Glossary Of Terms
Aquaclear brand of hang on back filters, usually linked to model AC500, etc.
A change that occurs in an organism to allow it to tolerate a new environment. The process of preparing an organism to be introduced to a new aquarium safely.
A genus of hard (stony) corals that contain the elkhorn and staghorn corals.
A form of plastic that has uses much like glass. Acrylic is stronger than glass, and can be bent at various angles. Acrylic pieces are chemically bonded together. The downside is that acrylic is easily scratched.
A type of florescent light with a very blue spectrum. It is the primary color of light in the ocean below 30 feet and is required by corals and other reef creatures which contain photosynthetic algae.
As far as I know (forum lingo)
All-Glass Aquarium, an aquarium manufacturer.
All-In-One. Generally in reference to an aquarium with built in filtration and lighting systems.
Small pest anemonies that will retract into crevices or holes in rockface when threatened. Not reef safe. Will spread quickely. Around 1-3 inches, from a white-pink-brown coloration.
A small electric pump that provides air for air tubes, protein skimmers, bubblers, etc.
Unicellular, multicellular, solitary, or colonial organisms that contain chlorophyll. They lack roots, stems, leaves, flowers, and seeds. Algae are in the Kingdom Protista.
Many types of algae are common in reef aquariums, some are desirable while others are considered pests.
A sudden spurt of algal growth that can indicate potentially hazardous changes in aquarium water chemistry.
Having a pH of more than 7. Alkaline solutions are also said to be basic.
NH3, a toxic substance that builds up in the aquarium. It is released by fish through their gills and as a result of waste buildup. Ammonia is the first step in the nitrogen cycle, and is removed by bacterial action where it is transformed into nitrite.
A cnidarian of the class Anthozoa that possesses a flexible cylindrical body and a central mouth surrounded by tentacles.
Programmed cell death
The growing of aquatic organisms in controlled environments for any commercial, recreational, or public purpose; sector of fisheries that includes the rearing or raising under controlled conditions of aquatic products such as fishes, mollusks, crustaceans, sea weeds and other aquatic resources. In the aquarium industry aquaculture is most commonly used to grow out coral fragments or breed ornamental fish.
A calcareous substrate or sand. It's commonly used as a sand bed in reef aquariums, and is available in various grain sizes.
An animal phylum that contains lobsters, crabs, shrimp, mantis shrimp, barnacles and copepods, fairy shrimp (all crustaceans), insects, centipedes, millipedes, spiders, scorpions, horseshoe crabs, pycnogonids (sea spiders), ticks and mites. Approximately three quarters of a million species are described, many more than all the other animal phyla combined. The crustaceans are the arthropods associated with coral reefs.
Automatic Top Off. A system used with an aquarium that replenishes evaporated water. These systems usually include some kind of float switch, a pump, and a water reservoir.
An electrical device for starting and regulating fluorescent and discharge lamps
Bare Bottom, referring to keeping an aquarium with no substrate at the bottom.
A method of biological filtration that uses only live rock and a powerful protein skimmer.
A method of natural filtration that uses bacteria to break down waste substances by means of the nitrogen cycle. Examples such as live rock, trickle filters, bio-wheels, and sponge filters.
Loss of zooxanthellae in corals with resultant white coloration caused by a bacterial infection or environmental stress.
Mixed fresh and salt water.
Blue Spotted Jawfish
Bubble tip anemone
By the way (forum lingo)
Composed of or containing a substance made of calcium carbonate.
An external device that water is pumped through then returned back to the aquarium. Used for mechanical, chemical, and/or biological filtration.
Crushed coral substrate or Counter Current (A type of protein skimmer).
Chaetomorpha or "Chaeto" algae is a green macro algae from the Division Chlorophyta and is one of the more common plants to keep in your marine aquarium to help maintain your water purity. The most common species is Chaetomorpha linum and is probably what is in your tank.
A mispelling of Chaeto, short for Chaetomorpha algae, often used in refugiums.
A piece of equipment used to cool down the water in an aquarium. Chillers are available in different types and sizes, including one that hooks up in-line with the water flow of the tank and one that drops into the sump. They all feature a thermostat for maintaining a constant temperature. Larger tanks require larger chiller units. These are generally used when the water temperature cannot be kept below 82°F by itself.
