Fishkeeping acronyms

[NAG]

being new to the fishkeeping hobby, trying to work out the different fishy acronyms that people use has been a chore sometimes. unfortunately, i cant find anywhere that lists the most common acronyms for us noobs so i thought id start a thread dedicated to fishy acronyms for beginners. so heres a few off the top of my head...

LFS - local fish shop
FW - freshwater
SW - saltwater
QT - quarantine
LR - live rock
---
PWC = Partial Water Change
BGA - Blue Green Algae
BBA - Black Beard Algae
PH - powerhead
HOB - Hang on Back

unfortunately, its late and my brain has turned off so i cant think of any others right now! :\

feel free to contribute as many as you can

edit:// ill keep this post updated with whatever ppl add themselves

[silentskream]

PWC = Partial Water Change.

[mellowvision]

BGA - Blue Green Algae
BBA - Black Beard Algae
PH - powerhead
HOB - Hang on Back

[Rbishop]

search on here for abbreviations...several threads over the last few years...

[NAG]

omg :idiot:


my next point was to ask for this to be stickied but i guess thats already been thought of too so thats a non-runner :(

[jm1212]

DG- dwarf goruami
DP-dwarf puffer

[Hooked Newbie]

Watch out for MTS! ;)

[kj5kb]

Yes, I could have MTS cuz I have too many MTS :)

MTS=Multiple Tank Syndrome: an incurable disease among fish enthusiasts. Causes comments such as: "I know I said only 3 fish tanks, hon, but the other one is a plant tank, the other other one is my snail tank, and the other two have fry that need a space to grow"

Yeah, something like that :)

MTS=Malaysian trumpet snails. very prolific snails that like to live in your gravel and like to keep your tank clean.

[NAG]

har har. tnx for clearing that one up kj5kb :)

[rich311k]

GBR - German Blue Ram
BN - Bristle nose

[jm1212]

RTBS-red tailed black shark
20H- 20 gallon high
BW- brackish water
CW- coldwater

[Hooked Newbie]

har har. tnx for clearing that one up kj5kb :)

Beware... look at my signature and my join date. I had 29G tank when I joined! :)

[NAG]

:jaw-dropping:

[jonnyfry]

Beware... look at my signature and my join date. I had 29G tank when I joined! :)

DUDE!! , i thought i had it bad , LMAO

[mellowvision]

yeah, I joined before I ever got an aquarium!! lol

[erin14]

IMO- In my opinion

[lucid_boy]

ok... RO reverse osmosis (the water I sometimes use, even if its dead)

[nickmcmechan]

imho = in my honest opinion
ime = in my experience
wtf = what the ....
btw = by the way

took me 6 months to work that out................

[Hooked Newbie]

