| Aquarium
glossary |
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| A |
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| Abiotic |
Nonliving |
| Acclimatization |
The process of slowly introducing a new organism
such as a fish to a new environment so that it can adapt to environmental
factors such as temperature and water condition. |
| Acid |
The opposite of a base. A substance that, if
dissolved in water, creates a solution with a pH of less than 7. |
| Acidic |
A water condition where the pH lower than 7.0.
Acidic water may be a sign of overfeeding. |
| Acidophile |
Any organism that prefers acidic conditions with
a low pH. Includes fish from the Amazon and forest pools in West Africa. |
| Acontia |
The stinging tentacles of sea anemones which are
used to paralyze and ward off prey. They push out through the mouth
opening and through special pores (cinclides) in the body-wall. |
| Acquired immunity |
When an organism develops the ability to prevent
a particular infection. |
| Acropora |
Commonly known as Staghorn coral, Acropora are
branching stony coral which are commonly found on natural reefs. Generally
they prefer strong, random current and strong lighting. |
| Actinic bulbs |
A type of fluorescent light bulb which produces
light at the blue end of the spectrum. Useful for maintaining the
photosynthetic process in marine aquariums. Often used to make corals
glow fluorescently and to maintain the health of other marine organisms
such as marine algae and anemones. |
| Activated carbon |
A granular form of carbon which is highly porous.
It is used in aquarium filtration to absorb dissolved impurities from
fresh or marine water. |
| Aerobic |
Describes biological activity that occurs only
in the presence of oxygen. |
| Algae |
Small aquatic plants typically found in water or
wet places, can range in size from single-celled organisms to giant
kelp. Their growth is proportional to sunlight and available nutrients
and their presence may reduce the levels of dissolved oxygen. |
| Alkaline |
The opposite of an acid. A substance that, if dissolved
in water, creates a solution with a pH greater than 7. |
| Ammonia |
Ammonia (NH3) is excreted by fish and is also generated
by rotting fish and plant material. It is the first phase of the nitrogen
cycle and is the most toxic to fish of all the nitrogenous chemicals. |
| Anaerobic |
Describes biological activity that occurs only
in the absence of oxygen. |
| Anal fin |
A fin located on the underbody of the fish approaching
the tail. |
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| B |
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| Bacteria |
A group of single-cell microorganisms, they may
result in infections or disease in animals and humans. |
| Bubble nest |
A nest which is created from saliva and tiny air
bubbles. Used during incubation to protect and insulate the eggs of
fish such as the Siamese Fighter. |
| Biological filtration |
Improves water conditions using special filter
media combined with bacteria to breakdown harmful compounds such as
ammonia and nitrite. |
| Brackish |
Water that is a mixture of freshwater and seawater.
Occurs naturally in river estuaries and lagoons. |
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| C |
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| Calcium Carbonate |
Calcium carbonate (CAC03) is a compound found in
chalk, limestone, shells and the skeletons of invertebrates. It can
be used to increase the pH of water. |
| Carbon |
A non-metallic element . It is used in aquarium
filtration to absorb dissolved impurities from fresh or marine water. |
| Caudal fin |
The tail fin of a fish. |
| Chemical filtration |
A method of filtration that uses activated carbon
or other chemicals to absorb and neutralize harmful substances in
water. |
| Cichlidae |
Refers to a family freshwater fishes commonly known
as cichlids. The family includes as many as two thousand species,
many of which are native to India, South America and Africa. |
| Conductivity |
The ability of a solution to carry an electric
current. Measuring conductivity can determine the overall mineral
content of a water sample. |
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| D |
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| Decapod |
Having ten feet. Examples are crustaceans including
shrimps, lobsters and crayfish. |
| Denitrator |
A piece of biological filtration equipment which
removes nitrate (NO3) from water. A denitrator encourages the growth
of anaerobic bacteria which convert the nitrate (NO3) into nitrogen
gas (NO2), the gas can then escape into the atmosphere. |
| Detritus |
Organic material resulting from decomposing plants
or animals. |
| Dorsal fin |
An upward projecting fin on the back of a fish.
