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 podcast covers topics related to fishkeeping, tank setup, and maintenance. It offers insights from experienced aquarium enthusiasts and professionals.
Episodes
282. Amy, Ben and Calder Ask Each Other Questions
*** We apologize for some of the electrical pops and noises, we are working out the bugs but unfortunately we record our episodes a few weeks in advance and will take some time to reflect in real time. All suggestions and feedback is welcome any of the ways you can get in touch with us. ***
In previous episodes, Water Colors staff and listeners have asked Amy, Ben and Calder questions. This episod
282. Filtration and Tank Cycling: Beginner Edition
Amy, Ben and Calder bring us back to the basics this week. Filtration is an essential part of keeping a healthy aquarium and is a topic that often gets over complicated and becomes confusing to beginners. Between the different types of filters, different types of filtration (biological, mechanical, and chemical), and popularity of “filterless” tanks; what is the right option? What is i
281. Betta Splendens Complex with Charles
Charles leads the Watercolors team on an exploration of the Betta splendens complex. With new scientific data being published, the topic of which bettas belong in the complex and which don’t gets a little muddy (pun intended). One thing we can all agree on is that bettas are amazing fish and should be preserved and cherished in both our tanks and the wild. Are you keeping any domestic or a w
280. Water Colors Staff Ask Questions
This week, the entire Water Colors Aquarium Gallery staff had the chance to ask Amy, Ben and Calder questions. From goofy and light-hearted to serious and boarderline depressing, the team is put to the test. Thank you Mandy for asking the tough questions and being our host for the evening! Join in on the fun next time and submit your own aquarium questions and curiousities to our email; info@water
279. Aquarium Plants: Aquatic Aroids
This week the Water Colors team talks about all things aeroid. Many of us are familiar with aeroids as popular house plants (Monstera, Philodendron, Alocasia, Anthurium, etc.) but are you as familiar with the types of aeroids that grow under the water’s surface? Calder did the research and gives you the science of what makes an aeroid unique, what conditions these plants thrive under, and ho
278. Ideas for Improving Club Breeder Programs
Amy, Ben and Calder invite Craig Forist to table to dicuss the recent decline in aquarium club activity, specifically around breeder programs. With many different external factors like space, budget, time, and social anxiety pushing the average hobbist away, how do we keep these programs fair for the beginners and challenging for the seasoned breeder? This week, the team has come up with some inte
277. All About Ricefish
Calder leads the Water Colors team on a deep dive into Ricefish. Ricefish have been in the aquarium hobby for a very long time and often are overlooked as being boring or common. In recent years, there has been an uptake in interest abroad leading to many new, interesting colors and body/fin shapes. Whether you are looking for a new addition to your tub pond or want a new fish for your micro-commu
276. Barriers to Entry: Beginner Pages, Forums, Videos and More
This week’s episode isn’t like the usual topics we explore. This week, the Water Colors team calls you action to help us make the world of fish keeping a more hospitable place for new aquarists. Beginner Facebook pages, Reddit forums, YouTube influencers, and social media in general have spread misinformation through this hobby like wildfire and often meet beginners with unkind, unhelp
275. Top Five Brown Fish
You walk into your local fish store (LFS) and may have thought to yourself, “That’s a boring brown fish. Why would anyone want that?” Well, the Water Colors team is here to tell you why. For what these fish may lack in bright colors, they make up for in cool behaviors and personalities. Ben, Amy and Calder talk about five of their favorite brown fish and what makes these fish so
274. Top Five Saltwater Gobies
A little nervous to start keeping a salt water tank? Don’t have a lot of room in your tank but have the itch to get something new? Are you a sucker for a cute, goofy face? We think the addition of a saltwater goby may be for you. Join the Water Colors team in the discussion of their top five favorite saltwater gobies. With such cool colors, behaviors, and size, what’s not to love about