A metal used in the form of copper sulphate to cure diseases and parasite infestations on fish. Copper is highly toxic to marine invertebrates and should never be used in a nano reef.
Algae that form solid calcium carbonate accretions. Coralline is desirable in reef aquariums, and helps prevent undesirable algae from growing. Covers rocks, aquarium walls, and equipment. Usually pink or purple, turns white when it dies.
A subphylum of Arthropoda that includes shrimp, mantis shrimp, lobsters, crabs, water fleas, copepods, crayfish and wood lice. There are almost 40,000 described species of crustaceans. The Crustacea are mainly aquatic, but include some semi-terrestrial and terrestrial groups
Clean Up Crew
A destructive fishing technique in which sodium cyanide or some other cyanide compound is used to stun and capture coral reef fishes for the aquarium and live food trade. Often results in poisoning and eventual death of the fish.
A photosynthetic aquatic bacteria, often called blue-green algae, but have no relationship to algae. Not all "blue-green" bacteria are blue; some common forms are red or pink. In an aquarium environment cynobacteria can quickly cover and kill corals.
Dead after arrival, i.e. during or after acclimation.
A water purification method, typically used in conjunction with reverse osmosis purification.
An organism that feeds on dead organic material, detritus.
Waste or debris of any kind. Organic matter produced by the decomposition of organisms.
A microscopic single-celled alga that has a cell wall of silica. Usually one of the first forms of new life to appear in a new aquarium.
Do it yourself
Dead on arrival.
Dissolved organic compounds.
Dissolved organic solids
A controlled pump used to add water or trace elements to an aquarium at specified intervals. Good for automatically correcting evaporation or dosing kalk.
Deep sand bed. Generally 4 inches or deeper.
Saltwater aquariums that contain no corals or other invertebrates are considered to be "Fish Only."
See Fish Only
Fish only with live rock. An aquarium with no significant corals.
A fragment of a parent coral, or small coral. See Fragmentation.
A small disc or cylinder made of ceramic, aquarium substrate, rubble rock, etc. used to mount coral frags on. Often made to fit into holding racks for coral grow-out.
A means of artificial reproduction by which sections or segments of a coral is divided, cut, or broken into pieces from which a new colony is grown.
For Sale, found in the classified forums.
Full Tank Shot (forum lingo)
"For The Win" (forum lingo)
short for refugium
Short for Refugium.
For what it's worth (forum lingo)
For your information (forum lingo)
Green Clown Goby
Ground fault interrupt
Granular Ferric Oxide
Green hair alage
Gallons per hour, for measuring pumps.
Green Star Polyps
Home Depot, home improvement store
An animal that eats plants. Herbivores such as snails are an important part of a reef tank because they help keep algae under control.
Hang on back filter
Hope this helps (forum lingo)
A device used to measure the specific gravity of seawater. The most common types consist of a clear chamber with a floating needle.
Lacking or defficient in oxygen
The branch of zoology devoted to the study of fish.
Cryptocaryon Irritans Paracite (or ich)
Instant message (forum lingo)
International Marine Aquarium Conference.
In my honest opinion (forum lingo)
In my opinion (forum lingo)
Animals with no backbones. This group includes mollusks, crustaceans, worms, corals, and composes a large number of reef inhabitants.
Instant Ocean, a brand of salt mix
A trace element found in seawater necessary in small quantities for some reef invertebrates, particularly corals and clams.
Internet Relay Chat, a chat room protocol used for the #NanoReef chat room.
Just kidding (forum lingo)
Just my two cents (forum lingo)
Just my opinion
A solution of calcium hydroxide in water, which is alkaline. Also known as limewater. An additive that is slowly dripped into a reef aquarium to raise the alkalinity and calcium levels.
Light Emitting Diode
Local Fish Store
Local hardware store
Rocks removed from the ocean that usually have a variety of sea life attached to them, including sponges, algae, coralline algae, worms, and starfishes. Live rock is commonly used in reef aquariums because it contains bacteria that can help filter the water through nitrification.
