Glossary

organic

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Of, relating to, or derived from living organisms.

Used in 586 species profiles

Related terms

activated carbon
Processed, porous, highly adsorptive form of carbon also known as activated charcoal or active carbon. Used in aquaria to remove toxins such as chlorine, chloramine, some heavy metals, and especially organic molecules, but exerts no action on ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, phosphate or inorganic salts. Since it has a finite surface area it requires periodic replacement if employed long-term, and should be removed if a tank is being treated as it will remove most medications. Cannot be 'recharged' by heating in a microwave or domestic oven.
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.
clearwater
In ichthyological and aquarium literature typically refers to habitats containing transparent water with no material in suspension or staining by organic material, thus differing from whitewater or blackwater environments.
decomposer
Organism feeding on dead or decaying material aiding the natural process of decomposition by breaking down organic substances which subsequently become nutrients.
decomposition
Natural, ecological process in which organic material is broken down into simpler substances which may then be used by other organisms. Typically biotic and carried out by microbes, worms, and other organisms but can also be abiotic and occur via chemical or physical processes such as oxidation or hydrolysis.
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.
derived
Used in phylogenetics in reference to a character or character state not present in the ancestral form of a species; apomorphic.
detritus
In biology, organic debris most often formed via the decomposition of organisms.
filter feeding
Feeding behaviour in which solid, organic particles are filtered from the surrounding water. Normally involves some degree of specialised morphology.
foam fractionation
Chemical process whereby hydrophobic molecules are removed from a liquid via rising columns of foam, e.g., the process of organic-waste removal taking place within a protein skimmer.
formaldehyde
Colourless, organic gas used as a preservative when dissolved in water, in which form it is often known as formalin.
heterotroph
An organism that cannot synthesise its own food and instead obtains nutrients from complex organic substances, usually animal or plant matter.
ichthyocide
A chemical or organic substance which kills fishes.
Indian almond leaf
Vernacular name for leaves of the leadwood tropical tree species Terminalia catappa which are commonly sold dried for use in aquaria because the organic compounds contained within them are considered beneficial for certain fish species. In particular they may aid in simulation of blackwater conditions and inhibit the growth of some undesirable microorganisms, as well as proving an effective addition to a natural-looking display. Also known as Ketapang leaf, presumably in reference to the city of that name in West Kalimantan province, Indonesian Borneo.
infusoria
Collective term for certain members of the protozoan Phylum Ciliophora, of which it is considered a subclass in certain classification systems. Members naturally inhabit infusions of decomposing organic material and some are cultured by aquarists in order to feed very small fish fry. The name was formerly applied to a much larger group of aquatic microorganisms which also included some other protist groups and unicellular algae.
inorganic
Not being composed of organic matter; of or relating to such substances; of, relating to or being a substance that does not contain carbon.
mulm
Organic sediment which typically accumulates in an aquarium.
peat
A compressed accumulation of partially-decomposed, chiefly vegetable matter typically found in certain marshes, bogs, and peat swamp forests throughout the world. It forms via breakdown of various plants and other organic materials in water when full decomposition is prevented due to localised acidic, anaerobic conditions. As a result of this somewhat specific nature the organisms inhabiting peaty environments are often stenotypic and found nowhere else. Peat can be used as a fuel when dried and thus has industrial importance in some countries. Also used in aquaria, especially in order to simulate blackwater habitats, either in pure, artificially-granulated or liquid extract form.
peat swamp forest
Type of tropical moist forest lying over a thick bed of acidic peat, over 60% of which occur in Indonesia and Malaysia. Typically contain water with very low pH (<4.0) that is stained brown due to the release of various organic compounds from the decaying peat and thus often referred to as blackwater swamps. Usually contain some permanent water but also flood seasonally. Highly biodiverse when in pristine condition, with many species found nowhere else on earth, though increasingly subjected to intensive drainage, burning and subsequent conversion to agriculture in recent decades.
photosynthesis
Chemical process occurring in the cells of plants, algae and certain other organisms by which carbon dioxide is converted into organic compounds, especially sugars, using the energy from sunlight.
planaria
Generic term applied to numerous non-parasitic flatworms of the class Turbellaria. Also a genus within that class, Planaria. Various species occur in aquaria where they're most often associated with accumulation of uneaten food or organic material and normally considered pests.
process
Natural outgrowth or projection of an organism or organic structure.
protein skimmer
Mechanical device used to remove organic compounds in marine aquaria via the process of foam fractionation.
saprophagy
Feeding on dead or decaying organic matter.
scavenger
Animal feeding on dead or decaying organic matter.
total dissolved solids
Measure of the total concentration of both organic and inorganic, microscopic particles suspended in a given liquid. Usually applied only to freshwater systems and measured using a conductivity or total dissolved solids meter with results expressed in units of mg per unit volume of water (e.g., mg/L) or parts per million (ppm). Soft water with low pH generally has low levels of total dissolved solids whereas harder water with higher pH tends to contain correspondingly increased concentrations. Often abbreviated to TDS.

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