List of Coral Reef and Aquarium Related Acronyms

Posted by Matt Buschbacher on

Here's a list of some acronyms used in many coral reef and aquarium forums. If you notice something missing, please send me a message and let me know!

Reef & Aquarium Related Acronyms
Acro = Acropora
AGA = All-Glass Aquarium
AIO = All In One
ALK = Alkalinity
ATO = Auto Top Off
BB = Bare Bottom (meaning the aquarium has no sand or substrate)
BB4L = Bare Bottom For Life
BTA = Bubble Tip Anemone
CA = Calcium
CB = Captive Bred
CC = Crushed Coral
CF = Compact Fluorescent
CUC = Clean Up Crew (meaning snails, hermit crabs, mini brittle stars, and other detritus eaters)
Cyano = Cyanobacteria (aka the dreaded Red Slime Algae)
DE = Double Ended
DI = Deionization
DSB = Deep Sand Bed
FO = Fish Only
FOWLR = Fish Only With Live Rock
FTS = Full Tank Shot
FW = Freshwater
GAC = Granular Activated Carbon
GFO = Granular Ferric Oxide
GPH = Gallons Per Hour
GPM = Gallons Per Minute
GBTA = Green Bubble Tip Anemone
GSP = Green Star Polyps
HA = Hair Algae
HID = High Intensity Discharge
HO = High Output Fluorescent Light
HOB = Hang On Back
HOT = Hang On Tank
IO = Instant Ocean
IR = Infrared
K = Kelvin
Kalk = Kalkwasser
LED = Light Emitting Diode
LFS = Local Fish Store
LPS = Large Polyp Stony Coral
LPS = Local Pet Store
LR = Live Rock
LS = Live Sand
MG = Magnesium
MH = Metal Halide Lighting
NO = Normal Output Fluorescent Light
NO2 = Nitrite
NO3 = Nitrate
NPAG = Nose Pressed Against the Glass
NR = Nano Reef
NSW = Natural Seawater
ORA = Oceans, Reefs, & Aquariums
ORP = Oxidation Reduction Percentage
PAR = Photosynthetically Active Radiation
PC = Power Compact fluorescent light
PH = Powerhead
PPM = Parts Per Million
PPT = Parts Per Thousand
PS = Protein Skimmer
QT = Quarantine Tank
R2R = Reef2Reef (an online forum)
RBTA = Rose Bubble Tip Anemone
RC = Reef Central (an online forum)
RC = Reef Crystals
RO = Reverse Osmosis
RO/DI = Reverse Osmosis, followed by Deionization
RR = Reef Ready
RSB = Remote Sand Bed
RTN = Rapid Tissue Necrosis
SE = Single Ended
SG = Specific Gravity
SH = Sea Horse
Softy = Soft Coral
SPS = Small Polyp Stony Coral
SSB = Shallow Sand Bed
STN = Slow Tissue Necrosis
SW = Saltwater/Seawater
TDS = Total Dissolved Solids
TR = Tank Raised
UGF = Undergravel Filter
UV = Ultra Violet light
VHO = Very High Output Fluorescent Light
W = Watts
WC = Wild Caught
WC = Water Changes
WPG = Watts per Gallon
WYSIWYG = What You See Is What You Get


Common Non-Hobby Forum Acronyms
AFAIK = As Far As I Know
ASAP = As Soon As Possible
ATM = At The Moment
B4N = Bye For Now
BRB = Be Right Back
BS = Bull sunshine
BTT = Back To Top
BTW = By The Way
BTWQ = By The Way Question
BYOB = Bring Your Own Beer
DOA = Dead On Arrival
DIY = Do It Yourself
FAIK = For All I Know
FAQ = Frequently Asked Question
FTL = For The Loss
FTW = For The Win
FUBAR = F*cked Up Beyond All Recognition (CRUDE! Please do NOT use this)
FS = For Sale
FWIW = For What It's Worth
FYI = For Your Information
GFY = Go F*ck Yourself (CRUDE & RUDE! Please do NOT use this)
GMTA = Great Minds Think Alike
HTH = Hope That Helps
IBTL = In Before The Lock
ID = Identification
IIRC = If I Recall Correctly
IME = In My Experience
IMHO = In My Humble/Honest Opinion
IMO = In My Opinion
J/K = Just Kidding
JM2C = Just My Two Cents
JME = Just My Experience
JMO = Just My Opinion
LMAO = Laugh My butt Off
LMK = Let Me Know
LOL = Laughing Out Loud
NP = No Problem
OBO = Or Best Offer
OOT = Oops Off Topic
OTOH = On The Other Hand
OTTO = Most happy Guy on the Forums
PITA = Pain In The A** (CRUDE! Please do NOT use this)
PM = Private Message
ROTFLMAO = Rolling On The Floor, Laughing My A** Off
SPF = Sold Pending Funds
STFU = Shut the F*ck Up (CRUDE & RUDE! Please do NOT use this)
TIA = Thanks In Advance
TTT = To The Top
TTYL = Talk To You Later
TY = Thank You
UNT = Until Next Time
WTF = What The F*ck (CRUDE! Please do NOT use this)
WTFWT = What The F*ck Was That (CRUDE! Please do NOT use this)
WTH = What The Heck
WTB = Want To Buy or Borrow
WTS = Want To Sell
WTT = Want To Trade
YGPM = You Got a Private Message
YW = You’re Welcome


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