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basic reef terminology
- Thread starter ~Flighty~
- Start date
OP
OP
~Flighty~
Now with more baby
This is great, keep them comming. I might be able to put together an example document tonight.
I know this is a little silly and sentimental, but I feel like this will be a good way to help some new reefers. It will probably save some fish and corals from being needlessly killed just because their well intentioned owner didn't know the basics.
I know this is a little silly and sentimental, but I feel like this will be a good way to help some new reefers. It will probably save some fish and corals from being needlessly killed just because their well intentioned owner didn't know the basics.
Nikkoli110
Non-member
Maybe salinity/specific gravity? Definition and the difference between the two would be good. 
Moe_K
Stabbed by Foulke
Nikkoli110 said:Maybe salinity/specific gravity? Definition and the difference between the two would be good.
Okay, lemme try this. Maybe Matt or one of our other chemistry buffs can correct or clarify my attempt here...
Salinity is a measure of salt (any salt - doesn't have to be NaCl - but we reefers are mostly concerned with NaCl) in a liquid. Units are usually parts per billion or parts per million. It's a count of the amount of salt in a given volume of water.
Specific gravity is a ratio of the mass of a liquid (or solid, I guess) to the mass of an equal volume of pure freshwater. Specific gravity is very temperature specific. The sample water should be measured when the same temperature as the pure water. There are tables for temperature correction.
Clear as mud?
They're two ways of measuring how much salt is in your water. Parts per billion (ppb) is very precise, but difficult to determine. Specific gravity is easier to measure (based on the density of the salt in the liquid) and can give a good idea of the ppb.
Moe_K
Stabbed by Foulke
SPS = Small Polyped Stony coral.
These are the stony corals that people imagine when thinking about a coral reef. It's not a very prcise term, because "small polyped" is relative. Some common examples are corals from the genuses Acropora, Montipora, Hydnophora, and Porites. They usually require strong lighting (at least VHO, but probably best under metal halide) and regular supplementation of calcium, carbonate, and a bit of magnesium. They're generally considered more challenging than the other coral types.
These are the stony corals that people imagine when thinking about a coral reef. It's not a very prcise term, because "small polyped" is relative. Some common examples are corals from the genuses Acropora, Montipora, Hydnophora, and Porites. They usually require strong lighting (at least VHO, but probably best under metal halide) and regular supplementation of calcium, carbonate, and a bit of magnesium. They're generally considered more challenging than the other coral types.
tucc185
Non-member
LPS= Large Polyped Stony Coral.
Any coral with a large large, fleshy polyps and a solid calcium carbonate skeleton, or base. Again, not an exact term, but often used to describe various types of corals which have larger or more noticeable polyps. A few examples of commonly available LPS corals include: Torch, Frogspawn, Hammer, Elegance, Galaxea, Candy Cane and Bubble corals. Also, most varieties of brain corals are considered LPS. LPS corals generally do better under more nutrient-rich water conditions than SPS, and can tolerate less-than-optimal condiions better than SPS as well. Lighting requirements are quite variable by species, but most will thrive under moderate to high lighting(VHO's PC's or Halides). Also, most LPS corals have the ability to extend 'sweeper' tentacles (thin, translucent and often long, stinging tentacles) at night which will sting and kill any corals near enough to get stung. They should always be kept a good distance away from other corals.
Any coral with a large large, fleshy polyps and a solid calcium carbonate skeleton, or base. Again, not an exact term, but often used to describe various types of corals which have larger or more noticeable polyps. A few examples of commonly available LPS corals include: Torch, Frogspawn, Hammer, Elegance, Galaxea, Candy Cane and Bubble corals. Also, most varieties of brain corals are considered LPS. LPS corals generally do better under more nutrient-rich water conditions than SPS, and can tolerate less-than-optimal condiions better than SPS as well. Lighting requirements are quite variable by species, but most will thrive under moderate to high lighting(VHO's PC's or Halides). Also, most LPS corals have the ability to extend 'sweeper' tentacles (thin, translucent and often long, stinging tentacles) at night which will sting and kill any corals near enough to get stung. They should always be kept a good distance away from other corals.
