Inflow: Aquatic Animal Life Support Systems and Habitats

Joe and Dr. Jeff
  • 5.0 (7)
  • Natural Sciences

Joe and Dr. Jeff discuss all things related to Zoo and Aquarium Aquatic Animal Life Support Systems. Everything from water treatment equipment and design to operations and construction. We talk to operators, engineers, architects, curators, and anyone and everyone who works on keeping our zoo and aquarium water clean, our animals healthy, our exhibits natural and our systems sustainable.

  1. 5d ago

    Ep 53 - Raising the Standard: Allen McDowell on AZA Accreditation and Life Support

    How do accreditation standards apply to aquatic animal life support systems, and how do you assess the welfare of an animal that doesn't have a brain? On this episode of Inflow, hosts Joe Arlotto and Dr. Jeff sit down with Allen McDowell, Water Quality Manager at Discovery Cove in Orlando, who has served as an accreditation inspector and on the Animal Welfare Committee for the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). Alan explains what AZA inspectors actually look for when it comes to life support. Three accreditation standards deal with LSS directly: a water quality monitoring program, monitoring of life support systems around the clock, and safety protocols for oxidizers like ozone and chlorine. He walks through how AZA standards are performance-based rather than prescriptive, and why automated control systems still don't replace an operator's eyes and hands on the equipment. Allen also shares how he joined the Animal Welfare Committee as its only member with aquatics and life support experience, at a time when AZA's new welfare assessment standard left many aquariums unsure how frameworks built for elephants and rhinos applied to sharks, corals, and jellyfish. Using the Five Opportunities to Thrive framework, he shows why aquariums were already ahead of many terrestrial facilities: water quality gives them precise, objective metrics to assess welfare against. The conversation also covers Allen's path from childhood visits to The Living Seas at Epcot, through a University of Maryland and National Aquarium master's program in aquarium science, to more than 10 years at Disney and seven years at the North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island. He describes breaking down silos between aquarists, LSS operators, water chemists, and automation teams, and what it takes to manage water quality at Discovery Cove, a 1.2-million-gallon outdoor system where up to 2,000 guests a day swim with the animals. Heavy rain, sunscreen, sand, algae, and phosphate control with lanthanum chloride are all part of the job. Alan closes with advice for young professionals who want to get involved in AZA committees, taxon advisory groups, and the accreditation process. This episode is sponsored by Integrated Aqua and Asahi. Thank you for supporting Inflow and the LSS community. Inflow is the podcast where we discuss all things related to aquatic animal life support. Subscribe, leave a review, and find more episodes, show notes, and sponsor info at https://inflowlsspodcast.com/. (0:30) Standards in LSS: Operators, Equipment, and Facilities (1:47) Water Quality's Growing Role in AZA Accreditation (3:13) Guest Introduction: Allen McDowell of Discovery Cove (4:17) Growing Up Landlocked and Falling in Love with The Living Seas (6:32) A Master's Program in Aquarium Science (8:12) From Internship to Aquarist at The Living Seas (10:01) Breaking Down Silos Between Aquarists, LSS, and Water Chemistry (14:15) Aquarists Earning ALSO Certification (15:40) Moving into Management and Getting Involved with AZA (16:59) Seven Years at the North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island (18:04) Joining the AZA Animal Welfare Committee (20:11) How Do You Assess Welfare for Fish, Sharks, and Jellyfish? (25:15) The Five Opportunities to Thrive Framework (26:54) The Only Aquatics Voice on the Committee (29:36) Why Aquariums Were Ahead: Water Quality as an Objective Metric (34:19) Spreading the Word to Aquariums Across the Country (35:35) Enrichment for Aquatic Species (39:00) Becoming an AZA Accreditation Inspector (39:47) What AZA Inspectors Look For: The Three LSS Standards (42:27) Automated Controls vs. Eyes on the Equipment (43:48) Oxidizer Safety: Ozone and Chlorine Protocols (44:49) Habitat Design and Accreditation (46:49) Managing Water Quality at Discovery Cove (49:36) Designing Discovery Cove's Sand Settling Channel (51:05) Nightly Cleaning and Quiet Hours for the Animals (52:19) Otters and Fish in a Multi-Species Habitat (54:05) Advice: How to Get Involved with AZA (57:10) Mock Inspections and Free AZA Resources (58:52) Outro and Sign-Off

