Water Colors Aquarium Gallery

In this episode, the team discusses the misinformation and unethical practices of many large scale aquarium businesses. Here at Water Colors, we’ve seen first hand just how many new hobbyists are given awful advice from chain stores. Take a listen and see how common misinformation affects newcomers and the industry as a whole.

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 saltwater fish that are available in the hobby. Here at Water Colors, we’re both impressed and inspired by the innovations in captive breeding efforts. Despite this, we’ve run into some issues with captive-bred fish. Let us know how...

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 and inspired by the innovations in captive breeding efforts. Despite this, we’ve run into some issues with captive-bred fish. Let us know what you think about our favorite captive-bred species, and stay tuned for part 2 where we discuss...

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 competitors, is cost-efficient, and is just plain reliable. What brands do you trust?

You know those fish that just make amazing pets? More personable, more interested, more interactive? In today’s episode, we discuss our top “wet pets” in saltwater aquariums, and why they make such great companions.

You know those fish that just make amazing pets? More personable, more interested, more interactive? In today’s episode, we discuss our top “wet pets” in freshwater aquariums, and why they make such great companions.

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 Cited: Manuella Villar Amado, Izeni P. Farias, Tomas Hrbek, “A Molecular Perspective on Systematics, Taxonomy and Classification Amazonian Discus Fishes of the Genus Symphysodon“, International Journal of Evolutionary Biology, Vol. 2...

The team discusses frequently asked saltwater questions, and dispels some common myths and assumptions. Lots of useful information for new hobbyists and seasoned veterans alike.

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 some advanced water chemistry knowledge. If you’re new to reef keeping, or you’re a seasoned veteran, you’ll certainly learn something new from this discussion.

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 Act, and how it might affect the aquarium hobby/trade. Don’t freak out, this episode is all about breaking down the potential amendments for all to understand.

What makes a fish funny? In this episode: Ben, Amy, and Charles use a Top 5 list in an attempt to answer that question.

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 won?    

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 and ineffective things being marketed to hobbyists, and save yourself the money by avoiding them in the future. Carbon cartridges, API master test kits, overpowered filters, vacation feeders, mini CO2 kits, cheap heaters, saltwater dechlorina...

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 just illegal! We normally love aquarium plants here at the gallery, but today we’re channeling our hatred.   Hornwort, duckweed, frogbit, invasive plants (cabomba, euro frogbit, water hyacinth, elodea, parrot’s feather), glos...

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 tank doing few to no water changes. For this episode, Charles did some research on what a water change is actually doing for your aquarium. He, Ben, and Amy discuss some different philosophies around water changes, and why we do what we do. We&...

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 not-so-beginners tend to fall into the same traps. In this episode Ben, Charles, and Amy discuss the deadly mistakes that are the most common, and the common mistakes that are the most deadly.

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 differences between them can seem much greater. These fish are unavailable because of legal restrictions, unattainable because they’re so expensive, very difficult to keep, or just unique and require specialized care.  Whatever the reaso...

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. What are your holy grails? Let us know on the Water Colors Aquarium Gallery Podcast Listeners Facebook Page!   Species mentioned in this episode, spoilers below! (more…)

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 planted aquariums. What questions did they miss? Post in the Water Colors Aquarium Gallery Podcast Listeners group on Facebook. Check out watercolorsaquariumgallery.com for merch, aquarium supplies, and live plants.    

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 the shop. A saltwater tank that is fewer than 20 gallons can offer a less expensive, potentially lower maintenance option, compared to more traditional larger mixed reefs. In this episode: Ben, Amy, and Charles discuss what goes into settin...

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 from scientific studies. Will Ogburn and Lauren Roy work in the fish lab at the University of Dayton studying stickleback behavior and transgenerational plasticity under Dr. Jennifer Hellmann. In this interview: Ben, Amy, and Charles discuss t...

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. While it can seem like a catchall, many of the most popular aquarium fish belong to this diverse group. In this episode: Ben, Amy, and Charles discuss their favorite cyprinid species.

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. This time, this podcast is not about those fish. In this episode, Ben, Amy, and Charles talk about the fish they missed the first time around.  Are there any fish that you swore you’d never keep but slowly warmed up to? Let us know!

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 and with good guidance, these hurdles usually end up being a lot less difficult than they seemed at first glance. Often the challenge that sneaks up on the new reef tank owner who has been conditioned to buy schools of fish in their freshwate...

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 (immobile) invertebrates get the glory. However, it can’t be understated how much character and interest their more active cousins can bring to your tank. In this episode: Ben, Amy, and Charles discuss their top 5 mobile invertebrates.