tucc185
Non-member
Soft Coral:
Any Coral lacking a hard calcium-carbonate skeleton. This grouping is usually used to refer to all Leather Corals, mushrooms (disc anemones, corallimorphs), zoanthids, gorgonians, xenia, star polyps, Clavularia (clove coral), Anthelia, Pipe-organ coral, and many others. All soft corals have eight tentacles on each polyp (they are classified under the subclass Octocorallia or Alcyonaria) and generally are among the easiest of corals to keep. Most are highly tolerant of water conditions and lighting intensity, and many types (especially Xenia) will grow extremely rapidly. Some soft corals, like pipe-organ corals and Heliopora, form hard skeletons, but these are rare exceptions. Often referred to as "softies" by reefkeepers.
Any Coral lacking a hard calcium-carbonate skeleton. This grouping is usually used to refer to all Leather Corals, mushrooms (disc anemones, corallimorphs), zoanthids, gorgonians, xenia, star polyps, Clavularia (clove coral), Anthelia, Pipe-organ coral, and many others. All soft corals have eight tentacles on each polyp (they are classified under the subclass Octocorallia or Alcyonaria) and generally are among the easiest of corals to keep. Most are highly tolerant of water conditions and lighting intensity, and many types (especially Xenia) will grow extremely rapidly. Some soft corals, like pipe-organ corals and Heliopora, form hard skeletons, but these are rare exceptions. Often referred to as "softies" by reefkeepers.
tucc185
Non-member
Reef Safe:
A term used to describe certain fish or invertebrates which will (in most cases) not harm/eat/adversely affect corals or other sessile (non-moving) invertebrates. It is important to remember that this term is relative, and that certain fish and invertebrates, while 'reef safe', may cause other problems in a given tank. The term can also be used to describe certain products or additives, like a 'reef safe' epoxy or glue. Also, one must always be aware that idividuals of certain 'reef safe' species may develop destructive tendencies in the confines of a reef tank.
A term used to describe certain fish or invertebrates which will (in most cases) not harm/eat/adversely affect corals or other sessile (non-moving) invertebrates. It is important to remember that this term is relative, and that certain fish and invertebrates, while 'reef safe', may cause other problems in a given tank. The term can also be used to describe certain products or additives, like a 'reef safe' epoxy or glue. Also, one must always be aware that idividuals of certain 'reef safe' species may develop destructive tendencies in the confines of a reef tank.
tucc185
Non-member
Macroalgae:
Any specie of algae that form plant or seaweed-like colonies (macro=big) as opposed to microalgae, which form slimy films on glass or hair-like clumps. Macroalgae can be used effectively in a refugium or in the display tank as an efficient means of absorbing and utilizing nutrients, such as phosphates, nitrates, nitrites, or ammonia, that would otherwise be utilized by nuisance algae. Macroalgae come in many different varieties, but the most commonly seen in the reef aquarium are Caulerpa species, Sargassum, and Chaetomorpha. Macroalgae can also be used as food for tangs and other species of herbivorous fish and inverts. often referred to 'macro' or for Chaetomorpha, 'Chaeto'
Any specie of algae that form plant or seaweed-like colonies (macro=big) as opposed to microalgae, which form slimy films on glass or hair-like clumps. Macroalgae can be used effectively in a refugium or in the display tank as an efficient means of absorbing and utilizing nutrients, such as phosphates, nitrates, nitrites, or ammonia, that would otherwise be utilized by nuisance algae. Macroalgae come in many different varieties, but the most commonly seen in the reef aquarium are Caulerpa species, Sargassum, and Chaetomorpha. Macroalgae can also be used as food for tangs and other species of herbivorous fish and inverts. often referred to 'macro' or for Chaetomorpha, 'Chaeto'
tucc185
Non-member
Pod:
A term used to designate any of the small, shrimp-like crustaceans commonly found on live rock, live sand, or within Chaetomorpha algae. 'Pod' is short for copepod, amphipod, and/or isopod, but can also be used to describe mysid and gammarus shrimp. These creatures are quite beneficial; they eat microalgae and detritus, they breed prolifically, which supplies corals with a good source of planktonic food, and as adults provide a good food source for many aquarium fish, especially mandarins and scooter blennies. They are often the first creatures to be seen in a tank after the introduction of live rock.