    Ep 53 - Raising the Standard: Allen McDowell on AZA Accreditation and Life Support

  2. Oct 7

    Ep 52 - Pigging, Discharge, and Desal: A Day in the Life of a Monterey Bay Aquarium Operator

    What does it take to run life support at one of the most iconic aquariums in the world? On this episode of Inflow, hosts Joe Arlotto and Dr. Jeff sit down with Coral Tyo, Systems Operator II at Monterey Bay Aquarium, for a rare look at day-to-day operations from the control room floor. Coral's team runs far more than life support systems: they also manage the building's HVAC and the aquarium's desalination plant, all backed by an automated control system with more than 20,000 live data points. Coral walks through the natural seawater system that sets Monterey Bay Aquarium apart, starting with its pigging program. Foam pigs are shot through redundant lines, including an intake that runs a quarter mile offshore and 50 feet below the surface, then picked up by boat. She explains how the pump house, sand filters, and raw seawater system feed the Kelp Forest and Monterey Bay habitats, and how discharge water is treated before it goes back to the bay: drum filtration, UV, and temperature control to stay within five degrees of local water temperatures. The conversation also covers working with the water quality lab, bringing new systems online, commissioning vs. startup, shift rotations, training new operators, and how a diverse team, more women in the control room, and better SOPs have changed the culture of life support. Coral also shares her own path from landlocked Denver, through Orange Coast College's student-led aquarium program and Denver's aquarium, to a three-month temporary job that turned into her dream role at Monterey Bay. She closes with advice for anyone hoping to become an LSS operator: keep going after what you want, ask questions, and learn from your mistakes. This episode is sponsored by TJP Engineering. Thank you for supporting Inflow and the LSS community. Inflow is the podcast where we discuss all things related to aquatic animal life support. Subscribe, leave a review, and find more episodes, show notes, and sponsor info at https://inflowlsspodcast.com/. (0:49) Why Monterey Bay Aquarium Matters to the LSS World (3:52) Guest Introduction: Coral Tyo, Systems Operator II at Monterey Bay Aquarium (6:03) From Denver to the Ocean: Coral's Background (8:32) Orange Coast College's Student-Led Aquarium Program (10:38) Earning ALSO Level 1 Certification (12:30) Persistence Pays Off: Landing a Job at Monterey Bay Aquarium (14:44) How Shifts Work at Monterey Bay Aquarium (15:37) The Control Room Team: Life Support, HVAC, and Desalination (16:52) Day Shift vs. Night Shift (18:13) A Diverse Team and Learning HVAC on the Job (19:50) Women in Life Support and the Value of SOPs (22:08) How Monterey Bay Aquarium's Pigging System Works (23:49) Pigging Frequency and Redundant Lines (27:42) Retrieving Pigs by Boat (29:30) The Pump House and Internal Pigging (31:56) From Intake to Exhibits: Sand Filters and Raw Seawater (32:43) Discharge Treatment: Drum Filters, UV, and Temperature Control (37:07) Working with the Water Quality Lab (38:25) The Challenge of Bringing New Systems Online (39:55) Automated Controls and 20,000 Live Data Points (41:49) Commissioning vs. Startup and Working with the LSS Designer (44:27) Biofiltration, the Biobank, and Aquarist vs. LSS Systems (46:46) Turnover and Training New Operators (49:09) Advice for Aspiring LSS Operators (50:20) The LSS Family (52:15) Final Thoughts from Dr. Jeff (53:01) Outro and Sign-Off

    Ep 52 - Pigging, Discharge, and Desal: A Day in the Life of a Monterey Bay Aquarium Operator

