Aquarium Acronyms, Abbreviations

A "friendly forum" for those just starting out in aquarium keeping. No question is too basic, so don't hesitate to ask!
Post Reply
User avatar
Doug
Site Admin
Posts: 229
Joined: Tue Nov 30, 2004 11:26 am
My SetUp: 1984: 90 gal. saltwater, O'Dell tank, Oceanic Systems cabinet stand, (2) Perfecto 48" strip lights with Vita-Lite Power Twists, Aqualogy Bio-Grade Plus Undergravel filter, (2) Hagen Aquaclear 800 power heads, Eheim 2217 canister filter with Chemi-Pure, Hawaiian Marine Angstrom 2537 UV sterilizer

Aquarium Acronyms, Abbreviations

Post by Doug » Tue Mar 02, 2010 3:50 pm

Please reply with any you know of that aren't on this starter list.

AC - Activated Carbon, Aquaclear Filter
Acro - Acropora
ADF - African Dwarf Frog
AFM - Aquarium Fish Magazine
Alk - Alkalinity
ATF - Algal Turf Scrubber
B - Boron
BBA - Black Brush Algae (or sometimes called Black Bearded Algae)
BGA - Blue Green Algae (Cyanobacteria)
Breeder/Tub - Term for a tank wider and shorter than typical standard dimensions
C - Carbon
Ca - Calcium
Ca2+ - Calcium Ion
Ca(OH)2 - Calcium hydroxide
CaCl2 - Calcium chloride
CaCO3 - Calcium carbonate
CAE - Chinese Algae Eater
CaMg(CO3)2 - Calcium Magnesium Carbonate (Dolomite)
CC - Crushed Coral (if substrate) or Counter Current (if referring to a Protien skimmer)
cc - Cubic centimeter
CF - Compact Fluorescent
CL - Clown Loach
Cl - Chlorine
Cl- - Chloride
CO2 - Carbon Dioxide
CO3 - Carbonate
Cu - Copper, or "See You"
Cu2+ - Copper ion
Cyano - Cyanobacteria
dGH - Degrees of general hardness
DI - Deionized
DIY - Do-It-Yourself
dKH - Degrees of carbonate hardness
DOC - Dissolved Organic Compounds
DSB - Deep Sand Bed
FBF/FB - Fluidized Bed Filter
Fe - Iron
Fe2+ - Ferric iron
Fe3+ - Ferrous iron
FeEDTA, FeEDDHA, FeDPTA - Chelated iron
FO - Fish Only
FOWLR - Fish Only with Live Rock
Frag - Fragment of Live Rock or Coral that eventually grows into a mature, cultured piece of Live Rock or Coral
FW - Freshwater
GAC - Granular Activated Carbon
Gal/GL/G - Gallons
GF - Goldfish
GH - General Hardness
GPH - Gallons Per Hour
H - Hydrogen
H+ - Hydrogen ion
H2O - Water
H2O2 - Hydrogen Peroxide
H3BO3 - Boric Acid
H3O+ - Hydronium ion
HCO3- - Bicarbonate ion or Hydrogen Carbonate
HID - High Intensity Discharge Lighting
HOB - A "hang on back" filter
Hygro - Hygrophila polysperma
K - Potassium, or Kelvin, depending on the context
K+ - Potassium ion
K2SO4 - Potassium Sulfate
KALK - Kalkwasser
KCl - Potassium Chloride (Muriate of Potash)
KH - Carbonate hardness
KH2PO4 - Potassium Monobasic Phosphate
KHPO4 - Potassium Dibasic Phosphate
KNO3 - Potassium Nitrate
LED - Light Emitting Diode
LFS - Local Fish Shop/Store
LR - Live Rock
LS - Live Sand
MB - Methylene Blue
mg - Milligrams
Mg - Magnesium
MG - Mister Gardener
mg/l - Milligrams per Liter
Mg2+ - Magnesium ion
MgSO4 - Magnesium Sulfate
MgSO4.7HO - Magnesium Sulfate Heptahydrate (Epsom Salt)
MH - Metal Halide Lighting
ml - Milliliters
MTBF - Mean Time Between Failures or the average of how long a light bulb lasts before it releases the magic smoke
MTS - Malaysian Trumpet Snail or Multiple Tank Syndrome
N - Nitrogen
NaCl - Sodium Chloride
NaCO3 - Sodium Carbonate
NaHCO3 - Sodium Bicarbonate (Baking Soda)
NaOH - Sodium hydroxide
NH3 - Ammonia
NH4+ - Ammonium
NNR - Natural Nitrate Reduction
NO2 - Nitrite
NO3 - Nitrate
NPK - Nitrogen-Phosphorus-Potassium
O/O2 - Oxygen/Oxygen Gas
O3 - Ozone
Oto - Otocinclus
PC - Power Compact Fluorescent
PFK - Practical Fish Keeping magazine
PH - Power Head or misspelling of pH
pH - Measure of the concentration of hydrogen ions
PO4 - Phosphate
ppm - parts per million
ppt - Parts Per Thousand
PVC - Polyvinylchloride plastic
PWC - Partial Water Change
QT - Quarantine Tank, or quart, depending on context
RO - Reverse Osmosis
RO/DI - Reverse Osmosis + Deionization
R UGF/RFUGF - Reverse Flow Under Gravel Fitler
S - Sulfur
SA - South American
SAE - Siamese Algae Eater (not to be confused with the Flying Fox, often sold as SAEs by ignorant LFSes)
Show/High - Term for a tank taller than typical standard dimensions
SW - Saltwater
Tbsp - Tablespoon
TDS - Total Dissolved Solids
TR - Tank Raised
tsp - Teaspoon
UGF - Under Gravel Filter
uS - Mircoseimens, a measure of conductivity
VHO - Very High Output Lighting
WC - Water Change, or Wild-Caught, depending on context
WPG - Watts Per Gallon

