Glossary

bacteria

Large group of prokaryotic microorganisms representing one of the three domains of living organisms. Present in the majority of Earth's habitats as well as organic matter and the bodies of live animals. Most are harmless, some beneficial and others pathogenic.

Used in 14 species profiles

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Related terms

Aeromonas
A genus of rod-shaped, gram-negative bacteria found in fresh and salt water, soil, and sewage. Various species affect fishes while others are pathogenic to amphibians, reptiles, and higher animals including humans.
allelopathy
A biological phenomenon by which an organism produces one or more biochemicals that affect the growth, survival, and reproduction of others. Typical in certain plants, algae, bacteria, coral, and fungi.
Bacillus
Genus of Gram-positive, mostly rod-shaped, bacteria including both free-living and pathogenic species.
bactericide
An agent with the ability to destroy bacteria.
baytril
Fluoroquinolone antibiotic effective against many aerobic bacteria, but particularly gram-negative and mycoplasma forms. Produced and marketed for veterinary use and used to treat fishes in some cases.
cyanobacteria
Phylum of generally blue-green coloured bacteria, often confused with algae, that obtain their energy via photosynthesis and include unicellular and colonial species. Some species occur commonly in aquaria where they're normally regarded as pests.
deionisation
Purification process, often abbrevaited to DI, by which mineral ions are removed from water, usually via ion exchange over a specialised type of resin. The process does not remove non-ionic molecules thus organic cells such as bacteria tend to remain. Often used in conjunction with reverse osmosis to produce more-or-less pure water which normally requires a degree of remineralisation before being used in aquaria.
microorganism
Organism that can be seen only with the aid of a microscope. Typically unicellular, e.g., baceria, protozoa, some algae.
Mycobacterium
Genus of gram-positive bacteria of the family Mycobacteriaceae, members of which cause tuberculosis in fishes and other animals.
nitrate reactor
Piece of aquarium equipment that can be thought of as an anaerobic filter. Provides a means by which large enough populations of anaerobic bacteria can be maintained so that nitrates are actively removed from the water in the form of nitrogen gas, a process normally facilitated by regular partial water changes. Also known as a nitrogen filter.
nitrites
A salt or ester of nitrous acid. Produced in aquaria via metabolisation of ammonia by nitrifying bacteria of the genus Nitrosomonas, and toxic to fishes if present in sufficient concentrations, but in a mature system is further converted into less-harmful nitrates by other bacteria of the genus Nitrospira.
Nitrobacter
Genus of bacteria previously thought to reduce nitrIte to nitrAte in an aquarium, but which does not occur, or occurs in negligible quantities, in aquaria.
Nitrosomonas
Genus of bacteria which reduces ammonia to nitrIte in an aquarium.
Nitrospira
Genus of bacteria which reduces nitrIte to nitrAte in an aquarium.
organic
Of, relating to, or derived from living organisms.
prokaryotic
Possessing cells without membrane-bound nuclei. Typical in bacteria and cyanobacteria.
ultraviolet steriliser
Used to kill bacteria in the water column by exposing it to ultraviolet light.
undergravel filter
A filter which works by drawing water down through the substrate, where the cycle bacteria colonies are located, before returning it to the aquarium. Difficult to keep clean and now considered old fashioned.

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