AB - Aqualine Buschke, lighting manufacturerAC - Activated carbon, alternating current, AquaClearAC II - AquaController II, all-in-one monitor & controlleracro - Acropora, a type of SPS coralADF - AFM - Aquarium Fish MonthlyAGA - All-Glass Aquarium, aquarium manufacturerAL - Aqualink, aquarium bulletin boardALK - Alkalinity, measure of buffering capacity of waterAM3K - Ampmaster 3000, a model of water pump made by Dolphin Aquarium & Pet Products, Inc.Aro - ArowanaARS - Aquatic Reef Systems, RO/DI mail order placeATC - Automatic temperature compensating, a feature on some refractometersATS - Algae turf scrubber, reef setup techniqueBfly - ButterflyfishBGA - "Blue-green Algae," which is actually a photosynthetic bacteriumBGK - Black Ghost KnifeBOD - Biological oxygen demandBP - Blood ParrotBTA - Type of anemone (Entacmaea quadricolor) / bubble-tipped, bulb tentacle, bulb tipBW - Brackish WaterCa - CalciumCA - Custom Aquatic, mail order placeCaCl2 - Calcium chlorideCaCO3 - Calcium carbonateCAE - Chinese Algae EaterCa(OH)2 - Calcium hydroxideCC - Crushed coral / Counter current, type of protein skimmerCH4 - MethaneCl - ChlorineCO2 - Carbon dioxideCO3 - CarbonateCon - Convict CichlidCory - Corydoras CatfishCPR - Creative Plastics Research, manufacturer of fresh and saltwater productsCrypt - Saltwater Ich or Freshwater Plant (Cryptocoryne spp.)CSL - Custom Sea Life, lighting manufacturerCTA - Cellulose triacetate, type of RO membraneCu - CopperCyano - CyanobacteriaCycle - {See Stickies in AC FW Newbie forum.}DD - Downdraft, type of protein skimmerDE - Double ended metal halide metal bulbDFS - Drs. Foster & Smith, Inc.dGH - Degrees of General HardnessDI - Deionization, type of water purificationDIY - Do it yourselfdKH - Degrees of carbonate hardness, equivalent to 17.86 ppm CaCO3Dither - Active fish or other aquarium denizens used to draw out shy fishdO - Dissolved oxygenDOC - Dissolved organic carbonDSB - Deep sand bedDT's - Brand of refrigerated living phytoplanktonEpiphyte - a plant that grows on top of or is supported by another plant but does not depend on it for nutritionER - Euro-Reef, skimmer manufacturerEstuarine - Dwells in estuariesF8P - Figure Eight PufferFAMA - Freshwater and Marine Aquariums magazineFEP - Figure Eight PufferFe - IronFFE - Flying Fish Express, mail order placeFH - Flower HornFlash - Glance off plants or other such aquarium objectsFM - FiremouthFO - Fish only, type of marine aquariumFOWLR - Fish Only with Live Rockfrag(s) - Broken or cut pieces of coral which will eventually grow into a new animalFront - Anterior side or Cyphotilapia frontosa"fuge" - Short for refugiumFW - FreshwaterG - GallonGAC - Granular activated carbon, chemical filtration mediaGAE - Golden variety of Chinese Algae EaterGAL - GallonGBR - Great Barrier ReefGCAE - Golden variety of Chinese Algae EaterGF - GoldfishGFCI/GFI - Ground fault circuit interrupter / Ground fault interrupterGOB - Green open brainGPH - Gallons per hourGravid - Egg-ladenGSP - Green star polyps, Green-Spotted PufferGT - Green TerrorH2O2 - Hydrogen peroxideH2S - Hydrogen sulfideHCO3 - Bicarbonate ion (sometimes called hydrogen carbonate)HD - Home Depot, High DensityHID - High intensity discharge, type of lightHITH - Hole-in-the-Head diseaseHLLE - Head-and-Lateral Line ErosionHO - High output fluorescent lightHOB - Hang On BackHOT - Hang on tankHPS - High pressure sodium, type of light NOT for reefs but the ballasts concern themHQI - High quartz iodide, type of lightHSA - High speed aeration, type of proteins skimmerI - IodideI2 - IodineIA - Inland AquaticsIch - A ciliate parasite from the genus IchthyophthiriusID - Identify/IdentityIO - Instant OceanIO3 - IodateIPSF - Indo-Pacific Sea FarmsIR - InfraredJag - Jaguar CichlidJBC - Jellybean CichlidJD - Jack DempseyJeff - Mostly used to denote Jeff Rapps, owner of "Tangled Up in Cichlids"Julies - Julidochromis spp. cichlids, or Corydoras juliiK - kelvin, PotassiumKALK - Kalkwasser, German for calcium hydroxide solution or limewaterKH - Carbonate Hardness, a measure of alkalinityKI - Potassium iodideKrib - Pelvicachromis pulcher (and sometimes related species), also www.thekrib.comL - LiterLab - Labidochromis spp. CichlidsLacustrine - Lives in a lakeLED - Light emiting diodeLHS - Local hardware storeLFS - Local Fish StoreLPS - Local Pet Store, Large-polyped Scleractinian (stoney) coralLR - Live rockLS - Live sandLSN - Lima Shovelnose CatfishLT - LitreLTA - Type of anemone (Macrodactyla doreensis) / Long tentacle anemoneMACNA - Marine Aquaria Conference of North AmericaMD - Marine DepotMEQ/L - Milli-equivalents per litre, measure of alkalinityMg - MagnesiumMg/L - Milligrams per litreMH - Metal halide lightMJ - Maxijet, powerhead manufacturerMM - Miracle Mud, method of aquarium filtrationMO - Mail orderMTS - Malaysian Trumpet Snail
MTS- Multiple Tank SyndromeMulties - Neolamprologus multifasciatusMV - Mercury vapor, type of lightN2 - NitrogenNa - SodiumNaCO3 - Sodium carbonateNANFA - North American Native Fish AssociationNaOH - Sodium hydroxideNH3 - AmmoniaNH4 - Ammonium ionNic - Nicaraguense CichlidNIMFT - Not In My Fish Tank(s)NIMT - Not In My Tank(s)NNR - Natural nitrate reduction, reef setup techniqueNO - Normal output fluorescent lightNO2 - Nitrite ionNO3 - Nitrate ionNSW - Natural seawaterO - OscarO2 - OxygenORP - Oxidation reduction potential, the ability to take or give electronsOto, Otto - Otocinclus CatfishPA - Premium AquaticsPAR - Photosynthetically active radiationPC - Power compact fluorescent lightPFO - Lighting manufacturerpH - Measure of the concentration of hydrogen ions, equal to -log[H+]PH - Powerhead, water pumpPim - Pimelodid catfishPlec, Pleco, Pl*co - Once used for Hypostomus species, this now encompasses Loricariidae.PM - Precision Marine, marine filtration component manufacturerPO4 - Phosphate ion"pods" - Non-specific types of copepods, amphipods and suchppm - Parts per million, equivalent to mg/l (milligrams per litre)PUR - Photosynthetically usuable radiationPVC - Poly vinyl chloride, used for piping / plumbingRainbows - Heros multispinosa or any member of AtheriniformesRam - Microgeophagine cichlidRBP - Red-Bellied PiranhaRC - Reef CentralRD - Red DevilRDO - Reefs.orgRhom - Serrasalmus rhombeusRiverine - River-DwellingRK - Reef Keeping, on-line aquarium magazineRO - Reverse osmosis, type of water purificationROB - Red open brainRO/DI - Reverse osmosis, followed by deionization, type of water purificationRR - Reef ready, aqaurium with pre-drilled holes and overflowsRT - Red TerrorRTBS - Red-Tailed Black SharkRTC - Red-Tailed CatfishRTN - Rapid tissue necrosisRTS - Red-Tailed Black SharkRUGF - Reverse flow undergravel filterSAC - South American CommunitySAE - Siamese Algae EaterSAL - Salinity"Saki" - Iwasaki, light manufacturerSCWD - Switching Current Water Director, type of wave machineSD - Southdown, type of sandSE - Single ended, lighting designationSG - Specific gravitySHO - Super high output fluorescent light, equivalent to power compact fluorescentSi - SiliconSiO2 - Silicon dioxideSN - Shovelnose CatfishSPS - Small polyped Scleractinian (stoney) coralSr - StrontiumSubstrate - That which covers the bottom of a tankSW - Saltwater / seawaterSyno - Synodontis CatfishTAN - Total Ammoniacal NitrogenTAR - Type of magnetic ballast / substance used to embed magnetic ballast coilsTarget - Used to denote aquarium creatures against which breeders can divert aggressionTBS - Tampa Bay SaltwaterTDS - Total Dissolved SolidsTFC - Thin film composite, type of RO membraneTFH - Tropical Fish Hobbyist magazineTM - Tropic Marin, manufacturer of fresh and saltwater productsTRT - The Reef Tank, aquarium bulletin boardTSN - Tiger Shovelnose CatfishTWP - Tap Water Purifier from Aquatic PharmaceuticalsUDC - Upside Down CatfishUGF - Undergravel filterUKG - Imperial GallonsUSG - U.S. GallonsUV - Ultra violet, type of light of shorter wavelength than visible lightVFT - Venus Fly TrapVHO - Very high output fluorescent lightW - WattsWC - White CloudWCMM - White Cloud Mountain MinnowWD ( W/D ) - Wet dry, method of aquarium filtrationWPG - Watts per gallonX10 - Automation/control productsZD - Zebra Danio