It provides stability and assists with swift change of direction. |
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| E |
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| Echinoderm |
A type of invertebrate that exhibit 5-part radial
symmetry and a hard outer shell. Examples include starfish, sea urchins,
and sea cucumbers. |
| Eyestalk |
A small, sometimes moveable, appendage which supports
the eye of certain crustaceans such as crabs and shrimp. |
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| F |
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| Filter feeder |
An animal that obtains its food by straining tiny
particles from water. Examples include oysters and clams. |
| Fingerling |
A young fish, generally in its first year of life,
which is between the fry and adulthood stages of fish development.
In larger species the fish may be about the size of a finger. |
| Foam fractionation |
The removal of proteins and organic material from
water using a foaming action. Protein skimmers use this method. |
| Foot |
A muscular appendage found at the base of many
mollusks to maintain contact with a surface or assist with travel. |
| Freshwater |
Water that does not contain significant amounts
of dissolved solids of any type. It is generally found in inland lakes,
rivers, creeks and the like. |
| Fry |
A newly hatched or born fish. |
| Fungi |
A group of organisms which are often microscopic
and do not contain any photosynthetic pigment, they act as decomposers
or parasites. Parasitic fungi can infect plants and animals. |
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| G |
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| Gastropod |
A type of mollusk which includes snails and slugs.
Characteristics include a single coiled shell or no shell at all and
a large muscular foot which is used for movement. |
| GH |
Also referred to as general hardness, this is a
measurement of the calcium, magnesium and other ions present in water.
General hardness is measured in either German degrees of hardness
(dH) or parts per million (ppm) and can be used to determine if water
is ‘soft’ or ‘hard’. |
| Gill |
A respiratory organ used by fish which obtains
oxygen from water and releases carbon dioxide. |
| Gill arch |
The bone or cartilage in fish which support their
gills. |
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| H |
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| Hardness |
A term used to describe freshwater which refers
to the concentration of dissolved minerals in the water. |
| Herbivore |
An animal that eats only plants. |
| Host |
An animal or plant that harbors a parasite or disease.
The parasite uses the host to gain nourishment and support and may
kill or weaken the host. |
| Hydrometer |
An instrument used to measure the salinity of water. |
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| I |
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| Immunity |
The ability of an organism to resist infectious
disease. |
| Impeller |
Rotating part of a pump or filter which propels
the water through the device. |
| Invertebrate |
An animal that does not have a backbone such as
a crayfish. |
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| J |
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| Jaubert Plenum |
A biological filtration system for marine setups
which uses a protein skimmer, deep sand bed, and an air cavity (plenum).
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| Juvenile |
A young fish that has not reached sexual maturity. |
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| K |
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| Kalkwasser |
Purified fresh water mixed with calcium hydroxide.
When dissolved, it is used as an additive to introduce inorganic calcium
to marine tanks. Also known as limewater. |
| KH |
Refers to carbonate hardness which measures the
amount of dissolved carbonate and bi-carbonate ions in water. It is
used to measure the buffering capacity of water i.e. the ability of
water to resist a change in PH. Water with a low KH is subject to
rapid shifts in PH which can stress fish and lower their immunity. |
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| L |
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| Labyrinth fish |
A fish from the Anabantoidei family. Characterized
by a respiratory organ which allows them to obtain oxygen from the
air and enables them to live in poorly oxygenated water. Examples
incude Siamese Fighters and Gouramis. |
| Live Rock |
Rock that still has marine organisms such as worms,
small crustaceans, polyps, algae, sponges and urchins on it. It is
used in saltwater aquariums to initiate and continue the nitrogen
cycle. |
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| M |
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| Macroalgae |
Refers to the varieties of algae that can be seen
by the human eye such as seaweed. The opposite of microalgae. |
| Marine |
Describes a saltwater environment or anything associated
with the sea or ocean. |
| Mechanical filtration |
A method of filtration which removes particles
from water by passing it through filter media such as polyester or
foam. |
| Microalgae |
Refers to the small varieties of algae that cannot
be seen by the human eye. Microalgae can be observed using a microscope.
