What Are The Common Aquarium Terms You Need To Know – Part 1
As a beginner at fishkeeping, it’s advisable to gain in-depth knowledge of your new hobby by reading plenty of relevant books, magazines, and other materials such as visiting forums and blogs (like this one! 
). In your reading, you may stumped upon some fishkeeping terms that are still unfamiliar to you. To give you a better grasp of these terms, let’s define some of them here:
Acclimatization: The gradual introduction of new fish to an aquarium by equalizing the temperature and chemical parameters of the water in their container with that in the tank. This helps minimize stress.
Acidic: Water with a pH less than 7.
Acrylic: A clear plastic material used to make aquariums. It is half the weigh of glass and its refractive index is closer to that of water than glass, making it more transparent. Acrylic is more easily scratched than glass.
Actinic: A type of fluorescent bulb that emits blue-colored light. It is often used in marine aquaria to make corals appear to glow with brilliant colors, and to create a “deep ocean” feel.
Activated Carbon: A filter medium used to remove organic contaminants or residual matter from aquarium water. It has to be replaced at regular intervals.
Aerobic: Existing or active in the presence or free oxygen.
Air Pump: A small electric pump, usually the diaphragm type, used to introduce air into an aquarium.
Air Stone: A finely perforated ceramic, glass or wooden block which diffuses air from an air pump into the water in the form of tiny bubbles.
Algae: Algae are an underwater growth of plant-like organisms. They come in many different forms. Some may resemble plants, but they are actually not plants at all.
Algal Bloom: An explosive growth of algae which discolors the water and can lead to oxygen depletion.
Alkaline: Water with a pH greater than 7.
Ammonia: A toxic by-product of fish metabolism and the decay of organic materials. In a fully-cycled tank, the ammonia is converted to the safer compounds of nitrites and nitrates by nitrifying bacteria.
Anaerobic: Existing or active in the absence of free oxygen aka “Lacking oxygen.” Anaerobic zones are found in places inside an aquarium—such as inside rocks, or under sand and gravel—where there is an absence of oxygen. Anaerobic bacteria living in these areas transform nitrate into nitrogen gas. These are also areas where nitrogen gas. These are also areas where hydrogen sulfide and other toxic substances are produced.
Aquarium Salt: Additive-free salt added in very small quantities to the freshwater aquarium, where it may be beneficial to certain types of fish. It is also used in the treatment of some freshwater fish diseases. It should not be confused with marine salt, which is a complex mixture of salts used in saltwater tanks to create “artificial” seawater.
Aquascaping: The artistic arrangement of plants, rocks and driftwood to create a harmonious, aesthetically pleasing display in an aquarium.
Aragonite: A form of calcium carbonate which constitutes the shells of corals and other marine creatures. Crushed aragonite sands is sometimes used as substrate to raise the pH/hardness of the tank water above its natural level.
Astaxanthin: Carotenoid pigment supplement added to fish foods to enhance the red, orange, and yellow hues in fish. This may also by purchased as a powdered additive.
Note: Please keep in mind that this list here is by no mean extensive. I will add them periodically whenever there are more queries. For now, I’ve divided this list into 7 parts in alphabet order.
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