Inflow: Aquatic Animal Life Support Systems and Habitats

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 per...

What if you could predict water quality problems before they happen? In this episode of INFLOW, hosts Joe Arlotto and Dr. Jeff Keaffaber sit down with Paul Cooley , Aquatics Director at PC Aquatics and Senior Engineer with Ardurra, along with Chris Carr , Director of Life Support Systems at Long Beach Aquarium of the Pacific, to explore a groundbreaking new tool for the aquatic animal life support...

In Part 1 of this special AALSO 26 series, the INFLOW podcast welcomes Chris Carr and Sean Bourgeois for an in-depth conversation on the evolving world of aquarium life support systems, aquatic engineering, and large-scale facility operations. From system design and project execution to troubleshooting complex aquatic environments, Chris and Sean share real-world insights from the front lines of t...

In this episode of the INFLOW podcast, hosts Joe Arlotto and Dr. Jeff Keaffaber sit down with Zack Behrendt of American Sealants, Inc. for an in-depth conversation about the critical role acrylic plays in modern aquarium design, aquatic animal life support systems, and large-scale habitat construction. From massive viewing panels and underwater tunnels to structural bonding, waterproofing, and lon...

In this episode of Inflow , hosts Joe Arlotto and Dr. Jeff Keaffaber welcome Tori Sipos , the Facilities & Maintenance Manager at Riverbanks Zoo and Garden . Tori shares her journey through the industry, moving from hands-on technician roles at the Georgia Aquarium to leading the broader facilities team at a premier zoo and garden. We explore the transition from "turning wrenches" on life support...

In this episode of Inflow , hosts Joe Arlotto and Dr. Jeff Keaffaber sit down with Veronica Thompson , Manager of Water Quality and Life Support at the Houston Zoo . Veronica takes us through her fascinating career "arc," from her beginnings as a biologist studying algae under a microscope to managing some of the most sophisticated aquatic systems in the country. We dive deep into the operational...

When you move from a small "jewel tank" to a multimillion-gallon habitat, the rules of life support change. In this episode of Inflow , hosts Joe Arlotto and Dr. Jeff Keaffaber dive into the world of megascale aquatic systems with industry veteran Steve Kaiser . Steve shares his extensive experience managing some of the largest aquarium systems in the world. The conversation explores the unique ph...

Is life support systems (LSS) a science, a trade, or an art? According to industry veteran Ray Davis, it's a delicate balance of all three; driven by curiosity and critical thinking. In this episode of  Inflow , hosts Joe Arlotto and Dr. Jeff Keaffaber sit down with Ray to discuss the "human element" of aquatic habitat management. With a career that spans design, engineering, and hands-on operatio...

Success in aquatic animal care isn't just about water chemistry—it's about the "bricks and mortar" that hold everything together. In this episode of Inflow , hosts Joe Arlotto and Dr. Jeff Keaffaber sit down with industry veteran Steve File, a long-standing leader and former board member of AALSO. With decades of experience in facility operations and life support systems (LSS), Steve shares his pe...

What happens when the worlds of facility management and life support systems (LSS) collide? In this special episode of Inflow , hosts Joe Arlotto and Dr. Jeff Keaffaber take the show on the road to the Aquarium and Zoo Facilities Association (AZFA) conference to explore the critical infrastructure that keeps aquatic habitats thriving. While LSS operators often focus on water chemistry and filtrati...

In this episode of INFLOW: Aquatic Animal Life Support Systems and Habitats , hosts Joe Arlotto and Dr. Jeff Keaffaber are joined by Andy Aiken , Director of Life Support Programs at the National Aquarium in Baltimore , for a practical, operations-first conversation on designing and running aquarium life support systems (LSS) that truly work in the real world. Andy shares decades of hands-on exper...

In this episode of INFLOW: Aquatic Animal Life Support Systems and Habitats , hosts Joe Arlotto and Dr. Jeff Keaffaber welcome Todd Devlin-Perry , President of AALSO and Life Support Manager at Mystic Aquarium , for a deep dive into modern aquarium operations, workforce development, and the future of aquatic life support systems (LSS) . Todd shares his journey from plumbing and pool construction t...

In this episode of INFLOW: Aquatic Animal Life Support Systems and Habitats , hosts Joe Arlotto and Dr. Jeff Keaffaber welcome Trevor Erdmann , Vice President of AALSO and Senior Aquarist at the Hatfield Marine Science Center , for an in-depth conversation on the evolving role of aquarists as life support system (LSS) operators . Trevor shares how modern aquarists are increasingly responsible for...