273. Top 5 Holy Grail Fish (What’s Changed Since Episode 59?)
Can you believe it’s been five years since we last talked about our top five holy grail fish in episode 59? Ben, Amy, and Calder decided to revisit the topic and see how they have grown, what’s changed, and what’s still the same. With holy grail fish, beauty is in the eye of the beholder and that’s what makes it so fun! Whether it’s a cool new guppy strain you saw onl
272. Top 5 Favorite Mid-sized Cichlids
Looking for a cichlid to add to your 55-75 gallon aquarium? Ben, Amy and Calder talk about five of their “favorite” medium-sized cichlids, but honestly how do you only pick five. Many of the cichlids chosen tonight are not only beautiful, but display interesting paretal behaviors and hold special places in our hearts being recoginzed by the CARES Fish Preservation Program. We would lov
271. Interview with Alex Rose
You may have seen our familiar faces in the recent release of the AMAZONAS Big Beauties magazine. This is because we had the privilege to interview Alex Rose, executive editor of AMAZONAS magazine and associate editor of Coral and Ocean Geographic magazine. It was truly a pleasure to have her here and we look forward to working with her again. She dives in, literally, to her work and what it takes
270. Lost Episode – Top 5 Green Fish
Happy late or early St. Patty’s Day! This week’s episode was temporarily lost but is now found. Enjoy Ben, Amy and Calder talk about their top 5 favorite green fish, some of which may surprise you.
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269. Water Color’s Next Step – Breeder Lab Brainstorm
This week’s podcast is a little different than most… This week, we invite you to sit down and brainstorm some ideas for our breeder lab remodel with Ben, Amy, and Maddy. Our tenative plan is to work with wild type bettas and livebearers, killifish, and bristlenose plecos with a majority of the tanks used to grow out some of our favorite plants. We are so excited to get this project up
268. Interview with Andrej Spec: Rare Plants, Fish Rooms, and More!
The Water Colors team gathers around the table with special guest, Andrej Spec, to talk about aquarium plants. Andrej shares his aquarium journey and how he quickly went from hobbyist to passionate collector. He talks about his successes, some of his methods to that success, and so much more. Thank you so much for your kindness and inspiration, Andrej and we look forward to seeing you again.
 
267. Live at 2026 KilliKarnival
Thank you to everyone who listened to our live talk! Ben, Amy, Calder and Maddy had an awesome time and are looking forward to next year. In this talk, we cover how / where to get killifish, their relavence in the hobby, and how we can do our part to make these great fish more popular amoungst hobbyists.
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266. Top 5 Mexican Species
In celebration of Cinco de Mayo, the Water Colors team talks about Mexico and some of their favorite species endemic to the North American continent. With such an interesting evolutionary history, it is no suprise that Mexico is home to many beautiful, unique fish and plants. Whether you are a cichlid or swordtail lover, Mexico has a fish for everyone.
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265. 2026 KilliKarnival Recap
Amy, Ben and Calder come together after a fantastic time at KilliKarnival 2026. They had a blast at the live talk and so much fun meeting fellow listeners and fish enthusiasts alike. This week’s episode breaks down their time in South Bend, Indiana. They talk about the amazing fish they saw, what it’s like to help judge competitions, things they still see in the hobby that make them sa
264. Killifish Month Wrap-Up
As Killifish Month comes to a close, the team wraps up loose ends and reiterates some important points. The topics include; what it takes to survive as a male, male vs. female hatching ratios, seperating breeding pairs, the various methods of raising healthy fry, raising live foods, and unofficial ways to catergorize killifish. If you are a true fan and have a strong stomach, stick around for the
263. “Switch Hitter” Spawning Killifish
In this episode, the Water Colors Team gather around the table to talk about “switch hitting” killifish. In other words, killifish that can mop spawn and substrate spawn. They discuss different spawning methods, practices they use at home in their own breeding projects, and why these fish have developed this advantagous adaptation. Come listen to how incubations times differ depending
262. South American Annual Killifish
The team dives into much more than just South American Killifish this episode. They discuss the Lacey Act and the native fish of Brazil, sustainable collection like Project Piaba, killifish diapause and dirt spawning methods. Join us at the KilliKarnival on April. 25th, 2026. We appreciate your patience with the delay of last week’s podcast. Our regular publishing schedule will begin again a
261. Top 5 African Killifish (excluding Nothobranchius)
This episode is all about African killifish excluding the Nothobranchius genus. The Water Colors team tackles their favorite, unique, and rare killifish that aren’t talked about enough in the hobby. They discuss breeding, habitats, tankmates, and more. Have you heard of some of these species? Let us know!
