Uploaded October 2025 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
Welcome to the very first episode of the Deep in the Mulm Podcast! Join Cory (Founder), Randy (VP), and Zenzo (Director of Company Culture) as they pull back the curtain on Aquarium Co-Op. This series is designed to share the "insider" conversations that usually happen behind closed doors—from product development agonies to the raw realities of the aquarium industry.
In this premiere episode, we cover:
The Origin Story: Introductions and the journey from hobbyists to leadership.
Business Realities: The truth about retail margins, big-box competition, and why some products take years to launch.
The Expansion Saga: A candid look at the challenges (and Fire Marshals) involved in the Edmonds store expansion.
Product Deep Dives: Why we’re finally introducing Fine Sponge Filters and the engineering behind weighted bases.
Hobby Talk: Breeding Rosie Barbs, the "magic" of small fish feed, and the value of a local fish scene.
🌱 Buy aquarium plants & supplies at aquariumcoop.com
🚨 Items that passed the Cory Test on Amazon: geni.us/AmazonItems (we earn a commission earned if you purchase)
Join our Drama Free Fish Forum here: forum.aquariumcoop.com/topic/57-welcome-to-the-care-forum-look-here-first
🇨🇦 Buy Our products in Canada: geni.us/AprilsAquarium
Timestamps
0:00 - Welcome to the (unnamed) Podcast!
0:48 - Meet the Team: Cory, Randy, and Zenzo
2:30 - Randy’s Journey: From Fanboy to VP
4:50 - Learning from Other Industries (Games Workshop & Community)
7:08 - Zenzo’s "Seasoned Semi-Pro" Background
8:45 - Naming the Podcast: Deep in the Mulm?
13:50 - Favorite Fan Art & The King of the Hill Meme
19:15 - Logistics Nightmares: Merch & Cargo Containers
23:00 - The Truth About "Gassed" Oranges
25:30 - 3D Printing & The Future of "Nury"
27:30 - Randy’s Rosie Barb Breeding Project
32:00 - The Secret to Raising Thousands of Fry (Greg Sage Method)
36:20 - Lazy Way to Clean Coarse Sponge Filters
38:10 - The Fine Sponge Filter Debate: Why we finally made them
42:30 - Easy Flow Kits in Brackish & High-Mulm Tanks
45:25 - Optimized Sponge Cleaning: Washing machines & PVC rigs
50:15 - Warehouse Constraints: Why product launches take time
52:12 - The Edmonds Store Expansion "Thorn in the Side"
1:01:45 - Over-Engineering & The Fastener Spec Story
1:04:10 - The "Corner Store" Shelving & Retail Merchandising
1:08:15 - Favorite Expansion Features: Ponds & Open Layouts
1:11:30 - The Challenge of Shipping Substrate & Koi Food
1:14:00 - Big Box Retail vs. Local Fish Stores: Razor thin margins
1:21:00 - The Long-Term Sustainable Business Model
1:23:00 - Understanding the Scale of a Billion
1:26:50 - Why we stopped selling certain big-brand products
1:33:00 - The "Race to the Bottom" and Protecting the Local Scene
1:38:45 - Final Thoughts: Freshwater is the Best Water!
Welcome to the very first episode of the Deep in the Mulm Podcast! Join Cory (Founder), Randy (VP), and Zenzo (Director of Company Culture) as they pull back the curtain on Aquarium Co-Op. This series is designed to share the "insider" conversations that usually happen behind closed doors—from product development agonies to the raw realities of the aquarium industry.
In this premiere episode, we cover:
The Origin Story: Introductions and the journey from hobbyists to leadership.
Business Realities: The truth about retail margins, big-box competition, and why some products take years to launch.
The Expansion Saga: A candid look at the challenges (and Fire Marshals) involved in the Edmonds store expansion.
Product Deep Dives: Why we’re finally introducing Fine Sponge Filters and the engineering behind weighted bases.
Hobby Talk: Breeding Rosie Barbs, the "magic" of small fish feed, and the value of a local fish scene.
🌱 Buy aquarium plants & supplies at aquariumcoop.com
🚨 Items that passed the Cory Test on Amazon: geni.us/AmazonItems (we earn a commission earned if you purchase)
Join our Drama Free Fish Forum here: forum.aquariumcoop.com/topic/57-welcome-to-the-care-forum-look-here-first
🇨🇦 Buy Our products in Canada: geni.us/AprilsAquarium
Timestamps
0:00 - Welcome to the (unnamed) Podcast!
0:48 - Meet the Team: Cory, Randy, and Zenzo
2:30 - Randy’s Journey: From Fanboy to VP
4:50 - Learning from Other Industries (Games Workshop & Community)
7:08 - Zenzo’s "Seasoned Semi-Pro" Background
8:45 - Naming the Podcast: Deep in the Mulm?
13:50 - Favorite Fan Art & The King of the Hill Meme
19:15 - Logistics Nightmares: Merch & Cargo Containers
23:00 - The Truth About "Gassed" Oranges
25:30 - 3D Printing & The Future of "Nury"
27:30 - Randy’s Rosie Barb Breeding Project
32:00 - The Secret to Raising Thousands of Fry (Greg Sage Method)
36:20 - Lazy Way to Clean Coarse Sponge Filters
38:10 - The Fine Sponge Filter Debate: Why we finally made them
42:30 - Easy Flow Kits in Brackish & High-Mulm Tanks
45:25 - Optimized Sponge Cleaning: Washing machines & PVC rigs
50:15 - Warehouse Constraints: Why product launches take time
52:12 - The Edmonds Store Expansion "Thorn in the Side"
1:01:45 - Over-Engineering & The Fastener Spec Story
1:04:10 - The "Corner Store" Shelving & Retail Merchandising
1:08:15 - Favorite Expansion Features: Ponds & Open Layouts
1:11:30 - The Challenge of Shipping Substrate & Koi Food
1:14:00 - Big Box Retail vs. Local Fish Stores: Razor thin margins
1:21:00 - The Long-Term Sustainable Business Model
1:23:00 - Understanding the Scale of a Billion
1:26:50 - Why we stopped selling certain big-brand products
1:33:00 - The "Race to the Bottom" and Protecting the Local Scene
1:38:45 - Final Thoughts: Freshwater is the Best Water!
