Glossary of Aquatic Terms

A
Absorption
The process by which a filter media traps unwanted molecules.

Acidic
Water with a pH of less than 7.

Acrylic
A plastic material used to construct fish tanks, filters and accessories.

Activated carbon
A commonly used chemical filter media.

Adipose Fin
A small fin located behind the dorsal fin and in front of the caudal fin.

Adsorption
The process by which filter media attracts unwanted molecules to its surface via a chemical charge.

Adventitious root
A root which develops from the node of a stem or similar organ, such as a Rhizome, Stolan or runner.

Aerobic
A term used to describe an organism that needs oxygen to survive.

Airstone
A device that attaches to the air pump to create various bubble effects.

Alimentary canal
The tube of the digestive system through which food passes, where digestion takes place.

Alkaline
Water with a pH between 7 and 14. Also known as Basic.

Ammonia (NH3)
A dissolved gas that even in low concentrations is toxic to fish. It is produced by the breakdown of organic waste products.

Anal fin
Single fin mounted vertically below the fish.

Anaerobic
A term used to describe an organism that lives in an environment with little or no oxygen.

Apical bud
The principal growing point of the stem.

Artemia
Known as brine shrimp.

Axillary bud
A bud, capable of developing into a lateral shoot, present in the angle between the stem and a leaf.




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B

Ballast
A transformer which changes the voltage from your house outlet to the voltage needed to power different types of lighting.

Barbel
Whisker-like growths around the mouth, used for finding food and communication; a sensory organ.

Basses
Compounds that make water Alkaline. If water contains more acids than basses it's acidic. If it has more basses than acids it's alkaline.

Bio-balls
A filter media used for the colonization of bacteria.

Biotope
Natural environment of a organism.

Black Water
Water that has a dark cola-like color caused by Humic acids, it has a very low pH and is very soft, common in the Amazon river basin.

Breeding tank
An aquarium set up for the breeding of fish.

Bubble nest
A term used for a nest which is constructed of tiny air bubbles, produced by the male fish. It is used to protect the the eggs and fry. Members of the family Anabantidae are the most widely known users of such nests

Buffer
A substance added to the water to help maintain the pH. value.

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C

Calcium
A necessary element used by salt water corals and other organisms for their calcium carbonate skeleton or shell.

Carbonate Hardness
The part of the total hardness that is formed by the ions of carbonates(Co3) and hydrogen carbonate(HCo3). It is symbolized by dCH. It is important to know the dCH of your water, as it affects both the ph. and Carbon Dioxide amounts in your water. It is also commonly called "buffering capability". a dCH of 4 to 8 is fine for most fish.

Carbon dioxide(Co2)
Important plant nutrient. The higher the dCH the lower the (Co2). For most aquarium plants a level of 4-6 dCH is ideal.

Carpels
Female sex organs. They contain the Ovules which become seeds when mature.

Caudal fin
Single fin at the back of a fish-the tail fin.

Chelators
Synthetic organic acids that enable Iron and other trace elements to be absorbed easily by the plants.

Chlorophyll Absorption
Process of Photosynthesis, occurs between 420-550 nm.and at 670 nm. Values for different type bulbs.
Actinic= 420nm.
Vitalite=420-670 nm.
Ultralume=550-670 nm.

Coagulant
A chemical compound used in water clarifiers. It causes fine particles to stick together to be more easily removed by the filter.

Communities
Different species of fish kept in the same aquarium.

Contraction
The shedding of the leaves at the onset of the dormant period.

Convexity
Having the property of curving outward, like the outside of a ball.

CRI; color rendering index
A number used for rating lite bulbs on a scale up to 100, where 100 is equal to sunlight.

Crushed coral
A Calcareous substrate material with pH buffering abilities, for marine aquaria.

Cuttings
Detached parts of stem plants: they take root after planting and become new plants.



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D

Denitrification
Breakdown of nitrates by anaerobic bacteria into other forms.

Detritus
Organic waste matter that collects on the bottom of fish tanks.

Diatomaceous earth
A filter media made up of skeletons of Diatoms, used in Diatom filters, able to filter particles down to microns in size.

Dichotomous
Dividing into two equal branches.

Dioecious
Having male or female flowers on separate plants.

Division
Division of the vegetative point of Rosette plants into two or more parts for propagation.

DKH
Abbreviation for Degrees of Carbonate Hardness.

Dolomite
A limestone gravel with a small pH buffering ability.

Dormant period
Interruption of growth in an effort to adjust to seasonal periods of stress.

Dorsal fin
Single fin mounted on top of the fish. Some species have two, one behind the other.


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E

Endcap
A water resistant socket for fluorescent lamps.