Sources mentioned in this episode:
American Killifish Association – https://aka.org/
Br
260. Top 5 Loaches
This episode is all about loaches! The Water Colors team sits down to discuss their top 5 species, detailing their care, behavior, native habitats, and more. Loaches come in all sort of shapes, sizes, and temperaments, making this an incredible diverse top 5 list. What are your favorite species?
Sources mentioned in this episode: https://www.loaches.com/
Looking for more content? Bec
259. Top 5 Micro Cyprinids
Cyprinidae is the largest family of freshwater fish, which makes it quite challenging to narrow down a top 5 list! In this episode, the Water Colors hosts attempt to do just that, by selecting their top 5 micro cyprinids to discuss. This family is so expansive, it contains danios, barbs, loaches and more! Which species would make your list?
Sources referenced: https://www.researchgate.net/publicat
258. Listener Questions February 2026
We’re back with one of our favorite episode formats – answering listener submitted questions! These episodes are livestreamed at the time of recording on our YouTube channel – consider joining our YouTube membership for access to weekly livestreamed episodes! There is never a shortage of great questions and topics to kickstart some interesting conversations on these recording ses
257. Blackwater Botanicals
Leaves, cones, seedpods and more! In this episode, the Water Colors team discusses botanicals, and how to use them in your aquariums. There are loads of benefits to adding these to your tank, including antifungal/antibacterial properties, softening or staining water, food for fry, and more! We cover the different varieties available, when to use them, and even some tips and trick on how to forage
256. Betta Coccina Complex
Continuing Blackwater Month, we’re back to discuss the Betta coccina complex! This complex contains arguably some of the greatest wild betta species known to the hobby. These are true blackwater gems that come in very small packages! The hosts discuss their native habitats, distribution, captive care, conservation status, and more! We’ll break down the taxonomy associated with this com
255. Top 5 Fish Improved by Blackwater
Continuing the blackwater aquarium theme, the hosts discuss their top 5 fish picks that look incredible in stained water. To learn all about blackwater aquariums, refer to our previous episode (254. Intro to Blackwater Aquariums). We cover a wide variety of species native to blackwater environments. Some species are selected due to their striking coloration in these environments, while some are se
254. Intro to Blackwater Aquariums
There’s a new trend taking the hobby by storm – blackwater tanks! These aquariums often have a stained appearance, with water resembling tea. They frequently are designed with lots of leaf litter and other botanicals, minimal flow, and little to no aquarium plants. Aside from the visual appearance, these tanks will also have lower pH and hardness, replicating softer water environments
253. The Myth of the No Maintenance Aquarium
For as long as aquariums have existed, there have been hobbyists looking for ways to avoid maintenance. From misleading products to “experts” online, there are numerous sources that give hobbyists the false impression that it’s OK to skip water changes completely! In this episode, the Water Colors hosts dispel these myths, while also discussing what scenarios might allow for mini
252. Developments in the Marine Hobby
In this episode, we welcome back Charles to discuss changes and trends in the marine aquarium hobby. Comparing livestock lists through the years, the hosts make note of species that have fallen out of favor, changed in price, or become unavailable altogether. Through this discussion, we make some predictions about the future of the marine fishkeeping hobby and how our choices may impact the trajec
251. Guppy Strains
In this episode, the Water Colors team discusses guppy strains and the history associated with some of the famous strains we all know and love. Guppies are one of the oldest, most well-known fish in the hobby – with many aquarists beginning their journeys by keeping guppy tanks. Through selective breeding, we’ve developed a variety of amazing strains. The possibilities are endless!
