Community Corner
Maritime Aquarium Director Passes Mastery-Level AALSO Exam
The aquarium's director of Animal Husbandry recently became the first person in the country to pass a mastery-level exam on water quality.
From Maritime Aquarium: Barrett Christie, director of Animal Husbandry for The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk, is the first person to pass a national mastery-level exam focused on water quality in public aquariums.
Christie recently passed the Level 3 water-quality exam administered by the Aquatic Animal Life Support Operators. The AALSO is an organization of water-quality and mechanical-system professionals who care for the systems that make large-scale aquatic animal care possible. Thus, as the only aquarium in the world to employ a certified Level 3 water-quality technician, The Maritime Aquarium is even better equipped to meet the challenges of providing the highest standard of care to its animals.
The AALSO offers annual examinations on life-support and water-quality theories, and also on operational procedures, ranging from basic to advanced duties. Levels one, two or three are awarded to any zoo or aquarium life-support operator who successfully passes the respective exam covering established criteria for that level. The Level 3 water-quality exam covers such areas as water chemistry, stoichiometry, advanced mathematics, laboratory safety, quality control, and the interactions of chemicals dissolved in water. Learn more about The Maritime Aquarium’s animals, exhibits, programs, IMAX movies and more at www.maritimeaquarium.org.