  3. Sep 25

    Ep 51 - LSS and Habitat Design Considerations for Large Living Coral Habitats

    What does it actually take to keep a 212,000-gallon live coral reef thriving for decades? On this episode of Inflow, Charles Delbeek, coral expert at Steinhart Aquarium (California Academy of Sciences) and co-author of The Reef Aquarium book series, joins the show to walk through nearly 30 years in coral husbandry, from hobbyist reef tanks in Toronto to professional exhibit design at Waikiki Aquarium and Steinhart. Charles breaks down coral husbandry as a balance of science and art: exhibit design fundamentals like surface-area-to-volume ratio and hiding life support equipment from public view, protein fractionation and surface skimming, ozone dosing and ORP/color-based control, and the structural realities of building coral systems that last: concrete quality, rebar corrosion, cathodic protection, and sacrificial anode choice. He shares a cautionary tale about a value-engineered ozone manifold that nearly over-dosed an entire system, walks through alkalinity and calcium maintenance approaches on both sides of the Atlantic, and explains why water motion and lighting are just as much life-support components as filtration. Charles also corrects a common myth about coral growth rates, recounts a striking observation from the 1997-98 global bleaching event in Palau, and closes with a candid look at the knowledge-transfer gap facing the aquarium industry as veteran staff retire. This episode is brought to you by MDM Pumps and Longhorn Organics. Thank you for supporting Inflow and the LSS community! Inflow is the podcast where we discuss all things related to aquatic animal life support. Subscribe, leave a review, and find more episodes, show notes, and sponsor info at https://inflowlsspodcast.com/. (2:28) Guest Introduction: Charles Delbeek of Steinhart Aquarium (3:09) Charles's Background: Toronto Hobbyist, Scuba and Photography in the Keys (3:53) Reef-Tank Pioneering with the Toronto Aquarium Society and Writing The Reef Aquarium (5:58) Master's in Zoology and Starting a Career at Waikiki Aquarium (1995) (7:08) Science vs. Art in Coral Husbandry (10:35) Exhibit Design Fundamentals: Surface Area to Volume, Hiding Equipment, Spacing Corals (13:52) Surface Skimming and Protein Fractionation (17:13) Moving to Steinhart Aquarium and the 212,000-Gallon Live Coral Tank (18:18) Ozone Use and ORP/Color-Based Control (18:44) The Value-Engineering Ozone Manifold Story (23:49) Industry Staffing and the Knowledge-Transfer Gap (30:00) Structural and Construction Concerns: Concrete, Rebar, Corrosion, Anodes (34:47) Alkalinity and Calcium Maintenance: Reactors vs. Dosing, Kalkwasser (38:35) Water Motion: Diffusion Boundary Layer, DC Pumps, Closed Loops (40:11) The 1997-98 Bleaching Event: An Observation from Palau (45:22) Lighting as a Life-Support Component (50:23) Source Water Treatment and Nitrate/Phosphate Management (56:05) Closing Advice and Key Takeaways (59:31) Corals Are Not Slow-Growing: The Pruning Misconception

    Ep 51 - LSS and Habitat Design Considerations for Large Living Coral Habitats

  4. Sep 9

    Ep 50 - Denitrification, Ozone, and Over 60 Combined Years in LSS: The Hosts Trade Seats

