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.