| AEROBIC – requiring oxygen |
| ALGA – a plant that is photosynthetic and reproduces by releasing spores. |
| ALKALINITY – the buffering ability of seawater |
| ANAEROBIC – needing no oxygen to survive |
| AQUACULTURE – the farming of freshwater and saltwater organisms |
| ARAGONITE – a mineral made of mostly calcium carbonate |
| AQUASCAPING – the artful arranging of plants, substrate and rocks in an aquarium |
| BARRIER REEF – a reef that is separated from land in a shallow area |
| BIOMASS – total amount of material in a single organism |
| BLADE – the leaf like structure on macro algae. |
| BLADDER – the float on species such as Sargassum and Botryocladia that allow algae to stand upright. |
| BRANCH LETS – small projections from the main branch |
| CALCIFIED – having calcium carbonate deposits within or on the plant |
| CLASS – a group of related organisms |
| COLONY – an organism made up of connected individuals |
| CORALLINE ALGAE – a calcareous algae that encrusts |
| CYSTOCARP – a reproductive formation on female Rhodophyta |
| DENITRIFICATION – the process of converting nitrate to nitrogen gas |
| DETRITUS – the build up of sediment and organic material |
| DIATOMS – a micro algae, rich in silica, that grows as a film |
| DOSING – adding chemicals or elements in small quantities |
| ECOSYSTEM – the combined physical and biological components of an environment |
| ENVIRONMENT – the combined physical, chemical and biological surroundings |
| EPIPHYTE – an organism that lives on plant material but does not prey on it |
| FAMILY – a group of related organisms |
| FILAMENTS – a slender row of plant cells |
| FROND – the blade or leaf of macro algae |
| GENUS – a group of multiple related organisms |
| HABITAT – the environment where an organism grows |
| HOLDFAST – a root like structure that algae posses to attach themselves |
| KELVIN – a measurement of the color temperature of light |
| LAGOON – a protected area behind the reef |
| LIVE ROCK – harvested or cultured rock from the ocean that contains organisms and bacteria |
| MACRO ALGAE – large multi-celled algae |
| MICRO ALGAE – small single celled algae |
| NUTRIENT – a chemical or element required for growth |
| OOLITIC – a very fine form of aragonite sand |
| PHOTOSYNTHESIS – the ability to convert sunlight into food |
| PROLIFERATE – the formation of new frond on an older part of the plant |
| REFUGIUM – a separate appendage to an aquarium that provides sanctuary for organisms |
| RHIZOID – the root like structure of macro algae |
| RHIZOME – the horizontal runner or stem of macro algae |
| SPECTRUM – the colors in visible light when separated using a prism |
| SPORE – a reproductive structure that forms new organisms. |
| SPORULATION – the release of reproductive spores into the water to form new organisms |
| STOLON – the stem connecting individual fronds |
| UPRIGHT – the vertical structural branch of macro algae |
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A Comprehensive Exploration of Marine Aquarium Plants