    To celebrate 50 episodes, Inflow flips the format: instead of interviewing a guest, hosts Joe Arlotto and Dr. Jeff sit down to interview each other. Between them they bring over 60 combined years of aquatic animal life support systems experience — Joe's path runs through Brookfield Zoo, Albuquerque Aquarium, San Diego Zoo, and SeaWorld Abu Dhabi, while Dr. Jeff's began in October 1989 at Walt Disney World's The Living Seas before moving through Walt Disney Imagineering and independent LSS consulting. This milestone conversation traces how a casual chat on a bus to a zoo conference turned into a podcast documenting the history of the LSS field, and digs into the technical topics that have defined both hosts' careers: denitrification (batch vs. continuous flow, carbon sources, and digester design), wetland and salt marsh filtration, the early days of ozone and ORP chemistry in seawater systems, and the shift from operating life support systems to designing them — including how CFD modeling shapes sump and skimmer placement today. Along the way, Joe and Dr. Jeff share the career stories behind the science: a midnight resume drop at Brookfield Zoo, a round-the-world trip after the Navy, a PhD finished on a Thursday and a start date at Disney the following Monday, and a 30-year full-circle trip through the Persian Gulf. Whether you're an LSS operator, designer, or aquatic life support enthusiast, this episode is a rare, candid look at how two very different paths led to the same field — and what both hosts have learned about designing, building, and operating the systems that keep aquatic life thriving. This episode is brought to you by Aquatic Equipment and Design, Cloward H2O, and Longhorn Organics — thank you for supporting Inflow and the LSS community. Inflow is the podcast where we discuss all things related to aquatic animal life support. Subscribe, leave a review, and find more episodes, show notes, and sponsor info at https://inflowlsspodcast.com/. Chapters (0:51) Episode 50 Milestone (1:36) Origins of the Inflow Podcast: The Bus Ride at the AALSO Conference (4:25) Joe's Background: Navy, Backpacking, and Landing the Brookfield Zoo Job (6:12) Navy and Military Backgrounds Shaping LSS Careers (16:40) Joe's Career Path Through Albuquerque Aquarium and San Diego Zoo (17:48) Dr. Jeff's Background: PhD and Starting at Disney's Living Seas in 1989 (22:58) Ozone and ORP: History and Chemistry (29:27) Denitrification Deep Dive: Batch vs. Continuous Flow, Carbon Sources, Digesters (35:34) Wetland and Salt Marsh Filtration, Steady-State Nitrate (37:22) Dr. Jeff's Path Through Walt Disney Imagineering and Independent Consulting (EEG) (42:14) LSS Design vs. Operations: Why Joe Moved into Design (49:23) CFD Modeling for LSS Design (50:45) Joe's Move to SeaWorld Abu Dhabi and Construction-Phase Realities (52:52) Dr. Jeff's Broader Environmental Design Work: Coatings, Substrates, HVAC, Penguin Habitats (56:05) Closing Advice

    Ep 50 - Denitrification, Ozone, and Over 60 Combined Years in LSS: The Hosts Trade Seats

  5. Aug 19

    Ep 49 - Zoo vs. Aquarium: What 27 Years in Life Support Taught Matt Regensburger

    What does 27 years of aquatic life support experience actually teach you about designing, building, and operating exhibits that work? On this episode of Inflow, hosts Joe Arlotto and Dr. Jeff Keaffaber sit down with Matt Regensburger of Tenji Aquarium Design to trace his path from life support operator at the St. Louis Zoo, to a high-intensity, 24-hour operation at Georgia Aquarium, to helping open St. Louis Aquarium right before COVID hit — and finally into design-build work with Tenji. Matt breaks down the real differences between zoo-based and aquarium-based life support systems, from control platforms and floor layouts to the culture shock of moving from a 90-acre zoo campus to a high-speed, multi-floor aquarium. He and the hosts dig into what it means to be involved in a project from concept through design, construction, and startup — and why that full-circle experience changes how you troubleshoot. The conversation also covers Tenji's design-build approach, how the team uses Revit for clash detection, working with performance specs, coral and reef system design (calcium reactors vs. automated dosing), and how Tenji partners with owners who range from expert aquarium curators to first-time operators at restaurants and science centers. Matt closes with his advice for anyone starting out in life support: be curious, ask questions, and watch out once you've got a year of experience under your belt. Whether you're an LSS operator, an aquarium design professional, or just curious about what it takes to keep a 7,500-gallon reef tank running, this episode offers a rare look at the full lifecycle of an aquatic life support project. Guest: Matt Regensburger, Construction Project Manager, Tenji Aquarium Design Inflow is the podcast where we discuss all things related to aquatic animal life support. This episode is sponsored by Ardura and Matt LSS. Subscribe, leave a review, and find more episodes, show notes, and sponsor info at https://inflowlsspodcast.com/. Chapters (3:40) Guest Introduction: Matt Regensburger of Tenji Aquarium Design (4:28) Matt's Background: St. Louis Roots and Becoming an Aquarist (5:17) Early Career at the St. Louis Zoo Life Support Department (7:41) Working with Aging, Historic Facility Infrastructure (10:29) The Move to Georgia Aquarium (12:00) Zoo vs. Aquarium Life Support: Control Systems and Layout (15:30) Moving into Management at Georgia Aquarium (17:04) Returning to St. Louis to Help Open St. Louis Aquarium (27:15) The COVID Shutdown Right After Opening (27:57) Introducing Tenji Aquarium Design and the Design-Build Model (29:30) Integrating with Other Design Disciplines via Revit and AutoCAD (30:44) How Tenji Finds and Lands Projects (33:32) Coral and Reef System Design: Dosing, Calcium Reactors, and Birch Aquarium (36:26) Working with First-Time Owners and Performance Specs (42:48) Closing Advice: Be Curious, Be Careful (44:54) Outro and Sign-Off

