Water Colors Aquarium Gallery

72
Hobbies #45

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.

Recent Episodes
  • 219. Useful Aquarium Junk
    Jun 6, 2025 – 1:07:23
  • 218. More Aquarium Stories From Around the Internet
    May 30, 2025 – 1:54:31
  • 217. Lake Victoria: Exploring Cichlids, Hippos, And More
    May 23, 2025 – 1:32:54
  • 216. Bad Ass Fish and How To Keep Them
    May 16, 2025 – 1:43:16
  • 215. Selective Breeding
    May 9, 2025 – 1:37:18
  • 214. Top 5 Soft Corals
    May 2, 2025 – 1:40:11
  • 213. Interview with Algae Expert Dr. Jordyn Stoll
    Apr 25, 2025 – 1:26:38
  • 212. Betta Troubleshooting: What’s Wrong with my Betta?
    Apr 18, 2025 – 1:12:07
  • 211. Top 5 Tanganyikan Cichlids
    Apr 11, 2025 – 1:33:10
  • 210. Aquascaping Styles
    Apr 4, 2025 – 1:16:08
  • 209. Interview with Dave Hemmerlein
    Mar 28, 2025 – 1:23:49
  • 208. Dirt-Spawning Killifish
    Mar 21, 2025 – 1:29:35
  • 207. Mop-Spawning Killifish
    Mar 14, 2025 – 1:16:31
  • 206. Killifish Biotopes
    Mar 7, 2025 – 1:25:15
  • 205. Mantis Shrimp
    Feb 28, 2025 – 1:20:34
  • 204. Trout Unlimited: Conservation in the Classroom
    Feb 21, 2025 – 1:24:12
  • 203. Invasive Crayfish with Dr. Brian Roth
    Feb 14, 2025 – 1:42:16
  • 202. Rheophytes, Epiphytes and More
    Feb 7, 2025 – 1:03:59
  • 201. Listener Questions Special (Part 2)
    Jan 24, 2025 – 1:21:51
  • 200. Listener Questions Special
    Jan 17, 2025 – 1:40:30
  • 199. Freshwater Chemistry
    Jan 10, 2025 – 1:15:18
  • 198. SPS Corals
    Dec 27, 2024 – 1:18:50
  • 197. Reacting to Aquarium Stories from Around the Internet (Part 2)
    Dec 20, 2024 – 1:39:09
  • 196. Top 5 Fish Behaviors
    Dec 13, 2024 – 1:43:21
  • 195. Sharks in Aquariums
    Dec 6, 2024 – 1:14:15
  • 194. History of Water Colors Aquarium Gallery
    Nov 29, 2024 – 1:11:15
  • 193. Pike Cichlids: Nature’s Toothy Torpedoes
    Nov 22, 2024 – 1:17:51
  • 192. Saltwater Pufferfish
    Nov 15, 2024 – 1:20:14
  • 191. Goldfish: Are They Worth the Risks?
