The nutrient removal capacity of the Gracilaria vermiculophylla
system was closely related to its growth performance. The major
differences found for C and N removal were caused by the interaction
of the 3 factors (SD, WF and Ti) in study (Table 3). It was possible to
separate two different time periods for G. vermiculophylla nutrient
removal performance (Fig. 5, see difference in Y axis scale). From
November until February, Gracilaria removed fewer nutrients. For that
period, the 3 stocking densities had similar nutrient removal values
with a general positive effect of increased water flow (Fig. 5). The
lowest values were observed at 7 kg m−2 with the higher water flow
(5.18±0.5 g N m−2 month−1 and 21.05±2.2 g C m−2 month−1).