Glossary of Water Garden Terms
Acclimate-to accustom to a new environment; adapt. Example: acclimate your fish when you are introducing them to new water
Aerobic-living or occurring only with oxygen such as aerobic bacteria
Ammonia- A gaseous compound of hydrogen and nitrogen
Anaerobic- An organism that can live without the presence of oxygen
Anoxic- marked by a severe deficiency of oxygen in tissues or organs
Backfill- to refill and excavated with the same material. Such as you backfill around the pond and stream to prevent the liner from being low and causing the pond to leak.
Backflush- draining and purging impurities out of plumbing or a filtration system.
Bedrock- the solid rock that layes under loose material such as soil, sand, clay or gravel
Biological filter- a system used to consume nutrients and particals from a body of water through the use of beneficial bacteria and filter media
Buffer- A substance that minimizes change in the acidity of a solution when an acid or base is added to the solution
Cantilever- A projecting structure that is supported at one end and carries a load at the other end
Cavity- hollow or a hole
Channel lock- an adjustable wrench
Channeling- to direct or guide along some desired course.
Colonize- to establish a colony; to migrate to and settle in
Compaction- to increase the density of something like when using a tamper
Coupling- to link together or connect
Culling- separated or selected from a mass
De-Chlorinator- neutralizes chlorine in a body of water
Detritus- loose fragment of debris and or organic material
Diatomaceous- consisting of diatoms (brown algae)
Dormant- condition of biological rest
Ecology- the branch of biology dealing with the relations and interactions between organisms and their environment.
Ecosystem-a system formed by the interaction of a community of organisms with their environment.
EPDM- ethylene propylene diene monomer
Erosion-the process by which the surface of the earth is worn away by the action of water.
Evaporation-the process of a substance converted into vapor
Excreted-to separate and eliminate from an organic body; separate and expel as waste or harmful matter
Sukiya-Style Garden-A Japanese garden
Sukiya-Style architecture: (sukiya-zukuri or sukiya kenchiku) (1) teahouse architecture. (2) Japans primary form of residential architecture from 17th century to present day. Can also be seen at ryokan and restaurants. (3) a stylized form of teahouse carpentry that merges the tea aesthetic with modern structures.
Kohaku-A white koi with red markings. The white should be clear and pure, with sharp-edged red marks. Kohaku are one of the first recorded nishikigoi. This is the parent breed of the taisho-sanshoku.
Taisho-Sanshoku- A white koi with red and black markings. The black should be dot-like and not dominant. There should be no black on the head. The pectral fins may have black stripes.
Showa-Sanshoku-A black koi with white and red markings. The black should go down to the belly. The base of the pecoral fins should be black.