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250. 2025 Year in Review
As we move into the new year, we celebrate our 250th episode by reminiscing on 2025. We had some monumental accomplishments this past year, including many amazing podcast guests, an extremely successful batch of baby bamboo sharks, and the astounding growth of our podcast community! We want to take a moment to thank everyone for following along and supporting our mission. We wrap up this episode b
249. Fish Rooms with Mike Monje & Craig Forist
In this exciting episode, we have two celebrity guests in the studio to discuss their personal fish room builds! Mike Monje and Craig Forist share details about their own fish rooms at home, as well as some secrets to help you build your own dream workspace. The hosts and guests share some great accomplishments, tank disasters, and tips and tricks for creating the most efficient and effective fish
248. Top 5 Non Reef Safe Fish
In this episode, the Water Colors team discusses their top 5 favorite fish that are not safe to keep with coral. The average reef aquarium in 2026 has a variety of mixed corals. Many of the most interesting fish in the aquarium trade are unsafe to keep with corals. This means there’s a whole world of fun and unique species that get overlooked, simply because they’re not compatible with
247. Top 5 Anabantoids Excluding Bettas
We all love bettas, but what other anabantoids need some time in the spotlight? In this episode, the Water Colors team discusses their top 5 species from the suborder anabantoidei. This includes many beloved fish such as gouramis, paradisefish, badis, and even channa! Discussions include native habitats, captive care, breeding reports, and more! What’re your favorite anabantoids?
Look
246. Aquarium History: Fish Tanks Through The Ages
In this episode, the Water Colors team takes a trip back in time. The early aquarium hobby has some fascinating origins, some good and some not so good. Much of what we know about aquariums has changed through the years, but one thing remains constant – people are enamored with fish. In this discussion, we’ll go through some of the earliest fish species to be imported and kept in the U
245. Top 5 African Plants
In this episode, the Water Colors Team discusses their top 5 aquarium plants found in Africa! When in comes to plant diversity, Africa is hard to beat! Some of our absolute favorites come from this region. This discussion revolves around our favorite species, their native ranges, care, and more! If you’re interested in designing a biotope to this region, this episode is a great place to star
244. Saltwater Fish List Roulette: The Bad List
In this episode, the Water Colors team is once again quizzed on their fish knowledge! Using the worst commercial wholesale fish list we can find and a random number generator, we roll a random species from the list and test each host to see if they know the species based only on the common name alone. Each turn, they can score points by correctly naming the genus and species. This game is made eve
243. Ornamental Marine Algae with Dr. Jordyn Stoll
Once again, we are joined by our good friend and algae expert Dr. Jordyn Stoll! In this episode, we narrow down our focus and discuss ornamental marine algae, sometimes referred to as macroalgae. Aquascapes utilizing ornamental algae often resemble planted aquariums, and share some similarities, yet the species used in macroalgae tanks span across multiple kingdoms and can vary vastly in care. We&
242. Shop Talk: Display Tanks at Water Colors
In this new episode format, the Water Colors team sits down to discuss the current display aquariums within our store in Grand Rapids, Michigan! The display tanks in our gallery serve as examples to inspire others. The staff will take turns designing and maintaining the various show tanks across the store. In this discussion, we’ll go in-depth on all the setups, including the dimensions, equ
241. Understanding Corallimorpharia
In this episode, the Water Colors Team sits down to discuss corallimorphs, or the cnidarians within the order corallimorpharia. This includes fun species from the genera discosoma, rhodactus, ricordea, and more! We discuss some of the available varieties in the aquarium trade and their care, as well as some other unique species that aquarists don’t typically see! Which corallimorphs are your
240. Halloween Special: Aquarium Horror Stories
For this Halloween episode, we asked our listeners, friends, and fellow hobbyists to share their spookiest aquarium horror stories. We received some shocking tales about aquarium-related injuries, losses, and more. We hope by sharing these experiences, we can all learn from the tragedies and discuss how to prevent future disasters. What’s your scariest aquarium story?