[ThePBM]

i had the hardest time figuring out what GBR's were. I figured out they were cichlids, but then I had to go through a list of cichlids to see which one had GBR, and then finally figured out it was German Blue Rams. ugly fish.

[dieselman]

AC - Activated carbon, chemical filtration media

AC - Alternating Current

acro - Acropora, a type of SPS coral

AFAIK - As far as I know

ALK - Alkalinity, measure of buffering capacity of water

ASAP - As soon as possible

ATS - Algae turf scrubber, reef setup technique

BOD - Biological oxygen demand

BTW - By the way

Ca - Calcium

CaCl2 - Calcium chloride

CaCO3 - Calcium carbonate

Ca(OH)2 - Calcium hydroxide

CC - Counter current, type of protein skimmer

Cl - Chlorine

CO2 - Carbon dioxide

CO3 - Carbonate

Cu - Copper

CYANO - Cyanobacteria

DD - Downdraft, type of protein skimmer

DI - Deionization, type of water purification

DIY - Do it yourself

dKH - Degrees of carbonate hardness, measure of alkalinity

DO - Dissolve oxygen

DOC - Dissolved organic carbon

DSB - Deep sand bed

Fe - Iron

FO - Fish only, type of marine aquarium

FOWLR - Fish Only with Live Rock

frag(s) - Broken or cut pieces of coral which will eventually grow into a new animal (coral)

FW - Freshwater

FWIW - For what its worth

FYI - For your information

FYM - For your misinformation

GAC - Granular activated carbon, chemical filtration media

GAL - Gallon

HD - Home Depot

GPH - Gallons per hour

HCO3 - Hydrogen carbonate

HO - High output fluorescent light

HSA - High speed aeration, type of protein skimmer

HTH - Hope this helps

I - Iodide

I2 - Iodine

ID - Identify

IM - In my

IMCO - In my considered opinion

IME - In my experience

IMEO - In my expert opinion

IMHO - In my humble/honest opinion

IMNSHO - In my not so humble/honest opinion

IMO - In my opinion

IO3 - Iodate

IOW - In other words

IR - Infrared, type of light of longer wavelength than visible light

IRC - Internet relay chat

ISP - Internet service provider

JME - Just my experience.

