Common Abbreviations
AB-Aqualine Buschke, lighting manufacturer
AC-Activated carbon, chemical filtration media / alternating current
AC II-AquaController II, all-in-one monitor & controller
acro-Acropora, a type of SPS coral
AGA-All-Glass Aquarium, aquarium manufacturer
ALK-Alkalinity, measure of buffering capacity of water
ASAP-As soon as possible
BTA-Type of anemone (Entacmaea quadricolor) / bubble-tipped, bulb tentacle, bulb tip
Ca-Calcium
CaCl2-Calcium chloride
CaCO3-Calcium carbonate
Ca(OH)2-Calcium hydroxide
CC-Crushed coral / Counter current, type of protein skimmer
Cl-Chlorine
CO2-Carbon dioxide
CO3-Carbonate
CTA-Cellulose triacetate, type of RO membrane
Cu-Copper
CYANO-Cyanobacteria
DD-Downdraft, type of protein skimmer
DE-Double ended metal halide metal bulb
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
DT's-Brand of refrigerated living phytoplankton
ER-Euro-reef, skimmer manufacturer
FAQ-Frequently asked questions
Fe-Iron
FO-Fish only
FOWLR-Fish Only with Live Rock
frag(s)-Broken or cut pieces of coral which will eventually grow into a new animal
fuge-Short for refugium
FW-Freshwater
GAC-Granular activated carbon, chemical filtration media
GAL-Gallon
GFCI/GFI-Ground fault circuit interrupter / Ground fault interrupter
GPH-Gallons per hour
GSP-Green star polyps
HCO3-Hydrogen carbonate
HD-Home Depot
HID-High intensity discharge, type of light
HO-High output fluorescent light
HOT-Hang on top, type of skimmer
HPS-High pressure sodium, type of light NOT for reefs but the ballasts concern them
HQI-High quartz iodide, type of light
HSA-High speed aeration, type of protein skimmer
I-Iodide
I2-Iodine
ID-Identify/Identity
IME-In my experience
IMO-In my opinion
IO-Instant Ocean, brand of synthetic salt mix
IO3-Iodate
IR-Infrared
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
L-Liter
LED-Light emiting diode
LFS-Local fish store
LHS-Local hardware store
LOL-Laughing out loud
LPS-Large polyped Scleractinian (stoney) coral
LR-Live rock
LS-Live sand
LT-Litre
LTA-Type of anemone (Macrodactyla doreensis) / Long tentacle anemone
MACNA-Marine Aquaria Conference of North America, held annually
MEQ/L-Milli-equivalents per litre, measure of alkalinity
Mg-Magnesium
Mg/L-Milligrams per litre
MH-Metal halide light
MJ-Maxijet, powerhead manufacturer
MM-Miracle Mud, method of aquarium filtration
MO-Mail order
MV-Mercury vapor, type of light
Na-Sodium
NaCO3-Sodium carbonate
NaOH-Sodium hydroxide
NH3-Ammonia
NH4-Ammonium
NO-Normal output fluorescent light
NO2-Nitrite
NO3-Nitrate
NSW-Natural seawater
O2-Oxygen
ORP-Oxidation reduction potential, the ability to take or give electrons
PA-Premium Aquatics
PAR-Photosynthetically active radiation, lighting quantity
PC-Power compact fluorescent light
PFO-Lighting manufacturer
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 litre)
PVC-Poly vinyl chloride, used for piping / plumbing
RC-reef Central, aquarium bulletin board
RO-Reverse osmosis, type of water purification
RO/DI-Reverse osmosis, followed by deionization, type of water purification
RR-reef ready, aqaurium with pre-drilled holes and overflows
RTN-Rapid tissue necrosis
SAL-Salinity
SCWD-Switching Current Water Director, type of wave machine
SD-Southdown, type of sand
SE-Single ended bulb
SG-Specific gravity
SHO-Super high output fluorescent light, equivalent to power compact fluorescent
Si-Silicon
SiO2-Silicon dioxide
SPS-Small polyped Scleractinian (stoney) coral
Sr-Strontium
SW-Saltwater / seawater
TAR-Type of magnetic Ballast
TFC-Thin film composite, type of RO membrane
TM-Tropic Marin
UGF-Undergravel filter
UV-Ultra violet
VHO-Very high output fluorescent light
W-Watts
WD ( W/D )-Wet dry, method of aquarium filtration
WPG-Watts per gallon
WYSIWYG-What you see is what you get
X10-Automation/control products
