1. Bioremediation Systems to Treat Nursery Runoff Chris Wilson and Tom Yeager University of Florida/IFAS Joe Albano USDA/ARS Horticultural Research Lab

2. Objectives To evaluate the feasibility of adapting and using common aquaculture bioremediation technology for removing nutrients from nursery runoff water. To evaluate the feasibility of adapting and using common aquaculture bioremediation technology for removing nutrients from nursery runoff water.

3. Objectives Determination of conditions for optimization of: Determination of conditions for optimization of: Nitrification (Conversion of ammonia to nitrate) Nitrification (Conversion of ammonia to nitrate) Denitrification (Conversion of nitrate to nitrogen gas) Denitrification (Conversion of nitrate to nitrogen gas) Phosphate precipitation Phosphate precipitation

4. Process Requirements Nitrification Nitrification Aerobic process Aerobic process NH 3 /NH 4 + to NO 2 - : Nitrosomonas, Nitrosoccus, Nitrospira, Nitrosolobus, Nitrosovibrio NH 3 /NH 4 + to NO 2 - : Nitrosomonas, Nitrosoccus, Nitrospira, Nitrosolobus, Nitrosovibrio NO 2 - to NO 3 - : Nitrobacter, Nitrococcus, Nitrospira, Nitrospina NO 2 - to NO 3 - : Nitrobacter, Nitrococcus, Nitrospira, Nitrospina Nitrifying bacteria are primarily obligate autotrophs, consuming CO 2 as their primary C-source Nitrifying bacteria are primarily obligate autotrophs, consuming CO 2 as their primary C-source Denitrification Denitrification Anaerobic/anoxic process Anaerobic/anoxic process Nitrate serves as electron acceptor for oxidation of organic compound (sometimes inorganic) Nitrate serves as electron acceptor for oxidation of organic compound (sometimes inorganic) Primarily organic C-source Primarily organic C-source Phosphate precipitation Phosphate precipitation Change from low redox potential to higher one can co-precipitate phosphate with iron and calcium Change from low redox potential to higher one can co-precipitate phosphate with iron and calcium

5. Applications of Aquaculture Bio- filtration Technology

7. Project Stages Phase 1: Pilot studies Phase 1: Pilot studies Small scale Small scale Determine optimal conditions Determine optimal conditions Phase 2 and 3: Scale up to nursery-size Phase 2 and 3: Scale up to nursery-size Implement systems on working nurseries for evaluation Implement systems on working nurseries for evaluation

8. Basic Reactor Design SumpReactor 1 Reactor 2

9. Kaldness Media

10. Flow rates controlled using …

11. Study Design Water Supply Canal Controls -no media- Nitrification -media- Denitrification -media- -Low Redox- Phosphorus Precipitation -media- -High Redox-

12. Primary variable for evaluation … Water flow rates Water flow rates

13. Analytes Nutrients Nutrients Nitrate and ammonia Nitrate and ammonia Reactive phosphate Reactive phosphate Biological Oxygen Demand Biological Oxygen Demand REDOX potential REDOX potential pH pH Dissolved oxygen Dissolved oxygen Select pesticides Select pesticides

14. Results Performance characterization Performance characterization Flow rate vs. removal efficiency/performance Flow rate vs. removal efficiency/performance Will aid in determining configuration for stage 2 project implementation Will aid in determining configuration for stage 2 project implementation

15. Potential Impact Phosphorus PrecipitationNitrification Denitrification