DIC

Dissolved Inorganic Carbon (DIC)

Carbon exists in inorganic and organic forms. Organic forms typically consist of chains of carbon atoms which are a part of living matter. Plants and fish being two examples.

Inorganic carbon are substances like carbon dioxide (CO₂) and carbonates (-CO₃).

So DIC is the sum of only the carbon dissolved in the aquarium tank's water and is therefore the carbon available for the plants growth.