    Ep 49 - Zoo vs. Aquarium: What 27 Years in Life Support Taught Matt Regensburger

  6. Jul 27

    Ep 48 - Inside the Aquarium of the Boardwalk: Life Support Lessons with Alex Hunter

    Inside the Aquarium of the Boardwalk: Life Support Lessons with Alex Hunter What does it take to build and operate the life support systems for one of America's newest public aquariums? In this episode of INFLOW, hosts Joe Arlotto and Dr. Jeff Keaffaber are joined by Alex Hunter, Director of Life Support at the Aquarium of the Boardwalk, for an in-depth conversation about launching a modern aquarium from the ground up. Alex shares his career journey, the challenges of commissioning a brand-new life support system, and the lessons learned from balancing innovative design with the day-to-day realities of aquarium operations. The discussion explores aquarium filtration, water quality management, life support engineering, startup commissioning, equipment selection, troubleshooting, and the importance of collaboration between designers, contractors, and operators. Whether you're an aquarium professional, life support system engineer, aquatic animal specialist, or simply fascinated by the science behind world-class aquariums, this episode offers practical insights into creating stable, healthy environments for aquatic life and the people who care for it. In this episode, you'll learn about: Launching the Aquarium of the Boardwalk Life support system (LSS) design and commissioning Aquarium filtration and water quality management Startup challenges and operational lessons Collaboration between engineers and aquarium operators Best practices for maintaining healthy aquatic habitats Career advice for aspiring LSS professionals (3:14) - Meet Alex Hunter (6:55) - Moving Up by Moving On (10:18) - Mirage to Mandalay Bay (11:41) - Mammal vs Fish Systems (13:23) - Startup Staffing Realities (16:14) - Turnover and Training Legacy (19:07) - Aquarium of the Boardwalk Systems (21:59) - Power Failures and Backup Generator (26:28) - Filtration System Layout (27:38) - Drum Filters Deep Dive 3 (32:34) - Sand Filters Backwash (36:36) - CapEx and Risk Mitigation (40:18) - Isolation Valve Project (42:35) - AALSO Community Impact (46:03) - Certification Career Ladder (47:35) - Advice for New Operators  Thanks to Our Sponsors This episode of INFLOW is made possible by our sponsors: MDM Pumps – A trusted leader in high-performance pumps engineered for demanding aquatic life support applications. MDM Pumps delivers reliable, energy-efficient solutions that help aquariums, zoos, and aquatic facilities maintain exceptional water quality. Telchine – Providing advanced automation and control solutions for aquarium life support systems, Telchine helps operators monitor, optimize, and manage critical LSS processes with precision, reliability, and real-time insights. Subscribe to INFLOW for conversations with the leading experts shaping the future of aquatic animal life support systems, aquarium engineering, filtration technology, water quality science, and aquatic habitat design.

