiles and more. Charles makes a strong case for why everyone should try keeping dottybacks for themselves. Many of them have stunning colors that you wont get anywhere else, and unique attitudes to match.   Join the discussion on the Water Colors Aquarium Gallery Podcast Listeners Facebook group! https://www.facebook.com/groups/788428861825086/   Enjoying the show? Support the gallery by shopping aquarium plants, merch, equipment, and more! https://watercolorsaquariumgallery.com/   Looking for more content? Become a YouTube member for exclusive access to behind the sce...


Questions Submitted by Podcast Listeners (Part 2)
#155
03/01/2024

We're back with another episode answering listener questions! These episodes always receive great feedback, and they are a blast to record. Join the Water Colors team as we answer some fun questions and discuss tips, tricks, and controversies related to our listener's inquiries. Any future questions can be submitted to podcast@watercolorsaquariumgallery.com   This episode was recorded live on YouTube! For the full version, check out the link below. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hag6Y4tSc4A   Consider becoming a YouTube member for exclusive access to behind the scenes livestreams! https://www.youtube.com/@watercolorsaquariumgallery   Join the discussion on...


Top 5 Non-Aquarium Fish
#154
02/23/2024

We love discussing aquarium fish, but in reality, this only includes the tiniest fraction of all fish species! In this episode, the Water Colors team discusses their top 5 non-aquarium fishes! From big ocean fish to cold-water trout, we're talking about some of our favorite fish from around the world.   Referenced clips: EVNautilus clip - mola mola EVNautilus clip - stubby squid   Join the discussion on the Water Colors Aquarium Gallery Podcast Listeners Facebook group! https://www.facebook.com/groups/788428861825086/   Enjoying the show? Support the gallery by shopping aquarium plants, merch, equipment, and more! https://watercolorsaquariumgallery.com/   Looking for more content? Beco...