    Nov 8, 2024 – 1:23:18
  • 190. Listener Questions Part 2
    Nov 1, 2024 – 1:18:44
  • 189. Listener Questions Part 1
    Oct 25, 2024 – 1:34:58
  • 188. Freshwater Pufferfish
    Oct 18, 2024 – 1:04:10
  • 187. Centropyge and Allies
    Oct 11, 2024 – 1:44:21
  • 186. The Best People to Meet at Aquarium Clubs
    Oct 4, 2024 – 48:22
  • 185. Top 5 Aquarist Milestones
    Sep 28, 2024 – 1:07:37
  • 184. Reacting to Aquarium Stories from Around the Internet
    Sep 20, 2024 – 1:34:15
  • 183. Cephalopods
    Sep 13, 2024 – 1:21:55
  • 182. Rainbowfishes and Friends
    Sep 6, 2024 – 1:21:21
  • 181. RIPPLE Invasive Species Discussion with Paige Filice
    Aug 30, 2024 – 1:53:24
  • 180. Understanding Regulations
    Aug 23, 2024 – 1:21:14
  • 179. Charles’ Surprise Topic: Live Foods
    Aug 16, 2024 – 1:44:49
  • 178. Ben’s Surprise Topic: Fish We Need to Figure Out
    Aug 9, 2024 – 1:23:54
  • 177. Amy’s Surprise Topic: Cichlid Compatibility
    Aug 2, 2024 – 1:21:08
  • 176. Brine Shrimp
    Jul 26, 2024 – 1:30:28
  • 175. New Discoveries
    Jul 19, 2024 – 1:37:13
  • 174. Top 5 Mimics
    Jul 12, 2024 – 1:36:54
  • 173. Aquarium Events
    Jul 5, 2024 – 1:20:39
  • 172. Top 5 Poeciliid Livebearing Fish
    Jun 28, 2024 – 1:41:59
  • 171. Fish Anatomy
    Jun 23, 2024 – 1:30:17
  • 170. Nano Plants (Note: audio technical difficulties)
    Jun 14, 2024 – 1:13:00
Recent Reviews
  • carolinabh
    Temptation
    The more I listen the more tanks I want
  • raagatikki
    Love Amy and Ben
    I love Amy and Ben…this would be a must listen with just the two of them plus a guest to interview or rotating guest host. With all due respect, Charles doesn’t work at watercolors anymore, right? I was hoping that would mean he was moving on from the podcast too. Maybe he could spin off onto his own platform instead of dominating this pod.
  • Maine Flyers Fan
    New Listener and Hooked
    I just recently found the podcast and I’m really enjoying it. There aren’t too many podcasts out there about Freshwater Aquarium fish so I was thrilled to find this. I like that you dig deeper into the science and ethics etc. Overall great job. Keep it up ! Keith - Portland, Maine
  • mnstang
    Science schmience
    Charles means well but can we keep the soap boxing to a minimum? Generalities in any shape or form is not science. And as a scientist he should be ashamed concluding the average spincasting (non fly fisher) fisherman doesn’t care about the environment they are in. Dingell-Johnson act? The vast majority of fisherman know where these taxes are going. To conservation programs. Please have the scientist actually research before opening his mouth.
  • Damian Hermecz
    Excellent podcast!
    Just discovered this pod as I prepare to set up my first aquarium, and I love it. The banter between these 3 experts is great, and I come away from each show with a ton of new knowledge.
  • Sepena
    I love this hobby and this podcast.
    I recently got into fish this august, so 4ish months ago and I now have 5 functioning tanks and I definitely want more. This podcast is so informative and gives me so many new ideas. I live in Jackson TN and plan to come see you guys eventually. Thank y’all for this podcast and getting me through my 8hour long factory shifts.
  • Steve Yoshi
    Very informative!
    Thanks to all three of you for an excellent podcast. I appreciate your honesty and your opinions always seem to be backed up by studies or direct experience. If I am ever in Grand Rapids I will definitely stop by.
  • kelsey_db
    The irony
    Love the show. Do your listeners know you’re located next to a cat cafe? ❤️
  • robdr854
    Awesome podcast steering the hobby in the right direction
    Love your podcast! I’m a veteran hobbyist with a solid decade in aquarium retail. It’s so refreshing and motivational to hear people talking so openly and frankly about the state of the hobby AND providing solutions that other stores and hobbyist can implement. I’ve always had a internal tussle with some of what the hobby does especially with the “acceptable” loss numbers and the objectively poor marketing by larger companies to beginners. I wish I lived near you to support you guys who are doing it right. Please keep up the excellent work for the hobby and most importantly, the animals we all love.
  • boa imperater
    My favorite podcast!
    I’ve dove headfirst into aquariums a few years ago after realizing I had neglected a betta. Since then, I have kept a planted tank and am always trying to learn more. I want to thank Ben, Amy, and Charles for sharing their passion and their love with the world, it genuinely means a lot to me and keeps me sane in a small town without an lfs. this podcast is amazing and my only gripe is that there is only one episode a week, because I’m addicted and am running out of old episodes😅 keep doing what you’re doing, it’s amazing and I hope others will follow. Best regards from Utah!