Join the discuss
239. Intro to Marine Algae with Dr. Jordyn Stoll
Once again, we are joined by our good friend and algae expert Dr. Jordyn Stoll! In this episode, we attempt to tackle the complicated world of marine algae, but quickly find that this topic warrants multiple episodes. The tricky nature of discussing saltwater algae sends our hosts off on dozens of tangents, to no surprise. From ornamental macroalgae to pesky nuisance algae, join us as we learn jus
238. Interview with Craig Forist
In this episode, we welcome a good friend of the store in for an interview! Craig Forist is an accomplished aquarist with an impressive background in the aquarium hobby. He is the president of two aquarium clubs, an active BAP competitor, and most recently – the proud owner of a trio of epaulette sharks. We sit down with Craig and hear all about his aquarium experiences, from early inspirati
237. 55 Gallon Aquarium Concepts
The 55 gal aquarium is a notoriously disliked tank, with many hobbyists avoiding it like the plague. At 48″ long, 13″ wide, and 20″ tall, it can be a very limiting tank to work with! Despite it’s reputation, it’s still a frequently sold model. In this episode, the Water Colors team discusses their top 3 concepts surrounding the dreaded 55gal tank. We have some very un
236. Listener Questions September 2025
We’re back with one of our favorite episode formats – answering listener submitted questions! These episodes are livestreamed at the time of recording on our YouTube channel – consider joining our YouTube membership for access to weekly livestreamed episodes! There is never a shortage of great questions and topics to kickstart some interesting conversations on these recording ses
235. Bragworthy Plants
In this episode, the Water Colors team discusses their top 5 most bragworthy aquarium plants! Some of these species are challenging to find or grow, and having a healthy specimen can show other aquarists that you’re a hardcore hobbyist. Other examples on this list are simply impressive to see, whether you’re an aquarium geek or not! From giant swords to flowering crypts, we love an opp
233. In Case of Emergency: Aquarium Disasters
In this episode, the Water Colors team discusses what to do when you encounter an aquarium emergency. From leaks to power outages, food dumps to broken pumps – what can you do when disaster strikes? We’ll talk about the common issues, how to troubleshoot, and how to prepare. What are the worst aquarium disasters you’ve experienced? You can send your stories into info@watercolorsa
234. Freshwater Fish List Roulette: The Bad List
In this episode, the Water Colors team is once again quizzed on their fish knowledge! Using the worst commercial wholesale fish list we can find and a random number generator, we roll a random species from the list and test each host to see if they know the species based only on the scientific name alone. Each turn, they can score a point by successfully proving they know the species. They can als
232. Desktop Aquariums Concepts
In this listener-suggested episode, the Water Colors team comes up with a few of their favorite concepts for nano tanks that can live on your desk! We are accepting votes on which of these concepts we will be setting up in the shop! Whether you work from home, or have a corporate desk job, there’s room for a mini project tank in your work space. We’ll discuss ideas that range from simp
231. Freshwater Algae with Dr. Jordyn Stoll
In this episode, we are joined once again by freshwater ecologist and algae expert Dr. Jordyn Stoll! Jordyn studies algae in natural environments, and with her expertise, we hope to discuss some of the common algae varieties we encounter in our aquariums. The big question is – how do we treat it? Algae issues typically stem from nutrient imbalances, both in our aquariums and in nature. Ident
230. An Ode to Killifish
After wrapping up our official Killifish month, the Water Colors team concludes by sharing their top 5 killifish of all time! March 2025 was full of non-stop killi action, including episodes on dirt-spawners (208), mop-spawners (207), and killifish biotopes (206). What better way to round it off than a classic top 5 list? For more in-depth discussion on killis, refer back to these previous episode
229. Top 5 Non-Armored Catfish
In this episode, the Water Colors Team discusses their top 5 non-armored catfish species! This excludes a lot of fan-favorite cats, such as corydoras and plecos, and forces the hosts to study up on some unusual species! It’s impossible to generalize catfishes, as they comprise nearly 10% of all known fish species. We’ll share some of our favorites, ranging from tiny, dwarf acts –
228. Freshwater Fish List Roulette: The Good List
In this new episode format, the Water Colors team is quizzed on their fish knowledge! Using our favorite commercial wholesale fish list and a random number generator, we roll a random species from the list and test each host to see if they know the species based only on the scientific name alone. Each turn, they can score a point by successfully proving they know the species. They can also earn a
227. Fancy Livebearers & Maintaining Strains
