Aquarium glossary
The terms you need to manage your aquarium. Each definition includes recommended values for marine, tropical freshwater, coldwater and brackish aquariums, as well as ponds.
27 terms in "Maintenance"
Activated carbon
The most used chemical filter in aquariums. Removes colours, odors, drug residues and organic compounds from water.
Aquarium test kit
Instruments for measuring water parameters: ammonia, nitrites, nitrates, pH, KH, GH, calcium, phosphates. There are drops, stripes and digital.
Artemia (brine shrimp)
Small saltwater crustaceans used as live food. Newly hatched nauplii are ideal food for fry and small fish.
Chemical filter
Uses adsorbent materials to remove dissolved substances from water that mechanical and biological filtration cannot eliminate.
Choice of feed
The quality of food influences the health, colours and longevity of fish. Varying between dry, frozen and live is the best strategy.
Clean-up fish and invertebrates
Organisms that help keep the aquarium clean by eating algae, debris and food scraps. A complement to maintenance, not a replacement.
Coral feeding
Corals feed on light (zooxanthellae) and particulate food (phytoplankton, zooplankton, amino acids). Direct feeding improves growth and colours.
CUC (Clean Up Crew)
The set of scavenger invertebrates that keep a marine aquarium clean: snails, hermit crabs, crabs, starfish, urchins, shrimps.
Dip for corals
Preventive or curative bath for corals before introduction into the aquarium. Removes hidden parasites, nudibranchs, flatworms and Aiptasia.
Epsom Salt (Magnesium Sulfate)
Used to treat dropsy (fluid drainage) and to increase GH without raising KH In freshwater aquariums.
Evaporation and refilling (ATO)
Aquarium water evaporates continuously. Topping up must be done with fresh water (RO) because the salt does not evaporate. ATO systems automate this.
Fertilizing the aquarium
The supply of nutrients necessary for aquatic plants. It includes macronutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium) and micronutrients (iron, manganese, boron and others).
Fish feeding
One of the most important aspects of managing an aquarium. Proper nutrition keeps fish healthy and reduces water pollution.
Gravel vacuum (siphon)
Wide bell tube used to vacuum debris from the substrate during water changes. The most used maintenance tool.
hospital aquarium
A separate aquarium dedicated to the treatment of sick fish. Allows you to use medications without contaminating the main aquarium.
ICP-OES analysis
Inductively Coupled Plasma (ICP) analysis very precisely measures dozens of elements in aquarium water with a single sample mailed.
Mechanical filter
Removes suspended particles from the water: debris, uneaten food, plant residues. It makes the water clear and protects the biological filter.
Nitrifying bacteria
The microorganisms responsible for the nitrogen cycle. They convert toxic ammonia into nitrites and then into less dangerous nitrates.
Phytoplankton
Unicellular microalgae cultivated as food for filter-feeding corals, bivalves, zooplankton and invertebrate larvae.
Quarantine
The quarantine is a separate aquarium where new arrivals (fish, corals, plants) are kept under observation before entering the main aquarium.
Quarantine protocol for marine fish
Quarantine is even more critical in marine aquariums than in freshwater aquariums. A comprehensive protocol includes observation, therapeutic copper, and praziquantel.
Reverse osmosis (RO/RODI)
The reverse osmosis system purifies mains water by removing chlorine, heavy metals, silicates and other substances. Produces basic water for each aquarium.
Sodium bicarbonate in aquarium
Economical product for raising KH and pH in freshwater aquariums. Basic ingredient of Balling solution for KH In marine aquariums.
TDS (total dissolved solids)
TDS measures the total quantity of substances dissolved in water. It is mainly used to check that the reverse osmosis system is working correctly.
Uric acid and dissolved organic compounds
Waste products of fish metabolism that accumulate in water. Not measurable with standard tests, they are removed by water changes.
Water change
Changing the water is the most important maintenance in aquariums. Removes accumulated waste products and restores consumed trace elements.
Water test
Analysis kit to measure the chemical and physical parameters of water. They are the eyes of the aquarist: without tests you are sailing blind.