In　this　study,　the　granular　sludge　was　operated　under　low　aeration　condition　in　sequencing　batch　reactor　(SBR)　and　advanced　continuous　flow　reactor　(ACFR),　respectively.　Through　increasing　the　sludge　retention　time　(SRT)　from　22　days　to　33　days,　the　ACFR　was　successful　startup　in　30　days　and　achieved　long　term　stable　operation.　Under　SBR　operation　condition,　the　aerobic　granular　sludge　(AGS)　showed　good　nitrogen　(60%),　phosphorus　(96%)　and　COD　removal　performance.　During　stable　operation　of　continuous-flow,　the　nitrogen　removal　efficiency　was　increasing　to　70%,　however,　the　phosphorus　removal　efficiency　could　only　be　restored　to　65%.　Meanwhile,　the　sludge　discharge　volume　from　ACFR　was　about　half　of　that　in　SBR.　Results　of　high-throughput　pyrosequencing　illustrated　that　methanogenic　archaea　(MA),　ammonia　oxidizing　archaea　(AOA),　denitrifying　bacteria　(DNB),　denitrifying　polyphosphate-accumulating　organisms　(DPAOs)　played　an　important　role　in　the　removal　of　nutrients　in　ACFR.　This　study　could　have　positive　effect　on　the　practical　application　of　AGS　continuous　flow　process　for　simultaneous　biological　nutrient　removal　(SBNR).　(C)　2019　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.