Two EcoMat denitrification reactors have been installed in one of the largest aquarium tanks in the world. This system substitutes for a batch type system, which did not meet the aquarium's requirements for adequate, economical denitrification.

In the photograph, behind the two tanks is a one million gallon tank which was formerly used as the batch denitrifier. It is now being used simply as a dearation tank for the EcoMat reactors. In the foreground (out of the picture) is the methanol tank, which provides the carbon source which the bacteria require so that they can convert the nitrate to gaseous nitrogen and carbon dioxide, which bubble out of the tops of each reactor.

Within the reactors, the EcoLink carrier media that hold the bacteria are continuously stirred by induced water flow, which prevents clogging and requires no back washing. Solids entering the system do not interrupt flow nor have a negative impact on the process efficiency.

The loading rate for EcoLink in salt water is about 5 kg-N per cubic meter of carrier per day, as compared with activated sludge loading rates of 0.1 kg-N per cubic meter per day.