A term used to designate any of the small, shrimp-like crustaceans commonly found on live rock, live sand, or within Chaetomorpha algae. 'Pod' is short for copepod, amphipod, and/or isopod, but can also be used to describe mysid and gammarus shrimp. These creatures are quite beneficial; they eat microalgae and detritus, they breed prolifically, which supplies corals with a good source of planktonic food, and as adults provide a good food source for many aquarium fish, especially mandarins and scooter blennies. They are often the first creatures to be seen in a tank after the introduction of live rock.
tucc185
Non-member
Nuisance Algae:
Any algae that (in the eyes of the aquarist) is unsightly, or grows fast enough to cause problems. Nuisance algae is very rarely a nuisance to creatures in the tank, but it can drive the aesthetically-minded hobbyist to distraction. The most commonly seen varieties of nuisance algae are: Hair algae, bubble algae, Cyanobacteria (red/green slime), diatoms (brown/green film on glass), and suspended algae (green water). There are many ways to deal with these problems, from eliminating the source of food (often phosphates) of the algae, to purchasing species of fish and inverts that will eat the problematic algae. 'Blooms' of nuisance algae often occur in a new tank as it cycles, or as a result of a sudden increase of some nutrient in the tank.
Any algae that (in the eyes of the aquarist) is unsightly, or grows fast enough to cause problems. Nuisance algae is very rarely a nuisance to creatures in the tank, but it can drive the aesthetically-minded hobbyist to distraction. The most commonly seen varieties of nuisance algae are: Hair algae, bubble algae, Cyanobacteria (red/green slime), diatoms (brown/green film on glass), and suspended algae (green water). There are many ways to deal with these problems, from eliminating the source of food (often phosphates) of the algae, to purchasing species of fish and inverts that will eat the problematic algae. 'Blooms' of nuisance algae often occur in a new tank as it cycles, or as a result of a sudden increase of some nutrient in the tank.
tucc185
Non-member
Display Tank:
The main tank in a system, used to display fish, corals, and/or invertebrates. this is the part of any saltwater fish or reef system that is to be the focal point of the aquarist's efforts, where most or all of the livestock is to be showcased, and the 'oohs' and 'aahhs' of visitors are to be directed at. This is opposed to a sump, refugium, or resevoir, which is an important if not as visually pleasing part of a healthy system.
The main tank in a system, used to display fish, corals, and/or invertebrates. this is the part of any saltwater fish or reef system that is to be the focal point of the aquarist's efforts, where most or all of the livestock is to be showcased, and the 'oohs' and 'aahhs' of visitors are to be directed at. This is opposed to a sump, refugium, or resevoir, which is an important if not as visually pleasing part of a healthy system.
tucc185
Non-member
Fish Only:
A saltwater tank specifically dedicated to showcasing fish. These tanks usually include fish that would not be compatible in a typical reef aquarium, such as triggers, puffers, lionfish, and marine angelfish. A fish only tank which includes live rock as part of it's aquascape/biological fiter is called a F.O.W.L.R. (Fish Only With Live Rock).
A saltwater tank specifically dedicated to showcasing fish. These tanks usually include fish that would not be compatible in a typical reef aquarium, such as triggers, puffers, lionfish, and marine angelfish. A fish only tank which includes live rock as part of it's aquascape/biological fiter is called a F.O.W.L.R. (Fish Only With Live Rock).