For our final episode of Livebearer Month, we welcome back Charles, who joins us to discuss fancy livebearers! It would be an injustice to talk about livebearing fish without taking a dive into the genetics behind the strains we know and love. Selective breeding is a process that has allowed aquarists to develop fish with specific traits, including those with dramatic, long fins and vibrant color
226. Interview With Pat Hartman
The Water Colors team is honored to have Pat Hartman join us for an interview in this week’s episode! Our Livebearer Month would not be complete without the contribution of Pat, who is one of the most accomplished aquarists we’ve had the pleasure to sit down with. Pat Hartman has been keeping fish for about 50 years. Although not a founding member, he has been a member of the Southwest
225. Wild-Type Livebearers
Continuing Livebearer Month, the Water Colors team is back to discuss wild-type live bearing fishes! This includes the family poeciliidae, and the tricky taxonomy that comes with it. Some species within poeciliidae are common staples in the aquarium hobby, while many of them are virtually unknown to hobbyists. Aquarists that specialize in livebearing fish have more than a few rare species to dream
224. Goodeids
Continuing Livebearer month, the Water Colors team is discussing goodeids! They belong to the order cyprinodontiformes, the suborder cyprinodontoidei, and the family goodeidae. This family is split into two sub families. The first, goodeinae, are endemic to shallow freshwater habitats in Mexico – particularly along the Mesa Central area. Additionally, some species are found in brackish fring
223. Xiphophorus
To start off our official livebearer month, we’re discussing the genus xiphophorus! This group of fish is near and dear to us, and many other aquarists alike. The genus is divided into 3 categories – northern swordtails, southern swordtails, and platies. Many hobbyists have kept common swordtails and platys in some of their very first aquariums, and yet some species still remain rare
222. Listener Questions June 2025
We’re back with one of our favorite episode formats – answering listener submitted questions! These episodes are livestreamed at the time of recording on our YouTube channel – consider joining our YouTube membership for access to weekly livestreamed episodes! There is never a shortage of great questions and topics to kickstart some interesting conversations on these recording ses
221. Understanding Hexacorallia
In this episode, the Water Colors team breaks down the class hexacorallia, and the 5 orders within it. This class is distinct in that the species within it are typically identified by having 6 or fewer axes of symmetry. Many of the species within hexacorallia are what hobbyists know as ‘stony corals’. Interestingly, also included are anemones and zoanthids! Which varieties of hexacoral
220. Understanding Octocorallia
In this episode, the Water Colors Team discusses soft corals, specifically, those in the class octocorallia. We attempt to breakdown the taxonomy, care, and accessibility of the many varieties within this class. Octocorallia contains over 3000 species, and can generally be identified by the 8-fold symmetry of the colonial polyps. What are your favorite soft corals to keep?
Join the discussi
219. Useful Aquarium Junk
This episode is all about the random stuff we use in our aquariums! From DIY lids to PVC hides, we discuss a number of odds and ends that can be extremely useful for your aquariums – they might even save you some money, too! What non-aquarium products have made it into your fish tank toolbox?
Join the discussion on the Water Colors Aquarium Gallery Podcast Listeners Facebook group! ht
218. More Aquarium Stories From Around the Internet
In this episode, the Water Colors team reacts blindly to stories from around the internet compiled by the editor. This includes forum posts, news stories, and more! These posts range from tragic to funny, and everything in between. Many of them will kick off some valuable discussions surrounding misinformation or just plain bad advice. Keep in mind that stories found online may not always be accur
217. Lake Victoria: Exploring Cichlids, Hippos, And More
In this episode, the water colors team welcomes not one, but TWO special guests to join in on the fun! We’re happy to be joined again by aquatic ecologist Jordyn Stoll, as well as long time friend of the store and Victorian cichlid guru Justin Sarns! With the help of the experts, we discuss Lake Victorian cichlids, travel stories, and general ecology. Victoria is Africa’s largest lake
216. Bad Ass Fish and How To Keep Them
We often see hobbyists who are fixated on “bad ass” fish. Sometimes they’re looking for big, aggressive cichlids, other times they may be looking for toothy predators like pike cichlids. In this episode, the Water Colors team discusses a variety of “bad ass” fish chosen by Ben and how one might keep them responsibly. Spoiler alert: some of these fish are best left to
215. Selective Breeding
Maintenance breeding, conservation breeding, inbreeding, and outbreeding – what does it all mean? Charles returns to the podcast to discuss selective breeding and population genetics. It’s important to consider these concepts when taking on any breeding projects. Join us as we take a deep dive!