JMO - Just my opinion.

K - Kelvin (mechanism for measuring spectrum of lighting, should be labeled degrees K) / Potassium

KALK - Kalkwasser, German for calcium hydroxide solution or limewater

KI - Potassium iodide

KISS - Keep it simple stupid

LFS - Local fish store

LHS - Local hardware store

LOL - Laughing out loud

LPS - Large polyp Scleractinian (stony) coral

LR - Live rock

LS - Live Sand

LT - Liter

MACNA - Marine Aquaria Conference of North America, held annually

MEQ/L - Milli-equivalents per liter, measure of alkalinity

Mg - Magnesium

MG/L - Milligrams per liter

MH - Metal halide lighting

MO - Mail order

Na - Sodium

NaCO3 - Sodium carbonate

NaOH - Sodium hydroxide

NH3 - Ammonia

NH4 - Ammonium

NNR - Natural nitrate reduction, reef setup technique

NO - Normal output fluorescent light

NO2 - Nitrite

NO3 - Nitrate

NP - No problem

NRN - No reply necessary

NSW - Natural seawater

O2 - Oxygen

OBTW - Oh by the way

ORP - Oxidative redox potential

OTOH - On the other hand

PFO - Lighting Manufacturer

PLS - Please

PC - Power compact fluorescent light

pH - Measure of the concentration of hydrogen ions, equal to -log[H+]

PH - Powerhead, water pump

PO4 - Phosphate

"pods" - Non-specific types of copepods, amphipods and such

PPM - Parts per million, equivalent to mg/l (milligrams per liter)

PVC - Poly vinyl chloride, used for piping / plumbing

RO - Reverse osmosis, type of water purification

RO/DI - Reverse osmosis, followed by deionization, type of water purification

ROFL - Rolling on the floor laughing

ROFLOL - Rolling on the floor laughing out loud

ROTFL - Rolling on the floor laughing

ROTFLMAO - Rolling on the floor laughing my *** off

ROTFLOL - Rolling on the floor laughing out loud

RTN - Rapid tissue neurosis

RUGF - Reverse flow under gravel filter

SAL - Salinity

SD - Refers to Southdown Tropical Play Sand

SG - Specific gravity

SHO - Super high output fluorescent light, equivalent to power compact fluorescent

Si - Silicon

SiO2 - Silicon dioxide

SITD - Still in the dark

SO - Significant Other

SPS - Small polyp Scleractinian (stony) coral

Sr - Strontium

STN - Slow Tissue Neurosis

SW - Saltwater / seawater

TIA - Thanks in advance

TIC - Tongue in cheek

TTYL - Talk to you later

UGF - Under gravel filter

UV - Ultra violet, type of light of shorter wavelength than visible light

VHO - Very high output fluorescent light

W - Watts

WYSIWYG - What You See Is What you Get

[ostrangeone89]

I think I am going to bookmark this thread! lol When I joined I didn't want to ask what LFS was and look stupid but I figured LFS out on my own.. but DIY lol I had NOO clue what DIY was. I am still pretty new to these forums! Def bookmarking lol

[Debra Mark]

HNHTMTOHH.......

Hooked Newbie has too much time on his hands....


;)
D

[Hooked Newbie]

HNHTMTOHH.......

Hooked Newbie has too much time on his hands....


;)
D


DMIASA


I'll leave it to you to figure out! ;)

[nickmcmechan]

TATMAFITOBEF






there are too many acronyms for it to be feasible

[BooMonkey]

AWGTHTGTTA?




Google it if you don't believe me...

[jpappy789]

Haha...nice

[ChilDawg]

Does this (http://hometown.aol.com/mattgic/) look familiar?

[Weezer]

Hooked Newbie May 2007 Beware... look at my signature and my join date. I had 29G tank when I joined! :)
__________________
75- Gourami, Serpae Tetra, Yoyos, Cories, Otos, Rainbow Shark.
29L- Tiger Barbs (3 Var.), Rainbow Shark, & Striped Raphael Catfish.
29T- Dw. Gourami, Rummynose, Cories, Loaches.
20- Guppies, Cories, STs.
20L- Fluffy. 18" Juvenile Cinnamon Ball Python
10- Juvie Cherry Shrimp


:popcorn:

[Cheech]

Please check out the following link. you should have all the information you'll need on acronyms.


Thanks.


http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=102664

[Cheech]

btw, we'll be updating the article section which has a thread on explaining what these acronyms/;abbreviations are

here

http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=65473