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Glossary - Dictionary of commonly used terms
- » .sp
- Scientific Name
.sp is an abbreviation used in a scientific name when the genius of an animal is known while the species is not. See also: ".spp" - Top
- » Actinic
- Equipment
Actinic refers to bulbs which project a small, mostly blue spectrum of light. - Top
- » Algae
- Organism
A plant-like organism which typically rely on obtaining nutrients via water rather than a root system. - Top
- » Ammonia
- (NH3)
A compound of 1 Nitrogen and 3 Hydrogen atoms which is created when organic matter decays. - Top
- » Aquacultured
- Description
Aquacultured refers to livestock which has been bred in captivity rather than removed from a natural habitat. - Top
- » Barbs
- Livestock
"Barbs" refer to a species of fish within the family Cyprinidae or "cyprinids". The name stems from the "whiskers" or "barbs" near the fishes' mouth. - Top
- » Bare-bottom
- Classification
Bare-bottom refers to an aquarium which does not contain substrate of any type. - Top
- » Beneficial Bacteria
- Organism
"Beneficial Bacteria" are those bacteria in which rely upon to facilitate the Nitrogen Cycle within an aquarium. - Top
- » Bottom Dweller
- Livestock
Bottom Dweller refers to livestock which spends most of its time near the substrate or "bottom" of an aquarium. - Top
- » Bulkhead
- Equipment
As it relates to aquaria, a bulkhead is a plumbing fixture which allows water to pass through a hole drilled through the side or bottom of an aquarium. - Top
- » Carbonate Hardness
- Measurement
Carbonate Hardness (Kh) is the measurement of how much acid water can neutralize. Generally speaking, higher carbonate hardness readings suggest the water in an aquarium will be able to maintain a steady pH. - Top
- » Cichlid
- Livestock
Cichlids are an array of freshwater fish which belong to the family Cichlidae. These fish are commonly known to be highly territorial and/or more aggressive than community fish. However, the tendency for aggression among a specific cichlid varies between species and hence, stocking decisions should be made on a case by case basis. - Top
- » Cold Water
- Classification
Cold Water refers to a steady temperature between 62 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit. - Top
- » Community Fish
- Classification
The term "community fish" is used to describe a wide range of fish that are more apt to be less aggressive toward fish of other species. - Top
- » Cryptocaryon irritans
- Parasite
Cryptocaryon irritans is the scientific name for a very common marine parasite which is easily identified as small white spots on a fish. See also: "Ich", "Ichthyophthirius multifiliis" - Top
- » Cycle
- Process
"Cycle" or "Cycling" is a direct reference to the Nitrogen Cycle and refers to the process of introducing or otherwise promoting the growth of the beneficial bacteria which are relied upon to remove toxic nitrogenous compounds from an aquarium. - Top
- » Detritus
- Object
As it relates to our hobby, detritus describes organic matter such as uneaten foodstuffs, dead plant matter, and solid fish waste. - Top
- » Diatom
- Organism
Diatoms are single celled, plant-like organisms which differ from other algaes because of their unique silicon based exoskeleton. - Top
- » Dissolved Organic Compounds
- Chemistry
Dissolved Organic Compounds refers to the organic matter which has been broken down and mixed with water. - Top
- » Dissolved Oxygen
- Chemistry
Dissolved Oxygen refers to the amount of oxygen which is carried directly within the water column. - Top
- » DOC
- Dissolved Organic Compounds
Commonly used acronym which replaces the term "Dissolved Organic Compounds". - Top
- » Euryhaline
- Livestock
Euryhaline is a term used to describe livestock which can adapt to live in water with a wide range of salinity. - Top
- » Filter Feeder
- Description
A filter feeder is any animal which relies on removing food which resides within passing water. - Top
- » Fish-only
- Classification
Fish-only refers to an aquarium which contains only fish and inverts (i.e. no plants, coral, or live rock are present). - Top
- » Fishless Cycling
- Process
Fishless Cycling is a direct reference to the Nitrogen Cycle and refers to the process of introducing or otherwise promoting the growth of the beneficial bacteria without relying upon the waste from fish. - Top
- » FOWLR
- Fish Only With Live Rock
Commonly used acronym to replace the term "Fish Only With Live Rock". - Top
- » Freshwater Ich
- Ichthyophthirius multifiliis
The latin name for Ich found in a [b]freshwater[/b] aquarium is Ichthyophthirius multifiliis - Top
- » Freshwater Ich
- Ichthyophthirius multifiliis
The Latin name for Ich found in a freshwater aquarium is Ichthyophthirius multifiliis - Top
- » Freshwater Ich
- Ichthyophthirius multifiliis
The scientific name for Ich found in a freshwater aquarium is Ichthyophthirius multifiliis - Top
- » Gas Exchange
- Process
Gas Exchange refers to the process of releasing Carbon Dioxide from water and replacing it with dissolved Oxygen. - Top
- » General Hardness
- Measurement
In simple terms, General Hardness is the measurement of dissolved calcium in water. - Top
- » Ich
- Parasite
Commonly used term to replace the scientific name "Ichthyophthirius multifilis" in freshwater aquariums or "Cryptocaryon irritans" in marine aquariums. - Top
- » Ichthyophthirius multifiliis
- Parasite
