Patent ID: 7306733

Claim:
A system for conditioning water in a contained environment for holding aquatic life, the system comprising a first chamber in fluid communication with the contained environment, the first chamber containing aerobic bacteria for substantially reducing the oxygen concentration of the water flowing from the contained environment and a first media to sustain said aerobic bacteria for an extended period of time and in a sufficient amount to substantially reduce the oxygen concentration in the water, as the water flows through the first chamber; and a second chamber in fluid communication with both the first chamber and the contained environment in a manner which allows the water having a substantially reduced oxygen concentration to flow from the first chamber to the second chamber and the water leaving the second chamber to flow back to the contained environment, the second chamber containing anaerobic bacteria for substantially reducing the levels of nitrates in the water and a second media comprising a sufficient amount of sulfur to sustain said anaerobic bacteria for an extended period of time and in a sufficient amount to substantially reduce the level of nitrates in the water, as the water flows through the second chamber.