Glossary, Acronyms and Abbreviations

ASW -- artificial seawater
LTA -- long tentacle anemone
Macrodactyla doreensis is one of the better anemones commonly available to saltwater aquarium hobbyists. Commonly called the long tentacle anemone (LTA for short), the corkscrew anemone, the red base anemone, and the sand anemone.
NSW -- natural sea water
SOW -- synthetic ocean water
TDS -- total dissolved solids
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
DE - double ended
DI Deionisation, type of water purification
DIY - Do it yourself
DKH - Degrees of carbonate hardness
DSB - Deep Sand Bed
ERD - Energy Recovery Device
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
HOB - hang on back
HOT - hang on tank
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)