Water Quality & Chemistry Videos
Challenges of Microbial Monitoring in an Open System Aquarium Emma Fiori, Monterey Bay Aquarium Watch Video (Login required) Full Abstract
The Monterey Bay Aquarium (MBA) has a robust microbiology program that focuses not only on meeting aquarium and marine regulations but also finding better ways to maintain healthy systems inside the walls. Because of MBA’s location in a National Marine Sanctuary and the Pacific Grove Area of Special Biological Significance, it is also of critical importance that health and management considerations include the Monterey Bay, from which we draw and return approximately 1,500 gallons of seawater per minute. Multi-level treatment systems ensure that water discharged back into Monterey Bay is cleaned of any hitchhikers from the aquarium, and these systems must be monitored for compliance and equipment maintenance. Meanwhile to manage the ecosystem within our walls, we utilize such processes as fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) testing for both human and animal health in systems free from human sewage input (on which standard FIB regulations are based), FIB testing in an outdoor, semi-enclosed tide pool in which children are provided a SCUBA experience, and research processes (including genetic and molecular analyses) to deal with toxic algal blooms in the bay which can be brought into the aquarium via the seawater intake pipes. Our microbial testing also extends to air breathers like birds and sea turtles which are particularly sensitive to fungal infections. Alongside all of this, changing regulations and updated research must constantly be incorporated into protocols and data analysis to ensure that MBA maintains its reputation for cutting-edge and applicable science in the aquarium industry and beyond. |
Management of Disinfection By-Products in a Marine Mammal Exhibit at Melbourne Zoo
Mason Hill1;Gregory Mcdonald1; Jose Gomes1; Chris Eccles2; Bruce Eernisse3, 1Melbourne Zoo, 2PCA Global, 3Banggai Consulting Limited Watch Video (Login required) Full Abstract
The Wild Seas Exhibition at Melbourne Zoo (Melbourne, Australia) opened in 2009 and comprises of three main exhibits zones: aquarium exhibits (1 large Fiddler Ray exhibit and 5 smaller exhibits), Little Penguin and Australian Fur Seals. The Life Support Systems (LSS) for these exhibits are supported by incoming saltwater storage, backwash recovery and saltwater distribution, and ozone to disinfect and flocculate the treated water. The production and presence of disinfection by-products (DBPs) resulting from ozone disinfection within the Fur Seal exhibit was considered a potential source of observed eye irritation to the Fur Seals. A LSS review was undertaken with implemented changes to LSS operation, particularly, adjusted oxidant dosing, yielding observed improvements in the Fur Seal eye heath. |
Seeing Red: Exploring an Alternative Method of Nitrate Testing for Use in Saltwater Chris Emmet, Alaska SeaLife Center, Oregon Coast Community College Watch Video (Login required) Full Abstract
Monitoring nitrate levels is critical for the proper husbandry of any aquatic animal. However, nitrate is a relatively stable ion, and direct measurement of it can be difficult. The most common technique to analyze this ion is to reduce nitrate to nitrite, and then measure the more reactive nitrite. Cadmium metal is typically used as the reducing agent for this method, but it is expensive, produces hazardous waste, and often yields unreliable results in saltwater applications. In contrast, the nitrate reductase enzyme is low cost and non-toxic, but relatively untested for precision applications in the aquarium field. For this experiment, I compared the results of cadmium and nitrate reductase tests for known concentrations of nitrate. On average, nitrate reductase yielded more consistent measurements than the cadmium tests. Using these data, I developed a model and procedure for analyzing readily-available hobbyist reagents in a spectrophotometer to deliver more precise and accurate nitrate measurements than are obtained with the cadmium method. |