Controlling Nitrate Concentrations in Large Seawater Facilities

Curators of large aquaria where there is no significant primary production and water changes are impractical have been using biological denitrification to control high nitrate concentrations. The two denitrification systems described in this study operate in different ways: the Living Seas uses a batch system, while the New Jersey State Aquarium uses a flow-through system. The rate of denitrification controls the operation of the Living Seas system, while water residence time controls the operation of the New Jersey State Aquarium system.