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 water quality, filtration, system troubleshooting, and operational decision-making, blurring the lines between husbandry and engineering. The discussion explores the importance of education, hands-on training, and professional certification, and how organizations like AALSO are helping shape consistent standards across the industry.

Listeners will learn:

• Why aquarists play a critical role in day-to-day LSS operations

• How education and certification pathways support safer, more reliable systems

• The skills today's aquarists need beyond animal care

• How improved training directly impacts animal welfare and system performance

• What the future holds for LSS workforce development

Whether you're an aquarist, LSS operator, engineer, or aquatic facility leader, this episode offers valuable insight into how training, certification, and cross-disciplinary collaboration are shaping the future of life support systems.

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(00:00) Introduction and Sponsors

(01:06) Role of an Aquarist

(04:12) Trevor's Background

(09:57) Building the Living Planet Aquarium

(15:11) Custom Skid Systems and Water Quality

(24:14) Involvement with AALSO

(27:46) Dual Certification Tracks: LSS and Water Quality

(31:37) Hands-On Training and Equipment Maintenance

(33:53) Student Success and Career Placement

(39:33) Role of Education and Training Committee

(47:14) Advice for Aspiring Professionals

(50:36) Conclusion and Final Thoughts

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 insight into what happens when systems fail—and how smart design choices can prevent it. The discussion covers real-world lessons from HDPE and thermoplastic piping, pressure management, redundancy, automation limits, and why human decision-making remains critical in high-stakes aquatic environments.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• What submarines and aquariums have in common when it comes to life support reliability

• How piping materials and system layout impact long-term LSS performance

• Why automation alone isn't enough to prevent failures

• Common design and operational mistakes—and how to avoid them

• How experience in operations shapes better engineering and material selection

Whether you're an LSS operator, engineer, designer, or facility manager, this episode delivers practical, hard-earned insights into building systems that protect animals, people, and facilities when failure is not an option.

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 from overseeing large, complex aquatic systems, comparing artificial and natural seawater, and adapting LSS designs to different climates, budgets, and operational realities. The discussion explores how early design decisions affect long-term reliability, animal welfare, and operating costs.

Listeners will learn:

• Key principles for designing LSS at scale across multiple aquariums

• Operational differences between artificial and natural seawater systems

• How to balance innovation, standardization, and site-specific needs

• Common challenges in multi-facility aquarium operations—and how to avoid them

• Why experience-driven design leads to more resilient aquatic systems

Whether you're an LSS engineer, aquarium operator, facility leader, or designer, this episode delivers practical insights into building durable, scalable, and biologically sound life support systems that stand the test of time.