Acronyms / Abbreviations

tbittner

Well-Known Member
I know this might really be a stretch and probably isn't neccesary but on another site (I think aquariumadvice.com), these acronyms are highlighted in every thread and when you put the cursor on them, it displays the full name.

I really liked the feature and just thought it might be something to think about down the road if you are so inclined. Again, not an expectation, just a feature I thought was pretty cool.

Take er easy
Scott T.

Edit: BTW, forgot to say Good Work Wit!!!

:)
 

bankonit

Member
Wit, thank you so much for this invaluable list. As someone who IMs a great deal, some of the nomenclature 'translates' irrespective of the forum or topic; however, the reef-specific abbreviations are awesome. I am a newbie and a voracious learner. Thanks again!
 

nanoreefing4fun

Well-Known Member
RS STAFF
Start a new tank thread & share your tank with us so we can follow along - we love pics :)
 
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nanoreefing4fun

Well-Known Member
RS STAFF
SW - SaltWater
FW - FreshWater
FO - Fish Only
FOWLR - Fish Only With live rock
LR - Live Rock
RO - reverse osmosis (filters)
DI (De Ionisation (filters)
W/gal - Watts per Gallon
NO - Normal Output ((fluorescent lights)
PC - Power Compact (fluorescent lamps)
VHO - Very High Output (fluorescent lamps)
MH - Metal Halide (lamps)
P/I - Photosynthesis/Irradiance
LPS - Large polyped Scleractinian (stoney coral)
SPS - Small polyped Scleractinian (stoney coral)
LFS - Local Fish Store
PM - Private Message (Seen in the buy/sell forums)
UV - Ultra Violet (you should know this already)
DSB - Deep Sand Bed
RDSB - Remote Deep Sand Bed
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
AC activated carbon, chemical filtration media / alternating current
AFM Aquarium Fish Monthly, magazine
AGA All-Glass Aquarium, Aquarium manufacturer
AL Aqualink, aquarium bulletin board
ATS Algae turf scrubber, reef setup technique
BOD Biological oxygen demand
CC Counter current, type of protein skimmer
CSL Custom Sea Life, lighting manufacturer
CTA Cellulose triacetate, type of RO membrane
CUC - Clean Up Crew
Cyano Cyanobacteria
DC Direct current
DD Downdraft, type of protein skimmer
DI Deionisation, type of water purification
DIY Do it yourself
DKH Degrees of carbonate hardness
DSB Deep Sand Bed
FAMA Freshwater and Marine Aquaria, magazine
FFE Flying Fish Express, Mail Order Company
FO Fish only
FOWLR Fish only with live rock
FW Freshwater
GBR Great Barrier Reef
GPH Gallons per hour
GSP- green star polyps
HO High output fluorescent light
HQI Mercury (Hg) Quartz Iodide, a type of metal halide lamp
IA Inland Aquatics, mail order company
IMHO In My Humble Opinion
IMO In My Opinion
IO Instant Ocean, brand of aquarium salt
IR Infrared
Kalk kalkwasser, German for calcium hydroxide solution or limewater
LFS Local fish store
LHS Local hardware store
LPS Large polyped Scleractinian (stoney) coral
LR Live rock
LS live sand
MACNA Marine Aquaria Conference of North America, held annually
MASNA Marine Aquarium Societies of North America
MD Marine Depot, mail order company
MH Metal halide light
MJ Maxijet, powerhead manufacturer
MM Miracle Mud, method of aquarium filtration
MO Mail order
MTS Multiple tank syndrome
NO Normal output fluorescent light
NSW Natural seawater
PA Premium Aquatics, mail order company
PC Power compact fluorescent light
PH Powerhead, water pump
PVC Poly vinyl chloride, used for piping / plumbing
RC Reef Crystals, brand of aquarium salt
RDO Reefs.org ("reefs-dot-org"), aquarium bulletin board
RK Reef Keeping, on-line aquarium magazine
RO Reverse osmosis, type of water purification
RO/DI Reverse osmosis, followed by deionisation, type of water purification
RR Reef ready, aquaria with pre-drilled holes and overflows
RTN Rapid tissue necrosis, protozoal infection of corals; can be rapidly fatal if not treated
SG specific gravity
SPS Small polyped Scleractinian (stoney) coral
SW Saltwater / seawater
TBS Tampa Bay Saltwater, Mail Order Company
TFC Thin film composite, type of RO membrane
TRT The Reef Tank, aquarium bulletin board
TWP Tap Water Purifier from Aquatic Pharmaceuticals
UGF Undergravel filter
UV Ultra violet light
VHO Very high output fluorescent light
W/D Wet-dry (a method of aquarium filtration)
WD Wet-dry (a method of aquarium filtration)

---------------------------------- a few more ----------------
Ca - Calcium
Mg - Magnesium
PO4 - Phosphate
NO3 - Nitrate
Cu - Copper
Fe - Iron
Alk - alkalinity (or KH) - the carbonate hardness of SW

ASW - Artificial Sea Water (mixed from commercial salts)
NSW - Natural Sea Water (from the ocean)

DOC - Dissolved Organic Carbonss

FBF - Fluidised Bed Filter

PPM - parts per million (measure of concentration), equivalent to mg/L (milligrams per litre)
PPT - parts per thousand (generally used as a measure of salinity)

BTA - bubble tip anemone

CR - calcium reactor
GAC - Granular Activated Carbon
Kalk - Kalkwasser (a form of calcium dosing)

PAR - Photosynthetically available radiation, unit of measure of amount of light available to zooxanthellae and algae

RTAW - Reefing the Australian Way - Australian Reef Forums

TDS - Total Dissolved Solids - measure of water quality (especially in RO units)

Fuge - refugium - a separate tank/section of sump for growing macro algae.

CD - Carbon Dosing - a method of nutrient export

V - Vodka - used in carbon dosing

VSV - Vodka/Sugar/Vinegar - another carbon dosing method

NOPOX - Red Sea NO3:pO3-X commercially available carbon dosing product.
 

DianaKay

Princess Diana
RS STAFF
:bump: for anyone new - I remember asking in a post... what is a CUC :nessie::clownfish::bluetang: clean up crew

CUC was one of my 1st "wonders" also! :rolleyes:
I started wondering why the 1st thing everyone put in their tanks was a CUC ??
I thought it was a sea cucumber & how crazy it was that everyone was getting one when they can poison your whole tank if they die!! :confused:
Glad to have found out it meant CLEAN UP CREW :D
 
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