MRSC A140 - Aquarium Life Support Operation and Maintenance

    Recent Professors
    Mary Blasius, Robert Ellis
    Recent Semesters
    Fall 2026, Spring 2026, Spring 2025, Spring 2024, Spring 2023
    Class Size
    24–32 students
    Credits
    1
    Prerequisite
    MRSC A120 .
    Fall 2026 Sections
    View Fall 2026 sections of MRSC A140
    Transfers To
    CSU
    Description
    This course focuses on life support operation and maintenance of aquarium water recirculation systems using a diversity of biological, mechanical, and chemical filtration equipment. Students will learn the principal designs, components, standard operating procedures, and preventative and emergency maintenance for an array of aquarium system types. Course content will emphasize the understanding and proper use of various types of life support and water transportation equipment, and how each component functions to disinfect or manipulate water quality and system characteristics. Students will be required to demonstrate proper equipment operation and maintenance protocols, identify appropriate equipment that can be used to treat hypothetical issues, apply their knowledge to help care for a living collection of organisms, and perform critical evaluations of life support procedures in the OCC Aquarium. Course content will emphasize work experience in the OCC Aquarium and successful completion of the course may qualify students to take a national aquarium life support operator certification exam.
    Usually Held
    Tue 4:15pm–5:05pm, Thu 1:00pm–1:50pm, Wed 4:15pm–5:05pm