Glossary

substrate

A surface on which an organism lives, moves or is attached to; the base material of a water body; a benthic habitat. Also used in reference to base material when added to an aquarium.

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Related terms

aragonite
Naturally-occurring, crsytalline form of calcium carbonate with a notable buffering capacity. Popular as a substrate or substrate additive in marine and freshwater aquaria where pH and hardness must be maintained at high levels, and has a more rapid, effective effect than coral sand, for example.
benthic
Inhabiting or relating to the bottom of a body of water, e.g., a benthic organism.
bioerosion
Erosion of oceanic or terrestrial substrates by living organisms.
deep sand bed
Method of filtration, mostly used in marine aquaria, whereby the increased depth of the sand substrate facilitates formation of an anaerobic layer where nitrate can be converted into nitrogen gas. Also known as "Jaubert" or "plenum" system and often associated with live sand.
gravel
Unconsolidated mixture of rock fragments commonly used as a substrate in aquaria. Also forms the filter medium in undergravel filtration.
heater
Thermostatically-controlled device used to maintain constant water temperature in an aquarium or pond, also known as a heaterstat. Depending on design, may be installed submersed within the aquarium, sump or substrate (see heating cable) or inline with tubing attached to an external filter. Some types of the latter also have a heating element built in.
heating cable
Length of flexible cable buried under the substrate in an aquarium and used to maintain constant water temperature. Also popular in planted aquaria due to the associated circulation of water within the substrate which aids in nutrient exchange between plant roots and the surrounding environment.
Hydra
Genus of freshwater cnidarian existing only in sessile, solitary polyp form attached to the substrate at one end and with a mouth surrounded by up to 12 tentacles at the other. Members are predatory, feeding mostly on small invertebrates, and regarded as pests in aquaria due to their appearance as whitish spots on submerged surfaces and tendency to prey on fish fry.
interstitial
Relating to or inhabiting the small spaces between tissue, organs, or grains of a substrate.
limnivore
An organism feeding on mud, or more specifically, other organisms that dwell within the substrate.
live sand
Type of substrate mostly used in marine aquaria collected directly from natural marine habiats and packaged in such a way as to maintain the resident microorganisms. Significantly reduces the time required to mature a new aquarium.
pea gravel
Gravel-type consisting of small, rounded grains. Commonly-used as a substrate in aquaria.
rhizoid
Rootlike, filamentous structure used for attachment to a substrate and uptake of nutrients in mosses, ferns, and related plants, plus certain algae and fungi.
river tank manifold
Home-made device used to achieve uni-directional flow in an aquarium when inhabitants naturally occur in high-velocity rivers and streams. Typically, one or more powerheads are located at one end of the aquarium with intakes at the opposite end, these being connected via pipework located under the substrate. Though certainly beneficial, this should not be considered an essential requirement in hill stream-type set-ups, however.
sand
Fine-grained silicate material commonly used as substrate. Often but not always chemically inert, and can therefore be used as a buffer.
spawning substrate
Particular substrate type required by a given egg-laying fish species for the purpose of spawning.
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.
water column
Conceptual column representing the vertical section of a water body from surface to substrate.

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