  • ty42088
    Great podcast
    I really like the watercolors podcast because they cover all areas of the hobby from planted , cichlids, saltwater , reef , sharks and the list goes on. It’s fun if great practical knowledge and they “deep drive” into a lot of subjects which usually follows my own thought process. Great job can’t wait for the next one!
  • RaymondNoodles
    Smarts and fun with BAC
    Ben, Amy and Charles have taught me so much about this hobby. They really have my BAC. Great amount of science covered in detail with BAC stories and learning…delivered with laughter and fun. 1 perspective is good; 2 would be great; but 3 individuals challenging each other and building on each other’s comments makes every episode so BAC’n good! Amy’s humor and witt are great! One day I’ll make the drive up from IL to visit the gallery. Thanks! Love you right BAC!
  • Jae Bingham
    Informative for all levels of aquarium hobbyists
    Ben, Amy & Charles are excellent communicators & educators with amazing depth & breadth of knowledge of all aspects of the aquarium hobby! As a scientist I appreciate that they always use correct scientific terminology. Unlike many YouTubers & podcasts, they never shy away from or dumb down the biology & chemistry that are part of fish keeping. Instead, they teach the science in a way that is clear & easy for even rookie aquarists to understand. As a long time hobbyist I enjoy their excitement at seeing a beautiful fish or aquarium. Hearing Amy talk about the “perfect yellow” of Lemon Tetras, or Charles’ excitement for his latest breeding project make me smile. They clearly love aquariums & fish, and have helped me find new things to enjoy about my longtime fish hobby.
  • Shaunac686
    Must listen for aquarium hobbyists
    Fantastic podcast. Amy, Ben and Charles have great conversations, full of excellent information. I have to say that this podcast does make me sad though. Only because I am about 8 hours away from their location. It would be fabulous to have this team and their store local to me.
  • cw5s
    Good content, but serious mic volume issues
    Love the content, but 2 of the 3 hosts speak much louder than the other. Specifically, Ben’s mic neeeds to be turned way up to match the other two, because if there is any background noise I cannot hear him at all on max volume, please fix this and I’ll be happy to write a better review
  • synos4life
    If you think you have heard it all...
    Have been keeping fresh water tanks for 20 years and consume all the aquarium related info I can in my free AND I still learn something new with every episode. The depth of knowledge presented here is fantastic.
  • have gdhd king dinbhsk
    Great information about the aquarium hobby
    Fantastic podcast. Great content about the aquarium hobby from some knowledgeable folks. This is my favorite aquarium podcast however I wish the audio was more well balanced. I can hear 2 of 3 hosts well. Ben is significantly more quiet than the others. Five stars if not for the audio issue.
  • Scottr751
    Excellent Podcast on the aquarium hobby
    As a long time aquarium industry professional, marine biologist, and hobbyist for 40 years, it is a pleasure to listen to this podcast. The intelligent conversation about our hobby is insightful and filled with great information for new and advanced hobbyists. Peer to peer, Ben and his team expose some if their success secrets that not only set high standards of operations for their store but are also worthy of consideration of other industry professionals to improve husbandry standards within their own walls. Scott Robins Marine Biologist and Aquarium Industry Professional
  • Stryker4526
    Awesome!
    Greatly informative podcast from arguably the single most ethical aquarium store in the world! Keep up the good work!
  • cactus_dave
    If you have an aquarium, you should check this out.
    Been in the hobby off and on since 1966 and currently have 7 aquariums. I live in the Detroit area but have visited their store while visiting my sister in Grand Rapids. They have an awesome aquarium store and a friendly and knowledgeable staff. While I might disagree with an occasional comment, this is a great podcast. I consider myself a bit of an expert but I always learn something new on every one of their episodes.
  • jbappleman
    A great group of passionate fish experts
    Amy, Ben, and Charles really know their stuff.
  • JereDB123
    Lots of knowledge!
    Fun educational conversations between people who really love the hobby!
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