About Us
A site run by hobbyists, for hobbyists
Our Philosophy
Aquarium Store Depot was established by fellow aquarist, Mark, to simplify the hobby. As a regular shopper on other aquarium e-stores, he often grew frustrated at the overwhelming selection of products and the general nature of seeing companies trying to sell the latest and greatest tech (toys) to the industry.
At Aquarium Store Depot, we seek to change that by offering a limited selection of products vetted out by our creator’s experience as a fellow fish enthusiast. We only sell what works, brands we trust, and products we know will make a difference to you. Our mission is to simplify the aquarium hobby so the beginner can thrive.
We Are A Site Run By Hobbyists
We take the approach that our creator learned many years ago when he worked with a very successful local fish store he trusted. He would ask, “what would you recommend to us?” The answer was a small selection of products for his setups, not a list of 1000+ items.
With aquarium hobbyists, it’s always tempting to tinker with your setup and look for the latest and greatest. At Aquarium Store Depot, we have the philosophy: if it’s working in the tank, do not replace it. Take it slow and address only the problems that matter. Patience is the biggest lesson we’ve learned being in this hobby over the years.
We Build Relationships With Vendors
Over the years we’ve developed an in-depth knowledge of the aquatics industry and hobby. Our articles and opinions have been published and featured on sites such as Huffington Post, Lifehacker, NBC News, and Slate.
Our site has also been mentioned on top aquatics forums like Reef2Reef, ReefCentral, Cichlid-Forum, and Reddit’s Aquarium subreddit. We work closely with the best vendors in the hobby to bring you honest, hands-on recommendations.
Our Team
The people who make fish happy
Blog Content Team
Mark Valderrama — Founder & Lead Writer
Mark is the owner of Aquarium Store Depot. He’s owned and operated a large number of aquariums for over 20 years, with builds including saltwater reef tanks, freshwater planted tanks, and ponds. He’s involved in aquarium clubs and groups every day where he continues to learn and evolve with this industry. He actively visits tradeshows across the US and has written hundreds of articles about aquatic life. Mark is the technical editor of Freshwater Aquarium for Dummies and Saltwater Aquarium for Dummies.
Sara Ochoa — Veterinarian & Contributor
Sara is our trusted guide through the animal care world. As a veterinarian, she ensures that our articles and recommendations are accurate. She is a licensed veterinarian graduating from St. George University and specializes in small and exotic animal care with a passion for surgery. She has dreamed of being a veterinarian since she was a little girl, and lives her passion every day.
Nicole Arroyo — Editor-In-Chief
Nicole is the mastermind behind our content. She’s in charge of ensuring that everything is up to date, fun to read, and looks pretty. Nicole actually doesn’t own an aquarium herself. She hopes one day Mark starts writing about dogs…but Mark would rather write about Cats :).
Josefine Anderson — Staff Writer
Josefine is the creator of all our freshwater fish and non-aquatic content, written under the guidance of Mark’s vast experience in the hobby. As a young writer, Josefine enjoys writing about fish and aquatics and hopes to soon get a fish tank herself.
YouTube Production Team
Amanda Strain — Content Manager
Amanda is our content manager and the calm to the chaos of our video production process. She manages our YouTube channel and all our team members – script writers, voice over talent, SEO optimization, and video production. In her spare time, Amanda is an accomplished Bachata and Brazilian Zouk dancer and also enjoys bouldering and traveling.
Taylor Stoddard — Voice Over Talent
Taylor is our head voice over talent, lending his wonderful voice and humor into our aquarium content. He has a passion for voice over and hopes to work in commercials and animation one day. When not recording, Taylor is a children’s pastor in one of the largest ministries in the US.
Deen — Video Producer
Deen is our head video producer, creating visuals and injecting modern flair into our production. Brought on board in 2023, he has since made major improvements to our quality and direction. Deen is a wizard at Premiere Pro and a model in his spare time. He and Mark enjoy brainstorming new video directions together.
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