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 realities of transitioning from world-class aquariums like Mystic Aquarium and The Florida Aquarium to the unique, multi-taxa challenges of a major zoo. Veronica shares how she tackled the commissioning of the Houston Zoo's "Ferrari" of life support systems—the Galapagos expansion—while animals were already in the habitat.
Key topics discussed in this episode:
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The Learning Curve: How a background in phycology and marine sciences translates to wiring pumps and diagnosing complex hydraulic failures.
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Regional Challenges: From utilizing "heat tape" to survive Connecticut winters to barging in 300,000 gallons of pristine seawater from the middle of the Gulf of Mexico.
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Zoo vs. Aquarium LSS: Managing "moats," animal runoff, and the unique stormwater management requirements of a 100-year-old facility.
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The "Sand-Filter-Less" System: A technical breakdown of using hex drum filters and Defender (perlite) filters to maintain 35+ feet of visibility in a sea lion habitat.
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The Ozone "Bug" Turned Feature: How an unintended air entrainment issue led to a revolutionary way to keep perlite filters clean using ozonated water.
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Advice for the Next Generation: Why curiosity, a lack of ego, and listening to animal keepers are the most important tools in an LSS operator's belt.
Whether you are interested in the granular details of perlite filtration or the high-level strategy of managing discharge permits and stormwater watersheds, this episode offers a masterclass in adaptive aquatic engineering.
(1:52) - From Marine Studies to LSS
(4:34) - Nature vs Closed Systems
(6:45) - Texas State Aquarium
(8:01) - Tackling Algae Problems
(9:50) - Mystic Aquarium Winter Lessons
(14:11) - Florida Aquarium and Coral Work
(15:56) - Barging Seawater Explained
(18:40) - Coral Systems and Multi Species
(21:40) - Why Houston Zoo Needed Her
(24:44) - Finishing the Handover
(27:31) - Moats and Legacy Filtration
(31:12) - Outdoor Debris Challenges
(33:37) - Stormwater and Wetlands
(38:50) - Sea Lion LSS Breakdown
(40:05) - Defender Perlite Filters
(44:35) - Ozone Backflush Breakthrough
(48:16) - Advice for New LSS Techs
Learn more about our sponsors:
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Asahi/America
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Aquatic Equipment and Design (AED) Visit them at inflowlsspodcast.com/sponsors.
Connect with Inflow:
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Website: inflowlsspodcast.com