New Here! Reef Acronyms

[Josh]

I came across this old list of acronyms and figured I'd post it here:

AC: Activated carbon, chemical filtration media / alternating current
AC: Alternating current
AF: Aquarium Frontiers, online magazine
AFM: Aquarium Fish Monthly, magazine
ALK: Alkalinity, measure of buffering capacity of water
ATS: Algae turf scrubber, reef setup technique
BOD: Biological oxygen demand
BR: Base rock
BTA: Bubble tip anemone
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
CR: Calcium reactor
CSD: Carlson surge device
CTA: Cellulose triacetate, type of RO membrane
Cu: Copper
CYANO: Cyanobacteria
DC: Direct current
DD: Downdraft, type of protein skimmer
DI: Deionisation, type of water purification
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, type of marine aquarium
FW: Freshwater
GAC: Granular activated carbon
GAL: Gallon
GBR: Great Barrier Reef
GPH: Gallons per hour
HCO3: Hydrogen carbonate
HO: High output fluorescent light
HAS: High speed aeration, type of proteins skimmer
I: Iodide
I2: Iodine
ID: Identify/identification
IO3: Iodate
IR: Infrared, type of light of longer wavelength than visible light
KALK: Kalkwasser, German for calcium hydroxide solution or limewater
KI: Potassium iodide
KISS: Keep it simple stupid
kW: Kilowatt
LFS: Local fish store
LHS: Local hardware store
LPH: Litres per hour
LPS: Large polyped Scleractinian (stoney) coral
LR: Live rock
LS: Live sand
LT: Liter
mA: Milliamp
MACNA: Marine Aquaria Conference of North America, held annually
MASNA: Marine Aquarium Society of North America
MEQ/L: Milli-equivalents per litre, measure of alkalinity
Mg: Magnesium
MG/L: Milligrams per litre
MH: Metal halide light
MO: Mail order
mV: Millivolt
MV: Mercury vapour light
mW: Milliwatt
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
NSW: Natural seawater
O2: Oxygen
ORP: Oxidative redox potential
PC: Power compact fluorescent light
pH: Measure of the concentration of hydrogen ions, equal to -log[H+], <7 acidic, =7 neutral, >7 basic
PH: Powerhead, water pump
PO4: Phosphate
PPM: Parts per million, equivalent to mg/l (milligrams per litre)
PSI: Pounds per square inch
PVC: Poly vinyl chloride, used for piping / plumbing
RC: Reef Central, website
RDO: reefs.org, website
RO: Reverse osmosis, type of water purification
RO/DI: Reverse osmosis, followed by deionisation, type of water purification
RTN: Rapid tissue necrosis
RUGF: Reverse flow undergravel filter
SAL: Salinity
SD: Surge device
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
TDS: Total dissolved solids
TFC: Thin film composite, type of RO membrane
UGF: Undergravel filter
UV: Ultra violet, type of light of shorter wavelength than visible light
V: Volts
VHO: Very high output fluorescent light
W: Watt
YMMV: Your mileage may vary

 

[ming]

MR: ManhattanReefs