- 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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- 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.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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- 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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- 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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- 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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- 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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- 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.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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- 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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- 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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Top
- 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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- 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.
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This Aquatic Glossary has been provided by Badmans
Tropical Fish, visit them on our links page.
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