Timothy Pfeiffer Richard Baptiste Barnaby J. Watten Paul S Wills 2016 <p><span>Control of alkalinity, dissolved carbon dioxide (dCO</span>₂<span>), and pH are critical in marine recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) in order to maintain health and maximize growth. A small-scale prototype aragonite sand filled fluidized bed reactor was tested under varying conditions of alkalinity and dCO</span>₂<span>&nbsp;to develop and model the response of dCO</span>₂<span>&nbsp;across the reactor. A large-scale reactor was then incorporated into an operating marine recirculating aquaculture system to observe the reactor as the system moved toward equilibrium. The relationship between alkalinity dCO</span>₂<span>, and pH across the reactor are described by multiple regression equations. The change in dCO</span>₂<span>&nbsp;across the small-scale reactor indicated a strong likelihood that an equilibrium alkalinity would be maintained by using a fluidized bed aragonite reactor. The large-scale reactor verified this observation and established equilibrium at an alkalinity of approximately 135&nbsp;mg/L as CaCO</span>₃<span>, dCO</span>₂<span>&nbsp;of 9&nbsp;mg/L, and a pH of 7.0 within 4 days that was stable during a 14 day test period. The fluidized bed aragonite reactor has the potential to simplify alkalinity and pH control, and aid in dCO</span>₂<span>&nbsp;control in RAS design and operation. Aragonite sand, purchased in bulk, is less expensive than sodium bicarbonate and could reduce overall operating production costs.</span></p> application/pdf 10.1016/j.aquaeng.2015.10.001 en Elsevier Application of a fluidized bed reactor charged with aragonite for control of alkalinity, pH and carbon dioxide in marine recirculating aquaculture systems article