Etiolation
The formation of weak, spindly foliage deficient in Chlorophyll, usually occurs in light of too low intensity.



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F

Family
A term used in the classification of organisms. A family is made up of related Genera.

Filter feeder
A small animal that feeds off tiny food suspended in the water.

Filtration
Method of cleaning aquarium water, there are 3 basic types. "Mechanical" removes particulate material. Chemical" removal of dissolved substances by passing through a type of media, like carbon. "Biological" which is the process of changing from a harmful substance to a less harmful one, by bacteria.

5500K
Spectrum temperature of daylight.

Fry
Fully formed baby fish.


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G

General or Total hardness
he sum of carbonate hardness and non-carbonate hardness. Usually expressed in degrees of dH.

Gill cover
A hard bony plate covering the gills.

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H

Hard water
Water with a high concentration of dissolved salts.

Heterophyllous
Having leaves of different shapes on the same plant.

Heterostylic
Having flowers which differ in the relative length of their styles and stamens, such that any one flower is very rarely, if ever, self pollinated.

Hydrometer
A device used to measure salinity of water.

Hydrophilous pollination
The transference of pollen from the Anthers of the Stamens to the Stigmas on the surface of the water or under water.

Hypocotyl
The part of the Stem of a seedling below the cotyledons.



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I

Ich
A very common parasitic disease characterized by white salt-like specks all over the fish.

I.D.
An abbreviation for inside diameter, used when measuring tubing dimensions.

Invertebrate
An animal with no backbone.

Iron
The most important trace element for plants. Iron deficiency causes Chlorosis; a disease that makes the plant leaves Yellow.

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J


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K

Kelvin
A temperature reading used to rate the color of lite bulbs. 5500 degrees K is equal to sunlight.

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L

Lamina
The part of a leaf which is flattened, to a greater or lesser degree. As the Leaf Blade.

Lateral line
A line of sensory scales along the sides of fish that enables them to detect vibrations and electrical impulses from other fish.

Laterite
substance used in fresh water plant tanks to supply nutrients, either a powder placed under the gravel or chunks mixed in the gravel bed.

Lumens
A measurement of light intensity. (1 lumen=10.76 lux).

Lux
The standard for measuring light.


M

Macro-Algae
Complex celled algae found in marine aquaria i.e.: Calurpa.

Mbunas
Common name for rock dwelling African Cichlids from lake Malawi.

Metal Halide
A very intense type of lighting used in marine and freshwater plant aquaria.

Micro-Algae
Single celled algae often growing in strands called hair algae.

Micro-Siemens/cm
A unit of electrical conductance: how easily electricity flows through a material.


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N

Nanometer.(nm)
A unit of measurement of the wavelengths in the light spectrum.

Nitrate
Mildly toxic end product of biological filtration. Can be used as a gauge to tell when a partial water change is needed.

Nitrite
Middle element of the biological cycle.

Nitrogen cycle
The formal name for the biological cycle in which toxins are broken down into less harmful products by Aerobic bacteria.

Node
The part of the stem from which one or more leaves arise.







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O

O.D.
An abbreviation for outside diameter, used when measuring tubing dimensions.

Oodinium
Known as velvet disease, similar to ich but more deadly.

Ozone
A gas used in aquarium systems to break down organic waste, raising redox levels.


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P

Pectoral fins
Paired fins, one on each side of the body located behind the gill covers.

Petiole
The stalk of a leaf.

pH
Measurement of the degree of water acidity. It is determined by the amount of acids and bases in the water. If the amounts are equal it is called neutral with a number rating of 7.0. If more acids it is called acidic with number rating of less than 7.0, if more base it is called alkaline with a number rating of more than 7.0.

Phosphate
An element introduced into the aquarium through organic or inorganic means that promotes excessive algae growth. Can be removed through water changes.

Physiological incompatibility
The existence of some chemical or physical factor in the reproductive organs of a plant which prevents fertilization.

Pinna
A part of a leaf of a fern, corresponding to a leaflet in some flowering plants.
Power head
An electric pump that connects to the under gravel filter tubes to greatly increase the water flow.

PPM
Abbreviation for parts per million, a measurement used in test kits.



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Q

Quarantine tank
A tank set up for newly acquired or sick fish to isolate them from the main aquarium until they can be safely introduced.




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R

Rachis
The continuation of the stripes in a fern that is divided.

Redox
ORP or Redox potential is a measurement of water purity and of a systems ability to break down organic waste. The measurement is expressed in millivolts by an ORP monitor.

Resins
Synthetic media used for chemical filtration through a process known as ion-exchange.