Laugh out loud (forum lingo)
Large Polyp Scleractinian; Large Polyp Stony (coral)
See Live Rock
The Marine Aquarium Conference of North America
Large plant-like algae commonly found in red, green and brown varieties. One of the most common of these is Caulerpa, which produces large green spheres resembling grapes.
Marine Aquarium Societies of North America.
Adult stage of most organisms from phylum Cnidaria with the exception of class Anthozoa.
Metal halide lights are a type of light bulb which burns very white and very bright. They require a special fixture and ballast. They are the closest thing we have to artificial sunlight, and are typically used on reefs and planted tanks.
See Metal Halide
Short form of "mini carpet anemone". Stichodactyla tapetum is the species name.
A small reef aquarium, generally 20 gallons or less. Also known as nanoreef or nano-reef.
Cell death caused by non-planned cellular injury.
Specialized stinging cells
A beginner, someone new to the hobby.
NO3 the final product in the nitrogen cycle. It is not toxic, but can be dangerous at high levels. Nitrate is created by the oxidation of nitrite by nitrobacter bacteria. In a nano reef, nitrate levels should be kept below 10 ppm.
The process by which ammonia is changed to nitrite, then nitrate, and finally nitrogen gas. See nitrogen cycle.
NO2 the second product in the nitrogen cycle. Nitrite is a highly toxic substance that is produced by the oxidation of of ammonia by nitrosomonas bacteria. It is easily removed with biological filtration.
The nitrogen cycle describes how organic wastes break down in the aquarium. Fish wastes naturally decompose into ammonia, which is highly toxic. Nitrosomonas bacteria process the ammonia into nitrite, which is also toxic. Nitrobacter bacteria then break down the nitrite into nitrate, which is much less harmful. This is as far as the cycle goes in most tanks, though under the right conditions, the nitrate is further broken down to free nitrogen gas.
Normal Output fluorescent lighting
No problem (forum lingo)
Natural sea water
Marine gastropods (Nudibranchia) having no shell of various color and size
Oxidation Reduction Percentage (dissolved organic breakdown time)
Photosynthetically Active Radiation. Wavelengths of light that can be absorbed by chlorophyll or other light harvesting pigments.
A particular physical, chemical, or biological property that is being measured.
An organism that feeds on the tissues of another organism. Parasites are one of the major causes of disease in aquarium fishes.
Origin of a disease
PowerCompact fluorescent lighting
Provides a measure on a scale from 0 to 14 of the acidity or alkalinity of a solution where 7 is neutral and <7 is acidic and >7 is basic; concentration of hydrogen ions.
A nutrient that can case uncontrolled growth of algae in the aquarium. It can also toxic in high concentrations and must be kept to a minimum in reef aquariums. Phosphate can be easily removed by a number of commercially available filter medias.
The length of time your aquarium lights are turned on.
A small reef aquarium, generally 5 gallons or less. Also known as picoreef or pico-reef.
The passively floating or weakly motile aquatic plants (phytoplankton) and animals (zooplankton).
See Frag Plug
Private message (forum lingo)
An individual of a solitary coral or one member of a coral colony.
A small submersible pump commonly used inside an aquarium to provide additional water movement. Several powerheads can be used in conjunction with a controller unit to simulate natural wave actions.
Parts Per Million
This mechanical filter, also called a foam fractionator, sends many small bubbles through a column of water to separate dissolved organic compounds from the water. They come in many varieties such as venturi, counter-current, and co-current. They are only effective in salt water. They may be placed in the tank, hung on the side, or placed in a sump.
Poly vinyl chloride, a type of pipe used for plumbing aquariums
A tank (other then your display) set-up specifically to monitor and prevent outbreaks of problems in your main display aquarium when you bring home new fish, inverts, etc. Usual time in a QT is 2-4 weeks. Most commercial Aquariums (Monterey Bay, Aquarium of the Pacific, etc.) always Quarantine for minimum of 4 weeks.
Something having a polished surface for reflecting light. Reflectors are placed around aquarium lights to guide and direct their light downward.
An area separate from the display tank (often in a sump), that is meant to be a refuge for organisms like "pods". Macroalgae is often found in refugiums as both a habitate for the pods and a form of nutrient export (through trimming excess growth). Refugium organisms are either not widespread in the main tank (i.e. the lack of pod predators) or are not desired as display species; although some refugiums achieve a display quality as highlight organisms like sea grasses.