Join the discussion on the Water Colors Aquarium Gallery Podcast Listeners Facebook g
214. Top 5 Soft Corals
In this episode, the Water Colors team discusses their favorite soft corals. We have loosely categorized soft corals using the hobby’s distinctions, but keep in mind this is not based on any scientific classifications. Corals in this category are often very easy to keep, many of which propagate very quickly in home aquariums. They are often more forgiving, making them great additions to reef
213. Interview with Algae Expert Dr. Jordyn Stoll
In this interview, the Water Colors Team chats with special guest Dr. Jordyn Stoll, an accomplished aquatic ecologist with an expertise in algae! Jordyn’s formal interest in aquatic ecology began during her undergraduate work at Cleveland State University, where she helped with research using diatom fossils to understand changes in lake conditions over time. From there, she pursued a PhD at
212. Betta Troubleshooting: What’s Wrong with my Betta?
Here at Water Colors, one of the most common topics we get asked about is “what’s wrong with my betta?” Bettas are one of the most commonly kept fish, so it makes sense that we hear about a lot of betta issues. But why are they so prone to problems? In this livestreamed episode, the Water Colors team discusses the common issues with bettas, the possible causes, and our recommende
211. Top 5 Tanganyikan Cichlids
Lake Tanganyika is home to an astounding diversity of fish, nearly 350 endemic species! This makes narrowing down a top 5 list extremely challenging! In this episode, the Water Colors team discusses their favorite species that reside in Africa’s second largest lake, as well as their care, behavior, and availability in the hobby. Some of the species mentioned include small goby cichlids, whil
210. Aquascaping Styles
In this research-heavy episode, the Water Colors team discusses various aquascaping styles and how they differ. The history of aquascaping goes back nearly 100 years, with the earliest competitive style originating in the Netherlands. All of the various categories branch off from each other, with some similarities shared across the board. Biotope, Brazilian, jungle, and nature style – the li
209. Interview with Dave Hemmerlein
To wrap up our official Killifish Month, the Water Colors team welcomes Dave Hemmerlein as a special guest! Dave is a lifelong hobbyist, killifish expert, and 40+ year aquarium club member. He is active in both the Michiana Aquarium Society and the Southwest Michigan Aquarium Society. We are honored to have Dave join us for an interview, where he shares his diverse experience in keeping, breeding,
208. Dirt-Spawning Killifish
To continue Killifish Month, the Water Colors team is back to discuss dirt-spawning killis! These varieties of killifish spawn in or over substrate. Hobbyists often use small containers of bark or peat to encourage this breeding behavior. Many of these varieties of killifish are incredibly easy to keep, and can be remarkably beautiful. The team discusses species profiles, care, and shares stories
207. Mop-Spawning Killifish
To continue Killifish month, the Water Colors team is back to discuss mop-spawning killifish! This distinction is given to killifish species that breed in moss/plant mats, which aquarists often replicate with yarn “mops” that are easily removed and combed for eggs. They make excellent project fish and are incredibly adaptable to various temperatures and parameters. They can be kept in
206. Killifish Biotopes
To kick off killifish month, the Water Colors team is discussing biotope examples based around some of our favorite killifish! These examples focus on the native habitats of these killifish species. Some examples include specifics such as tank size, substrate, plants, decor, and other tankmates. We have biotope examples from all around the world, replicating lakes, rivers, vernal pools, and even r
205. Mantis Shrimp
In this highly requested episode, the Water Colors team discusses mantis shrimp from the order stomatopoda. These organisms are some of the most fascinating, interactive, and beautiful pets you can keep in your home aquariums! We cover general care advice, species overviews, and even some fun first-hand stories. This topic is sure to get you interested in keeping a mantis shrimp of your own! Pleas
204. Trout Unlimited: Conservation in the Classroom
In this special episode, the Water Colors team is joined by representatives from Schrems West Michigan Trout Unlimited chapter (SWMTU). With the expertise of chapter president Nick Garlock and education coordinator Dave Helder, we discuss coldwater conservation and the Salmon in the Classroom (SIC) program. It’s no secret that we here at Water Colors have an appreciation for fish that goes f
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