    Ep 48 - Inside the Aquarium of the Boardwalk: Life Support Lessons with Alex Hunter

  7. Jul 13

    Ep 47 - How MAT LSS Is Rethinking Aquarium Filtration and Life Support

    What does it take to design life support systems for some of the world's most ambitious aquariums? In this episode of INFLOW, hosts Joe Arlotto and Dr. Jeff Keaffaber sit down with Nurettin Ersu, founder of MAT LSS, to explore the engineering philosophies, innovative filtration technologies, and practical lessons that are shaping the next generation of aquatic life support systems. Drawing from decades of experience designing and commissioning aquarium projects around the world, Nurretin discusses the evolution of aquarium filtration, advances in life support system (LSS) design, balancing water quality with operational efficiency, and the importance of creating systems that are both reliable and sustainable. The conversation also dives into engineering challenges, international collaboration, emerging technologies, and what today's designers and operators should consider when planning future aquatic facilities. Whether you're an aquarium professional, life support operator, engineer, aquatic veterinarian, consultant, or student entering the field, this episode offers valuable insights into the science and engineering behind healthy aquatic environments. In this episode, you'll learn about: Modern aquarium life support system (LSS) design Aquarium filtration innovations and engineering principles Water quality management and biological filtration Designing reliable, efficient aquatic systems Lessons learned from international aquarium projects The future of aquarium engineering and aquatic animal life support (3:30) - Meet Nurettin and MAT Growth (17:07) - Skid Systems and Client Support (29:06) - Supply Chain Lead Times (32:05) - Seaworld Mega Project Lessons (40:12) - Training Operations And US Market Subscribe to INFLOW for conversations with the leading experts in aquarium engineering, aquatic animal care, water treatment, and life support systems. New episodes feature industry leaders sharing practical knowledge, technical expertise, and real-world solutions for public aquariums, zoos, research facilities, and aquatic professionals worldwide.

    Ep 47 - How MAT LSS Is Rethinking Aquarium Filtration and Life Support

  8. Jun 25

    Ep 46 - A Career Built Around Water: Dane Tullock on Aquariums, Aquaculture, and Life Support Systems

    What does it take to build a career that spans aquaculture, exhibit construction, life support systems, and executive leadership? In this episode of INFLOW, hosts Joe and Dr. Jeff sit down with Dane Tullock to explore a career shaped by curiosity, collaboration, and a passion for advancing the aquarium industry. Dane shares how his journey from aquarist to aquarium executive gave him a unique perspective on life support systems (LSS), facility design, and the critical role aquarists play in successful projects. The conversation explores why owner involvement is essential during aquarium planning and construction, how husbandry and engineering teams can work together more effectively, and the lessons learned from decades of designing, building, and operating aquatic facilities. Whether you're an aquarist, LSS operator, engineer, designer, or aquarium leader, this episode offers valuable insights into career development, interdisciplinary collaboration, and the future of public aquarium operations. In this episode: Dane Tullock's career path from aquarist to executive leadership Why aquarists should have a seat at the design table Best practices for aquarium and life support system (LSS) design Bridging the gap between husbandry, engineering, and operations Lessons from aquaculture, exhibit construction, and public aquariums Advice for the next generation of aquarium professionals (2:58) - Meet Dane  (10:33) - Grad School and Aquaculture (13:14) - Virginia Aquarium Expansion (17:41) - Ripley's Myrtle Beach Build (27:03) - Sixth Sense and System Balance (30:43) - Next Stop Gatlinburg (35:34) - Leaving Ripley's Path (38:48) - Burnout and REI Shift (41:12) - Back to Ripley's Toronto (44:14) - Transfer and Florida Return (50:19) - Planning and Overtime Lessons (55:01) - Renovations and Conservation Focus (58:42) - Career Advice and Wrap-Up INFLOW is the podcast for professionals working in aquarium life support systems, water quality, aquatic engineering, and public aquarium operations. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts and Spotify for conversations with the industry's leading experts on LSS design, operations, maintenance, and innovation.

    Ep 46 - A Career Built Around Water: Dane Tullock on Aquariums, Aquaculture, and Life Support Systems
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Joe and Dr. Jeff discuss all things related to Zoo and Aquarium Aquatic Animal Life Support Systems. Everything from water treatment equipment and design to operations and construction. We talk to operators, engineers, architects, curators, and anyone and everyone who works on keeping our zoo and aquarium water clean, our animals healthy, our exhibits natural and our systems sustainable.

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