Abstract:e evaluated the effects of aeration rate (0, 50 mL/min, 100 mL/min, 200 mL/min, 400 mL/min, 800 mL/min) on the growth and nutrient uptake rates of the thalli of the brown alga . The thalli were incubated in the laboratory for 15 d and were measured every 5 d. additionally, the pigment content and concentration of soluble proteins and soluble sugar in thalli were measured at the end of the experiment. Both aeration rate and culture time significantly influenced the relative growth rate (RGR) and PO43−-P uptake rate of , but only culture time had a significant effect on the rate of NO3−-N uptake. On the first day, aeration rate had a significant effect on the nutrient uptake rate. At the highest aeration rate we tested (800 mL/min), NO3−-N and PO43−-P uptake rates were 133.77% and 89.51% higher, respectively, than in the control (0), and RGR was also 95.04% higher than in the control. However, the positive impact of aeration rate on thalli growth rate and nutrient uptake rate decreased as culture time increased. At the highest aeration rate, the NO3−-N uptake rate was 24.87% lower than in the control at the end of the experiment and the PO43−-P uptake rate was 46.03% higher than in the control. Conversely, the RGR of thalli was 75.16% higher than in the control at this time. High aeration rates appeared to inhibit the synthesis of chlorophyll a, carotenoids, and soluble sugars, but significantly promote soluble proteins synthesis. Our results suggest that water movement does not exert a direct effect on thalli growth and biomass, but rather an indirect effect induced by changes in nutrient uptake and other physiological processes.