In this episode of INFLOW: Aquatic Animal Life Support Systems and Habitats , hosts Joe Arlotto and Dr. Jeff Keaffaber sit down with Joe Poniatowski of Asahi/America for a deep, experience-driven conversation on life support systems (LSS) design, operations, and reliability . Joe shares a unique career journey that spans submarine systems, industrial piping, and public aquariums , offering rare in...

In this episode of INFLOW: Aquatic Animal Life Support Systems and Habitats , hosts Joe Arlotto and Dr. Jeff Keaffaber are joined by Joe Choromanski , President of Serviette , for a wide-ranging conversation on what it takes to design, operate, and scale aquarium life support systems (LSS) across multiple facilities. Drawing on decades of experience in public aquariums, Joe shares lessons learned...

In this episode of the INFLOW podcast , we explore how modern Life Support Systems (LSS) go far beyond filtration and plumbing. Joined by Gal Judah , Area Sales Manager at Georg Fischer , the conversation dives into the evolving role of LSS in zoos, aquariums, and aquatic facilities—where lighting, air quality, controls, and integrated infrastructure are just as critical as water. Gal shares his u...

In this episode of INFLOW: Aquatic Animal Life Support Systems and Habitats , hosts Joe Arlotto and Dr. Jeff Keaffaber sit down with Mike Bajek , Senior Director of Life Support Systems at the Singapore Oceanarium , to explore what it takes to design, manage, and scale one of the largest and most advanced aquarium facilities in the world . Mike shares his journey from Pittsburgh to Singapore and o...

In this episode of INFLOW: Aquatic Animal Life Support Systems and Habitats , hosts Joe Arlotto and Dr. Jeff Keaffaber talk with Mark Peacock , founder of Clean Search , to explore the unique world of hiring, recruitment, and talent development within the aquatic life support systems (LSS) industry. Mark breaks down what makes LSS roles so specialized, why organizations struggle to find qualified...

In this Facility Spotlight episode of INFLOW: Aquatic Animal Life Support Systems and Habitats , hosts Joe Arlotto and Dr. Jeff Keaffaber talk with Wes Schmidt , Senior Life Support Systems Technician at the Minnesota Zoo . Wes takes listeners behind the scenes of one of the most diverse and technically challenging facilities in the Midwest, where maintaining healthy aquatic environments means bal...

In this episode of INFLOW: Aquatic Animal Life Support Systems and Habitats , hosts Joe Arlotto and Dr. Jeff Keaffaber sit down with John Christiansen , Senior Project Architect at EHDD Architecture , to explore how thoughtful design and engineering come together to create world-class aquariums and aquatic facilities. With decades of experience designing some of the most recognized and sustainable...

In this episode of INFLOW: Aquatic Animal Life Support Systems and Habitats , hosts Joe Arlotto and Dr. Jeff Keaffaber welcome Nick Kaiser , Director of Facilities at the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago. With over two decades of experience—from operator to engineer to director—Nick shares his unique perspective on bridging life support operations, engineering design, and sustainability at one of the nat...

In this episode of INFLOW: Aquatic Animal Life Support Systems and Habitats , hosts Joe Arlotto and Dr. Jeff Keaffaber sit down with Sam Courtland , founder of Integrated Aqua Systems (IAS) , to explore his journey from aquaculture operations to engineering advanced aquatic systems used in research, zoos, and public aquariums. Sam shares how his early experiences working on shrimp farms and recirc...

In this episode of INFLOW: Aquatic Animal Life Support Systems and Habitats , hosts Joe Arlotto and Dr. Jeff Keaffaber are joined by Rob Turnbull , ozone specialist with Telchine Energy Technologies , to explore the critical role of  ozone in aquatic life support systems (LSS) . Rob breaks down how ozone works as a powerful disinfectant , its impact on water clarity and pathogen control , and why...

In this episode of INFLOW: Aquatic Animal Life Support Systems and Habitats , hosts Joe Arlotto and Dr. Jeff Keaffaber talk with Rob Cloward and Allen Clawson of Cloward H2O , one of the world's leading aquatic engineering firms. From natural hot springs and wave-generating surf parks to large-scale aquariums and zoos, Cloward H2O has been at the forefront of designing innovative water systems tha...

In this episode of INFLOW: Aquatic Animal Life Support Systems and Habitats , hosts Joe Arlotto and Dr. Jeff Keaffaber sit down with Amy Stone , an experienced aquatic systems designer whose career bridges aquaculture, aquaponics, and life support system (LSS) design . Amy shares her journey from raising fish to leading Aquatic Equipment & Design. The conversation also pays tribute to the late Ste...