AB-Aqualine Buschke, lighting manufacturer
AC-Activated carbon, chemical filtration media / alternating current
AC II-AquaController II, all-in-one monitor & controller
acro-Acropora, a type of SPS coral
AGA-All-Glass Aquarium, aquarium manufacturer
ALK-Alkalinity, measure of buffering capacity of water
ASAP-As soon as possible
BTA-Type of anemone (Entacmaea quadricolor) / bubble-tipped, bulb tentacle, bulb tip
Ca-Calcium
CaCl2-Calcium chloride
CaCO3-Calcium carbonate
Ca(OH)2-Calcium hydroxide
CC-Crushed coral / Counter current, type of protein skimmer
Cl-Chlorine
CO2-Carbon dioxide
CO3-Carbonate
CTA-Cellulose triacetate, type of RO membrane
Cu-Copper
CYANO-Cyanobacteria
DD-Downdraft, type of protein skimmer
DE-Double ended metal halide metal bulb
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
DT's-Brand of refrigerated living phytoplankton
ER-Euro-reef, skimmer manufacturer
FAQ-Frequently asked questions
Fe-Iron
FO-Fish only
FOWLR-Fish Only with Live Rock
frag(s)-Broken or cut pieces of coral which will eventually grow into a new animal
fuge-Short for refugium
FW-Freshwater
GAC-Granular activated carbon, chemical filtration media
GAL-Gallon
GFCI/GFI-Ground fault circuit interrupter / Ground fault interrupter
GPH-Gallons per hour
GSP-Green star polyps
HCO3-Hydrogen carbonate
HD-Home Depot
HID-High intensity discharge, type of light
HO-High output fluorescent light
HOT-Hang on top, type of skimmer
HPS-High pressure sodium, type of light NOT for reefs but the ballasts concern them
HQI-High quartz iodide, type of light
HSA-High speed aeration, type of protein skimmer
I-Iodide
I2-Iodine
ID-Identify/Identity
IME-In my experience
IMO-In my opinion
IO-Instant Ocean, brand of synthetic salt mix
IO3-Iodate
IR-Infrared
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
L-Liter
LED-Light emiting diode
LFS-Local fish store
LHS-Local hardware store
LOL-Laughing out loud
LPS-Large polyped Scleractinian (stoney) coral
LR-Live rock
LS-Live sand
LT-Litre
LTA-Type of anemone (Macrodactyla doreensis) / Long tentacle anemone
MACNA-Marine Aquaria Conference of North America, held annually
MEQ/L-Milli-equivalents per litre, measure of alkalinity
Mg-Magnesium
Mg/L-Milligrams per litre
MH-Metal halide light
MJ-Maxijet, powerhead manufacturer
MM-Miracle Mud, method of aquarium filtration
MO-Mail order
MV-Mercury vapor, type of light
Na-Sodium
NaCO3-Sodium carbonate
NaOH-Sodium hydroxide
NH3-Ammonia
NH4-Ammonium
NO-Normal output fluorescent light
NO2-Nitrite
NO3-Nitrate
NSW-Natural seawater
O2-Oxygen
ORP-Oxidation reduction potential, the ability to take or give electrons
PA-Premium Aquatics
PAR-Photosynthetically active radiation, lighting quantity
PC-Power compact fluorescent light
PFO-Lighting manufacturer
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 litre)
PVC-Poly vinyl chloride, used for piping / plumbing
RC-reef Central, aquarium bulletin board
RO-Reverse osmosis, type of water purification
RO/DI-Reverse osmosis, followed by deionization, type of water purification
RR-reef ready, aqaurium with pre-drilled holes and overflows
RTN-Rapid tissue necrosis
SAL-Salinity
SCWD-Switching Current Water Director, type of wave machine
SD-Southdown, type of sand
SE-Single ended bulb
SG-Specific gravity
SHO-Super high output fluorescent light, equivalent to power compact fluorescent
Si-Silicon
SiO2-Silicon dioxide
SPS-Small polyped Scleractinian (stoney) coral
Sr-Strontium
SW-Saltwater / seawater
TAR-Type of magnetic Ballast
TFC-Thin film composite, type of RO membrane
TM-Tropic Marin
UGF-Undergravel filter
UV-Ultra violet
VHO-Very high output fluorescent light
W-Watts
WD ( W/D )-Wet dry, method of aquarium filtration
WPG-Watts per gallon
WYSIWYG-What you see is what you get
X10-Automation/control products