Aquarium Glossary

Here is a list of commonly used terms (and their meanings) associated with aquariums.

Acclimation - adaptation to a new climate (a new temperature or altitude or environment)

Activated charcoal - powdered or granular carbon used for purifying by adsorption

Aerate - to expose to fresh air

Air pumps - machines that aerate water and as a result, help expose your aquatic life to fresh air

Algae - a primitive chlorophyll-containing aquatic eukaryotic organism that lacking true stems and roots and leaves

Ammonia - A pungent gas compounded of nitrogen and hydrogen (NH3)

Aquarium - a tank or pool or bowl filled with water for keeping live fish and underwater animals

Aquatic plants - plants that grow partly or wholly in water whether rooted or floating

Bacteria - single-celled or noncellular spherical or spiral or rod-shaped organisms

Balance - an ecological correct aquarium

Carbon dioxide - a heavy odorless colorless absorbed by plants in photosynthesis

Cycling - process of preparing a tank for aquatic life

Driftwood - wood that has been washed ashore; used as tank decoration

Ecological system - the interdependence of living organisms in an environment

Filter - a device that cleans the water inside of an aquarium

Filtration - the process whereby fluids pass through a filter or a filtering medium

Fluorescent lights - a lighting fixture that uses a fluorescent lamp

Freshwater aquarium - an aquarium that contains freshwater fish

Freshwater fish - water-life and elements from places like rivers, lakes, and ponds

Gravel - small rocks placed on the bottom of a tank

Grow Lights - lighting designed to encourage the growth aquarium plants

Habitat - the type of environment in which an organism or group normally lives or occurs

Heater - machine used to comfort fish that come from warmer climates

Incandescent lamp - a type of electric lamp consisting of a transparent or translucent glass

Nitrate - any compound containing the nitrate group (such as a salt)

Overstocking - the act of placing too many fish in one aquarium

pH - the logarithm of the reciprocal of hydrogen-ion concentration in gram atoms per liter

Photosynthesis - the synthesis of compounds with the aid of radiant energy (especially in plants)

Public aquarium - an aquarium put on public display; usually found in zoos or aquatic centers

Quarantine - isolate to prevent the spread of infectious disease

Salinity - the relative proportion of salt in a solution

Saltwater aquarium - an aquarium that contains saltwater fish

Saltwater fish - water-life and elements found in oceans

Soaking - the process of preparing driftwood for tank use

Starter Kit - a package of various aquarium accessories

Stress - a condition that can cause illness in fish

Tannin - phenolic substances released during the soaking process of driftwood

Toxins - poisonous materials

Undergravel filter - a filter that aerates water from the bottom of a tank

Wastes - fish "poop"