User avatar
Gerwin
Discus Member
Posts: 1498
Joined: Tue Nov 30, 2004 3:41 pm
My SetUp: Custom profile field not completed.

Re: Aquarium Acronyms, Abbreviations

Post by Gerwin » Wed Mar 03, 2010 10:20 pm

geez its worse than I thought :shock: I thought there was about 6 I had to remember

Zoohead
Swordtail Member
Posts: 33
Joined: Fri Nov 27, 2009 12:45 pm
My SetUp: Custom profile field not completed.

Re: Aquarium Acronyms, Abbreviations

Post by Zoohead » Thu Mar 04, 2010 4:27 am

Funny thing is he said this is just the starter list.

User avatar
Doug
Site Admin
Posts: 229
Joined: Tue Nov 30, 2004 11:26 am
My SetUp: 1984: 90 gal. saltwater, O'Dell tank, Oceanic Systems cabinet stand, (2) Perfecto 48" strip lights with Vita-Lite Power Twists, Aqualogy Bio-Grade Plus Undergravel filter, (2) Hagen Aquaclear 800 power heads, Eheim 2217 canister filter with Chemi-Pure, Hawaiian Marine Angstrom 2537 UV sterilizer

Re: Aquarium Acronyms, Abbreviations

Post by Doug » Thu Mar 04, 2010 12:36 pm

What got me started on this was other posts talking about "BTA"s. I thought, "I did this for a long time, and I don't have a clue what a BTA is." I think we called them Ritteri.

We had short names for most stuff back then, too, but not quite that short-- probably the pervasiveness of text messaging and IMing these days has caused it. I just thought it would be a good idea to have a reference for the newbies, and some not-so-newbies...

C-21 USAF
Discus Member
Posts: 192
Joined: Wed Oct 21, 2009 8:23 pm
My SetUp: Custom profile field not completed.

