Vertical flow constructed wetlands, planted with and without Spartina alterniflora, were tested for the treatment of
mariculture wastewater. Wetlands with and without the emergent macrophyte produced reductions of 89 and 71%
for inorganic solids, 82 and 96% for organic solids, 51 and 63% for total nitrogen, 82 and 92% for ammoniacal
nitrogen, 64 and 59% for orthophosphate, and 81 and 89% for turbidity, respectively. Wetlands with S. alterniflora
showed denitrification tendencies, while wetlands without S. alterniflora had higher oxygen levels leading to
nitrification. The results suggest the fundamental role of oxygen controlling the purification processes as well as
the potential of constructed wetlands to treat mariculture effluents.