This is a purification method for tap-water. Prefiltered tap water is pushed through a reverse osmosis membrane. Water that makes it through is considered pure, while water that does not, is sent through a special tube and is rendered impure. As it relies on water which is able to pass through the membrane, it also generates a large quantity of "waste" water which cannot be used. This is one of the best, but slowest methods of tap water purification. Reverse Osmosis units produce purified water at extremely slow rates, sometimes as low as 10 or 15 gallons per day (depending on your water pressure and temperature).
See Reverse Osmosis
Reverse osmosis with deionization. DI filtration alone is highly effective at purification, but the filter media exausts quickly. By adding it to the end of a reverse osmosis filter, near 100 percent purity can be acheived, while extending the life of the DI resin.
Rolling on the floor laughing (forum lingo)
Rapid Tissue Necrosis
A measure of the salt concentration of water.
See Specific Gravity
A mushroom coral
Small Polyp Scleractinian
Small Polyp Scleractinian; Small Polyp Stony (coral); See Acropora
Common name for species of the anthozoan order Alcyonacea of the subclass Octocorallia. In contrast to the hard or stony corals, most soft corals do not possess a massive external skeleton.
See Soft Coral
The ratio of density of a given liquid to that of pure water. Specific gravity is used to measure the salinity of seawater as compared to distilled water. Distilled water has a specific gravity of 1.000 while natural seawater has a specific gravity of about 1.025. SG readings are also effected by temperature.
Small Polyped Scleractinian, Small Polyped Stony Coral
PPG's high clarity glass which comes from minimal iron impurities
Slow Tissue Necrosis
A container that houses items such as wet/dry filters, skimmers, heaters, and refugiums. Sumps are generally kept below the display aquarium. Water drains into the sump from the aquarium above, and is pumped back to the aquarium.
A polyp that acts in an aggressive manner by stinging neighboring corals and sessile invertebrates.
A coral polyp tentacle that has an increased number of nematocysts and elongates in order to 'sting' neighboring corals and sessile invertebrates. A tool in the competition for space and resources.
T5 High Output Lighting
Total Dissolved Solids
Thanks in advance (forum lingo)
Tank of the month (forum lingo)
Elements that occur naturally in small quantities in seawater. These are required for survival by many reef organisms, and include calcium, iodine, strontium, molybdenum, lithium, and barium.
Talk to you later (forum lingo)
Thank you (forum lingo)
Very High Output (VHO) lights are specially designed fluorescent lights that give off a much higher intensity light than regular fluorescent bulbs. This makes them much more effective as light sources for reef systems, since many corals require strong light. As with all fluorescent lights, VHOs require a ballast unit for operation.
See Water Change
The process of removing a certain percentage of water from a reef aquarium and replacing it with newly mixed saltwater. This process helps remove disolved organics, nitrates, detritus, and replenishes trace elements. In a nano reef, 10 percent changes are recommened every week, or 20 percent every other week.
A biological filtration system that is exposed to the air to aid nitrification. This system typically consists of a large box that is placed underneath the aquarium. Water passes down into the filter over a filtration medium where bacteria remove toxins. The water is then pumped back up into the tank. A sponge or other mechanical filtration medium may also be used in a wet/dry filter.
Want To Buy, found in the classified forums.
What You See Is What You Get, refers to a purchase where the picture posted by the seller is the specific item the buyer will receive, not a representation.
Yellow Clown Goby (Gobiodon okinawae)
You've got mail (forum lingo)
You Got Personal Message (Forum Lingo)
Yellow Watchman Goby (Cryptocentrus cinctus)
An anemone of the family Zoanthidae, usually found in intertidal areas and coral reefs. Commonly kept in reef aquariums for their wide range of colors and ease of care. In some species the polyps separate from each other almost completely after budding, while in other species, the polyps are all interconnected by a common mat of tissue
A group of dinoflagellates living endosymbiotically in association with one of a variety of invertebrate groups (e.g., corals). In corals, they provide carbohydrates through photosynthesis, which are used as one source of energy for the coral polyps. They also provide coloration for the corals.