Set your dvrs or go online

[Reef Bass]

Last night, PBS's Nature program had a fascinating behind the scenes look at the Monterey Bay Aquarium and the innovative techniques they use to keep their exhibits not just alive, but flourishing!

As a reef keeper, it was really interesting to see their maintenance programs. For example, the Kelp Forest draws in 2000 gallons a minute (not an hour, a minute) from the bay, and is piped "raw" (their term) into the tank with nominal filtration. This allows all the micro fauna that forms the bottom of the reef food chain to enter and enables the marvelous biodiversity that is a reef.

To prevent encrusting organisms from clogging the pipes, they shoot a "pig" (their term) through the pipes under high pressure and that in essence scrapes the pipes clean on the inside.

I highly recommend keeping an eye out for it. I'm sure it will be repeated again soon. Also, many Nature episodes are now available in their entirety online at PBS.org. Here's the link: Nature

 

[crispyreef]

It's a funny term calling those plugs "pigs", but many large scale wineries have been using those to shoot through there stainless steel lines. The company that makes those did a demo at my old place and you would not believe the crud that came out.

 

[Grant W]

watched it too, great show