GH – General hardness (a measure of the concentration of divalent metal ions such as calcium Ca2+, and magnesium Mg2+)
KH – Carbonate hardness (a measure of the alkalinity)
pH – “power/potential of hydrogen” (A measure of the concentration of Hydrogen atoms, H+)
Alkalinity – The capacity of water for neutralizing an acid
Acid – The negative logarithm of the concentration of hydronium ions – substance that increases the concentration of hydronium ions (H3O+) in solution
Base – The positive logarithm of the concentration of hydronium ions –
substance
that can accept hydrogen ions or more generally, donate a pair of valence electrons. A soluble base is referred to as an alkali if it contains and releases hydroxide ions (OH−)
Ion – An atom or molecule in which the total number of electrons is not equal to the total number of protons
Anions – Negatively charged ions
Cations – Positively charged ions
Chelate – The way ions and molecules bind metal ions to allow the metals to be available to plants as nutrients
Ligand – That which binds to a central metal atom
Divalent – Forming two bonds with other ions or molecules
Anhydrous – Contains no water
AOB – ammonia-oxidizing bacteria
C:N – carbon and nitrogen ratio
CaO – calcium oxide
CaOH2 – Calcium hydroxide (also called slaked lime, hydrated lime, pickling lime, builders lime)
CaCO3 – Calcium carbonate (Chalk, agricultural lime)
CO2 – carbon dioxide
CO3 2– carbonate
C – Carbon
Ca – Calcium
Cl – Chlorine
Cu – Copper
CP – crude protein
DE – digestible energy
DNA – deoxyribonucleic acid
DO – dissolved oxygen
DWC – deep water culture
EAA – essential amino acids
EC – electrical conductivity
EFA – essential fatty acids
Fe – Iron
FCR – feed conversion ratio
GAP – good agricultural practice
H+ – hydrogen ion
H2CO3 – carbonic acid (formed by CO2 and H2O as in club soda, soda water, sparkling water, or seltzer water and acid oceans due to burning fossil fuels)
H2S – hydrogen sulphide
H2SO4 – sulphuric acid (Used in acidic drain cleaner, and electrolyte in lead-acid batteries)
H3PO4 – phosphoric acid
HCl – Hydrogen Chloride (forms Hydrochloric acid the aqueous solution of hydrogen chloride)
HCO3 – bicarbonate
HNO3 – nitric acid
K – Potassium
K2CO3 – Potassium carbonate. (primary component of potash)
K2SO4 – Potassium sulfate
KCl – Potassium chloride (available as water softener)
KHCO3 – Potassium bicarbonate (an ingredient of baking powder, also used in fire extinguishers)
KOH – potassium hydroxide
LDPE – low-density polyethylene
LECA – light expanded clay aggregate
Mg – Magnesium
Mn – Manganese
NaCl – sodium chloride
N – nitrogen
Ni – nickel
N2 -molecular nitrogen
NFE – nitrogen-free extract
NaHCO3 – Sodium bicarbonate (Baking soda)
NH3 – ammonia
NH4 + – ammonium
NHO3 – nitric acid
NO2 – – nitrite
NO 3 – nitrate
NOB – nitrite-oxidizing bacteria
OH – Hydroxide (functions as a base)
μS/cm – microSiemens per centimetre
ppm – parts per million
ppt – parts per thousand
PVC – polyvinyl chloride
SSA – specific surface area
TAN – total ammonia nitrogen
TDS – total dissolved solids
UV – ultraviolet