Reverse Osmosis
A process of filtering tap water for use in the aquarium. Water passes through a membrane which filters out all elements leaving the water very pure. Trace elements you want will have to be adjusted as well as the pH

Rhizome
A stem growing more or less horizontally near the surface of the soil or gravel and sometimes showing above it.

Rootstock
A very short, but often thick stem, growing vertically at or just above the surface of the gravel. Often referred to as the Crown.

Runner
A horizontal stem growing just above the surface of the gravel and rooting at its nodes.



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S

salinity
The measurement of dissolved salts in the aquarium water.

Sessile
A term used to describe a leaf which has no Petiole.

Soft water
Water with a low concentration of dissolved salts.

Specific Gravity
The measurement used in marine systems to determine salinity.

Species tank
An aquarium where only one type of fish is kept.

Spectrum
Used to describe the wavelengths of light produced by a bulb.

Sponge filter
a large foam rubber block connected to an air lift tube. Water is drawn through the sponge, which acts as a mechanical filter and a bacteria colony. Especially useful in breeding or fry tanks.

Stipes
The stalk of a fernleaf, corresponding to the petiole in flowering plants.

Stolon
A horizontal stem growing just below the gravel, as in many species of Cryptocoryne.

Stomata
Minute pores in the surface of leaves and Herbaceous stems through which exchanges of gases with the atmosphere occurs.

Substrate
The material used to cover the bottom of the fish tank.

Sulfates
Sulfuric salts in water. They form what is known as non-carbonate hardness.

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T

Thallus
The body of a plant which is not differentiated into stem, root and leaf.

Trace elements
Minute substances found in water,that are needed for proper plant and fish growth. Usually replenished with partial water changes.

Trickle filter
A wet dry filter using a drip plate to disperse the water over bio-media.

Tritrate test method
A specific method of water testing in which a reagent is dropped into a sample until a color change is noticed. More accurate than color comparison test methods.

Turion
A modified bud, the leaves of which contain abundant storage reserves, by which the plant survives Winter and renews its growth in Spring.

Turnover rate
The number of times the water in an aquarium is passed through the filtration system in one hour. The minimum should be three or four times per hour

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U

U.V.
Ultraviolet light, generally not wanted in the aquarium. Special filters or shields are required for its' use.

Ultraviolet sterilizer
A unit designed to kill parasites and disease causing bacteria with ultraviolet light.

Under-gravel filter
A type of filter placed under the substrate that utilizes an air pump or power head to pull water through the gravel and thus oxygenates the bacteria to help in the nitrogen cycle. Not recommended for live plant tanks.


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V

Venation
The arrangement of veins in a leaf.

Ventral fins
Paired fins on the lower part of the fish, located below the gill covers. Not all fish have these.

Venturi
A valve which makes bubbles by drawing air into fast flowing water. Especially useful in protein skimmers.

Vernation
The manner in which a leaf, or the parts of a leaf, are rolled up in the bud. The same is true for the fronds of ferns.

VHO lights
Very High Output: florescent bulbs with a much higher output than NO bulbs, they require special ballast and end caps, mostly used on freshwater plant tanks or marine reef tanks.

Vitamins
Any micro-nutrients needed for continued good health of an organism. Many products are sold for specific animals.

Viviparous
Bearing young plants on vegetative organs, such as leaves.

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W

Water properties
Elements used to determine water quality. Total hardness, carbonate hardness, pH, ammonia, nitrate and temperature are the most used indicators.

Wave maker
An electronic device that alternates power to different powerheads to simulate wave motion.

Wet-Dry filter
A type of filter which has a portion of its media exposed to the air with water flowing over or through it, to greatly increase the oxygen content to the bacteria.

Whiteworms
A small worm used as food available either live or freeze-dried.

Whorl
A group of more than two organs of the same kind, like leaves arising at the same level.

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X

Xenophobia
The fear of aliens.




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Y

Yeast method of fertilization
A do-it-yourself method of supplying Co2 to fresh water aquariums. It involves yeast, sugar and two liter bottles.

Yellow water
Name given to water with a slight yellow tinge. Can be caused by too much organic material in the water or to show that a water change is needed. Eliminated through carbon filtration and better water management.

Yolk sac
A small container still connected to the baby fish after hatching, consisting of the unabsorbed egg yolk.




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Z

Zeolites
A substance used in fresh water aquaria for the removal of ammonia.

Zooplankton
Tiny animals or larvae of other animals living in water. usually used in reference to marine aquaria.

Zooxanthellae
The symbiotic single celled brown or yellow algae living in some marine invertebrates. They supply important elements to their hosts.

Put this somewhere in the library?

Fern wrote:

Put this somewhere in the library?

Si and the Anatomy one