Glossary: A

AC

Aquaclear brand of hang on back filters, usually linked to model AC500, etc.

Acclimation

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.

Acropora

A genus of hard (stony) corals that contain the elkhorn and staghorn corals.

Acrylic

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.

Actinic Light

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.

AFAIK

As far as I know (forum lingo)

AGA

All-Glass Aquarium, an aquarium manufacturer.

AIO

All-In-One. Generally in reference to an aquarium with built in filtration and lighting systems.

Aiptasia

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.

Air Pump

A small electric pump that provides air for air tubes, protein skimmers, bubblers, etc.

Algae

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.

Algal Bloom

A sudden spurt of algal growth that can indicate potentially hazardous changes in aquarium water chemistry.

ALK

Alkalinity, Alkaline.

Alkaline

Having a pH of more than 7. Alkaline solutions are also said to be basic.

Ammonia

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.

Anemone

A cnidarian of the class Anthozoa that possesses a flexible cylindrical body and a central mouth surrounded by tentacles.

Apoptosis

Programmed cell death

Aquaculture

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.

Aragonite

A calcareous substrate or sand. It's commonly used as a sand bed in reef aquariums, and is available in various grain sizes.

Arthropoda

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.

ATO

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.

Search Term

Browse By Letter

# A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z View All Add A Word