Re: Aquarium Acronyms, Abbreviations

Post by C-21 USAF » Thu Mar 04, 2010 2:22 pm

Here's another list:

A=Amp
AA=Amino Acid
AC=Activated Carbon
AC=Alternating Current
Acan Lord=Acanthastrea
AEFW=Acro Eating Flat Worms
AFAIK = As far as I know
AFM=Aquarium Fish Monthly, magazine
AGA=All-Glass Aquarium
AGE=Acrylic and Glass Exhibits
Alk=Alkalinity
Amp=Measure of electrical energy
ASW=Artificial Sea Water
ATC=Automatic Temperature Control
ATO=Auto Top Off
ATS=Algae Turf Scrubber
AZA=Association of Zoos & Aquariums
BB=Bare Bottom
Blasto=Blastomussa
BOD=Biological Oxygen Demand
BZA=Blue Zoo Aquatics
BTA=Bubble Tipped Anemone
BTU=British Thermal Unit
BTW=By The Way
Ca=Calcium
CBB=Copper Band Butterfly
CC=Counter Current (type of protein skimmer)
CC=Crushed Coral
CFL=Compact Fluorescent Lamp
CL=Closed Loop
CO2=Carbon Dioxide
CSL=Custom Sea Life
CTA=Cellulose Ariacetate
C2C=Coast To Coast
Cu=Copper
CUC=Clean Up Crew
CWCS=Continuous Water Change System
Cyano=Cyanobacteria
DAMHIKT=Don't Ask Me How I Know This
DC=Direct Current
DD=Downdraft (type of protein skimmer)
DE=Double Ended
DFS=Drs. Foster and Smith
DI=Deionization
DIY=Do It Yourself
dKh=German Degrees of Hardness
DO=Dissolved Oxygen
DOC=Dissolved Organic Carbon
DP=Double Post
DT=Display Tank
DSB=Deep Sand Bed
EB=Electronic Ballast
ETA=Estimated Time of Arrival.
FAMA=Freshwater And Marine Aquaria (magazine)
FAQ=Frequently Asked Questions
FFE=Flying Fish Express
FO=Fish Only
FOWLR=Fish Only With Live Rock
FTS=Full Tank Shot
FW=Freshwater
FWIW=For What It's Worth
FWE=Flat Worm Exit
GAC=Granular Activated Carbon
GBR=Great Barrier Reef
GBTA=Green Bubble Tip Anemone
GFCI=Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter
GFI=Ground Fault Interrupter
GFO=Granular Ferric Oxide
GHA=Green Hair Algae
GPD=Gallons Per Day
GPH=Gallons Per Hour
GSM=Gold Striped Maroon
GSP=Green Star Polyps
HA=Hair Algae
HD=Home Depot
HO=High Output (fluorescent light)
HOB=Hang On Back
HOT=Hang On Tank
HTH=Hope This Helps
HQI=Mercury (Hg) Quartz Iodide
IA=Inland Aquatics
IBTL=In Before The Lock
IIRC=If I Recall Correctly
IME=In My Experience
IMHO=In My Humble Opinion
IMNSHO=In My Not So Humble Opinion
IMO=In My Opinion
IO=Instant Ocean
IR=Infrared
IW=In Wall
JJ=Just Joking
JK=Just Kidding
JM2C=Just My 2 Cents
K=Kelvin (Lighting) 10,000K
Kalk=Kalk”v”asser
KISS=Keep It Simple Stupid
kWh=Kilowatt-Hour
L=Liters
LA=Live Aquaria
LA3/L3=LumenArc 3
Lbs=Pounds
LED=Light Emitting Diode
LFS=Local Fish Store
LHS=Local Hardware Store
LMB=Lawn Mower Blenny
LMK=Let Me Know
Lobo=Lobophyllia
LOL=Laugh Out Loud
LPH=Liters Per Hour
LPS=Large Polyped Scleractinian (Stony) coral
LRB=Little Red Bugs
LR=Live Rock
LS=Live Sand
LTA=Long Tentacle Anemone
MACNA=Marine Aquaria Conference of North America, held annually
MASNA=Marine Aquarium Societies of North America
MB=Magnetic Ballast
MD=Marine Depot
meq/L=Micro-equalities per Liter
Mg or Mag=Magnesium
MH=Metal Halide light
Milli=Acropora Millipora
MJ=Maxijet
MM=Miracle Mud
MO=Mail Order
nTOTM=Nano Tank of the Month
NH3=Ammonia
NNR=Natural Nitrate Reduction
NO=Normal Output (fluorescent light)
NO2=Nitrite
NO3=Nitrate
NPS=Non Photosynthetic
NSW=Natural Sea Water
NTS=New Tank Syndrome
NTTH=New To The Hobby
O2=Oxygen
OM=Ocean motions (4 way pump)
OP=Original Poster
ORP=Oxygen Redox Potential
OTS=Old Tank Syndrome
PA=Premium Aquatics
PAR=Photosynthetic Active Radiation
PB=Pulse Ballast
PBITAWA=Pour Bleach In Tank And Walk Away
PBT=Powder Blue Tang
PC=Power Compact (fluorescent light)
PE=Polyp Extension
PH=Powerhead
PITA=Pain In The A**
PM=Private Message
P04=Phosphate
PPM=Parts Per Million
PPT=Parts Per Thousand
PS=Protein Skimmer
PVC=Poly Vinyl Chloride
QT=Quarantine Tank
RBTA=Rose Bubble Tipped Anemone
RC=Reef Central
RC=Reef Crystals
RDSB=Remote Deep Sand Bed
Rics=Ricordia
RK=Reef Keeping, on-line aquarium magazine
RO=Reverse Osmosis
RODI=Reverse Osmosis, Deionization
ROFLMAO=Roll On Floor Laugh My A** Off
RR=Reef Ready, (aquaria with pre-drilled holes and overflows)
RSM=Red Slime Remover
RTN=Rapid Tissue Necrosis
RUGF=Reverse Under Gravel Filter
SCWD=Switching Current Water Director
SE=Single Ended
SG=Specific Gravity
Shrooms=Mushrooms
SPS=Small Polyped Scleractinian (Stony) coral
SSB=Shallow Sand Bed
Sticky=Always on top forum thread that does not expire
STN=Slow Tissue Necrosis
SW=Salt Water / Sea Water
TP=Tang police
TBH=To Be Honest
TBS=Tampa Bay Saltwater
TDS=Total Dissolved Solids
TFC=Thin Film Composite, type of RO membrane
ThOTM=Thread Of The Month
TIA=Thanks In Advance
TIC=Total Inorganic Carbon
TOC=Total Organic Carbon
TOTM=Tank of the Month
Trachy=Trachyphyllia
TRT=The Reef Tank (aquarium bulletin board)
TTT=To The Top
TWP=Tap Water Purifier (from Aquatic Pharmaceuticals)
UGF=Under Gravel Filter
ULNS=Ultra Low Nutrient System
UV=Ultra Violet
V=Volt
VHO=Very High Output (fluorescent light)
VSV=Vodka Sugar Vinegar
W=Watts
WC=Water Change
WD=Wet-Dry (a method of aquarium filtration)
Wellso=Wellsophyllia
WNL=Within Normal Limits
WPG=Watts Per Gallon
WTB=Want To Buy
WTS=Want To Sell
WTT=Want To Trade
WQ=Water Quality
YGM=You Got Mail
YGPM=You've Got Private Message
YMMV=Your Mileage May Vary (your specific results may vary from mine)
YWG=Yellow Watchman Goby