Ichthyophthirius multifiliis is a very common parasite which is easily identified as small white spots on a freshwater fish. - Top
- » Kelvin
- Measurement
As it relates to aquaria, kelvin is the measurement of the "temperature" of light with lower temperatures representing more yellow light and higher temperatures representing more blue light. 5,000K would signify "pure white" light. - Top
- » Kh
- Carbonate Hardness
Scientific symbol which represents "carbonate hardness". Generally speaking, testing for Kh shows us the ability for water to maintain a steady pH. - Top
- » LFS
- Local Fish Store
an acronym for "Local Fish Store". Could be any store that sells fish, corals, or supplies. - Top
- » Livebearer
- Livestock
A livebearer refers to any fish which gives birth to live fry rather than eggs. - Top
- » LPS
- Acronym
Commonly used acronym and coral description which replaces the term "large polyp stony". - Top
- » Mbuna
- Livestock
Mbuna refers to a specific group of cichlid species naturally found in Lake Malawi in Africa. Roughly translated, Mbuna mean "rock dweller". - Top
- » Mouth Brooder
- Livestock
A Mouth Brooder is any fish which incubates its eggs in its mouth until the fry are hatched. - Top
- » Nitrate
- NO3
A compound comprised of 1 Nitrogen and 3 Oxygen atoms. As it relates to our hobby, nitrAte is created after beneficial bacteria oxidize nitrIte (NO2) - Top
- » Nitrite
- NO2
Nitrite is a compound comprised of one nitrogen and two oxygen molecules (NO2). As it relates to our hobby, nitrite is the end result of ammonia being oxidized by beneficial bacteria. See also: Nitrogen Cycle - Top
- » Nitrogen Cycle
- Process
The nitrogen cycle is the naturally occurring process in which one or more nitrogenous compounds are oxidized or changed, resulting in a different form of nitrogen. - Top
- » Overflow
- Equipment
An overflow is a device which provides the ability to remove water from an aquarium for a variety of purposes without allowing livestock to do the same. - Top
- » Pectoral Fin
- Anatomy
The pectoral fin is the fin located on the side of a fish near the gills. - Top
- » Powerhead
- Equipment
A powerhead is a term used to describe a pump which is primarily used to create water movement and typically kept in the aquarium itself. - Top
- » Pythyon
- Equipment
A "Python" is a specific brand name but is commonly used to describe a piece of equipment which is used to drain and refill an aquarium for the purpose of a water change. A python differs from a siphon in that it is typically assisted by a faucet. - Top
- » Q-tank
- Equipment
A Q-tank refers to a separate aquarium where livestock is kept separate (quarantined) from the livestock in a display tank. - Top
- » Quarantine
- Action
To "quarantine" refers to the act of removing or otherwise keeping livestock separate from other livestock. - Top
- » Reef-Ready
- Classification
Reef-Ready refers to an aquarium which has the additional feature of having holes drilled and/or contains a build-in overflow system. - Top
- » refugium
- Equipment
A refugium is a separate aquarium or vessel which allows for the addition of beneficial livestock - usually macro-algae or plants - despite the presence of fish or inverts that would otherwise pose a threat. - Top
- » School
- Action
A school refers to a group of fish which all members travel in the same direction at the same time. See also: "Shoal" - Top
- » Shoal
- Action
To "shoal" refers to a group of fish which travel together as a lose group. See also: "School" - Top
- » Skimmer
- Equipment
A skimmer is a filter which removes dissolved organic compounds by creating and removing the "skin" of bubbles in water. - Top
- » Specific Gravity
- Measurement
Specific Gravity is the measurement or difference between the density of one liquid compared to another. - Top
- » Sponge
- Livestock
A sponge is a filter-feeding marine animal which uses a system of pores or cavities to collect food. - Top
- » SPS
- Acronym
A commonly used acronym and coral description which replaces the term "small polyp stony". - Top
- » Substrate
- Decoration
Substrate refers to the substance which covers the bottom of an aquarium; typically sand or gravel. - Top
- » Substrate Heater
- Equipment
A substrate or "cable" heater is a heater which is placed under the substrate in an aquarium. - Top
- » T5
- Equipment
A "T5" is a specific size of florecent bulb. The "T" size system tells you how many eighths of an inch a bulb is in diameter. For example, the diameter of a T5 bulb is 5/8ths of an inch. - Top
- » Top Dweller
- Description
The term "top dweller" refers to livestock which spend the majority of its time near the surface of the water or "top" of an aquarium. - Top
- » Tropical
- Classification
Tropical refers to steady water temperatures between 75 to 82 degrees Fahrenheit. - Top
- » Under-Gravel Filter
- Equipment
Under-Gravel Filter refers to a filter which is placed inside and under the substrate of an aquarium. - Top
- » Venturi Effect
- Physics
The Venturi Effect refers to the result which occurs when a liquid is forced through an increasingly smaller space. This is the principle which powers most protein skimmers. - Top
- » Water Change
- Process
A water change is the process of removing old water which is assumed to be polluted from an aquarium and replacing it with new, chlorine-free water. - Top
- » Water Column
- Description
The "water column" simply refers to the water between the substrate and the top of an aquarium. - Top
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