The opposite of macroalgae. |
| Mollusks |
An invertebrate animal characterized by a soft
body that is enclosed by a hard outer shell. Examples include clams,
snails, and scallops. |
| Mysis |
A small crustacean commonly used as food for marine
fish. |
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| N |
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| Nitrate |
Nitrate (NO3) is a form of nitrogen and is the
final product of the nitrogen cycle. It can be harmful to fish, especially
marine invertebrates, if it builds up to a high level. Partial water
changes can reduce the level of nitrate in aquarium water. |
| Nitrification |
A process which employs bacteria to maintain the
nitrogen cycle converting the ammonia excreted by fish into nitrite
and then into the less harmful form, nitrate. |
| Nitrite |
Nitrite (NO2) is a form of nitrogen and is the
product of the first phase of the nitrogen cycle. Nitrite at low levels
can be harmful to fish. |
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| O |
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| Omnivore |
An organism that uses both plant and animals as
food sources. |
| Osmosis |
The process by which a fluid passes through a semi-permeable
membrane in an attempt to equalize the concentration of dissolved
solids on either side of the membrane. |
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| P |
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| Parasite |
A parasite is an organism that lives in or on another
host organism and gains shelter and nourishment at the expense of
the host. |
| Pelvic fins |
A pair of fins of varied size which are located
on the underside of the fish between the pectoral fins and the anal
fins. |
| PH |
A scientific measurement of the amount of hydrogen
and hydroxyl ions dissolved in water which determines the acidity
or alkalinity of a solution. Using a scale ranging from 0 to 14 a
PH of 7 represents a neutral solution, values less than 7 indicate
acidity and values greater than 7 indicate alkalinity. |
| Photosynthesis |
The process by which green chlorophyll-containing
plants utilize sunlight, water and carbon dioxide to produce oxygen
and carbohydrates. |
| Popeye |
A condition where one or both eyes of a fish protrude
and appear to be ‘popping out’. Can be a sign of disease
and if left untreated may result in eye loss. |
| Powerhead |
A submersible water pump used to provide water
circulation or to power undergravel filters. |
| ppm |
An abbreviation for parts per million. It is a
unit of measurement used when describing the concentration of a mixture
and is comparable to milligrams per litre (mg/l). |
| Protein |
A complex molecule made up of amino acids. Protein
is important in the diet of fish but the metabolism of protein by
fish also results in nitrogenous waste such as ammonia. |
| Protein skimmer |
A device used in saltwater aquariums to remove
organic impurities from the water by creating a proteinous waste rich
foam which builds up in a small collector and can be periodically
discarded. The device can also be referred to as a foam fractionator. |
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| Q |
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| Quarantine |
The isolation of a fish for a specified period
of time to assess whether or not the fish is free of disease. It should
be undertaken before introducing a new fish to a larger group in order
to minimize the spread of any disease. |
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| R |
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| Reef aquarium |
A saltwater aquarium containing live corals, fish
and other invertebrates. Particular attention is paid to lighting
and water conditions in order to simulate a natural reef. |
| Respiration |
The metabolic process in which an organism takes
in oxygen and then releases carbon dioxide and water into its environment. |
| Reverse osmosis |
A water purification method used to remove salts,
metals, and minerals. The process is highly effective but produces
a large amount of waste water. This process is also referred to as
RO. |
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| S |
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| Salinity |
A measure of the dissolved salts in water. Can
be measured by specific gravity. |
| Salt creep |
The gradual buildup of salt deposits on the side
of marine aquariums as a result of evaporation. |
| School |
A group of fish, usually from the same species
or sub-species, that swim together in order to trap prey or protect
themselves from predators. |
| Shoal |
A group of fish, from different species, that swim
together in order to order to trap prey or protect themselves from
predators. |
| Specific gravity |
A measurement used to describe the salinity of
water. It is the ratio of the density of a particular solution to
the density of pure water. |
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| T |
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| Thermostat |
An instrument that automatically controls a heating
or cooling device in response to temperature change in the environment.
Thermostats are typically found in devices such as aquarium heaters
and chillers. |
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| U |
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| Ultraviolet |
Refers to the invisible rays of the light spectrum
which are beyond violet light. This type of light can be used in aquariums
to kill harmful bacteria and control disease. It is often abbreviated
to UV. |
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| V |
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| Ventral fins |
Another name for the pelvic fins. A pair of fins
of varied size which are located on the underside of the fish between
the pectoral fins and the anal fins. |
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| W |
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| Water change |
To remove a portion of the water from an aquarium
and replace it with clean un-polluted water. This helps to reduce
the build-up of waste and replenishes certain minerals and trace elements
which are depleted over time. |
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| Z |
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| Zoea |
An early larval stage in the development of decapod
crustaceans such as crabs and shrimp. |
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