Redfish
Discus Member
Posts: 983
Joined: Sun Oct 25, 2009 6:49 am
My SetUp: AGA 150g 48x30x25, Reef Octopus Skimmer, Bio Pellet, Phosphate, Carbon reactor. Mostly a SPS coral tank with a few zoas a Green Polyp Toadstool, a Chalice or two and a couple of Scollys thrown in there. Top Off System and dosing pump system for Calcium and Alk.
Location: D'Iberville Mississippi

Re: Aquarium Acronyms, Abbreviations

Post by Redfish » Thu Mar 04, 2010 8:14 pm

:lol: LOL you to have to much time on your hands.

User avatar
Sandy
Discus Member
Posts: 772
Joined: Mon Jan 10, 2005 11:25 am
My SetUp: 180gal saltwater reef, 6-80watt T5 lights, 2 powerheads in tank, 2 return pumps in a 40gal sump, uv sterilizer, gfo and carbon reactor.

Re: Aquarium Acronyms, Abbreviations

Post by Sandy » Thu Mar 04, 2010 11:59 pm

OMG,,,,, I didn't get past the magic smoke,,, now we have to be on the lookout for bulb sniffers :lol: :lol: :lol:
Now I have a reason not to change my bulbs :lol: :lol:
Sorry,,, the my mind does crazy things when it is tired :mrgreen:

Post Reply