Aquarium Glossary and Acronyms
Introduction
Our Glossary of Aquarium Terms and Acronyms List contain acronyms and definitions for some of the most common terms used in the fish tank aquarium hobby.
Use it to increase your understanding of terminology and technology.
Equipment
- BDBS – Black Diamond Blasting Sand
- HALF – Heater, Air pump, Light and Filter
- HOB [filter] – Hang on Back
- PAR [meter] – Photosynthetically Active Radiation (meter used for measuring light intensity)
- RO [filter] – Reverse Osmosis (method for filtering/de-ionizing water)
- RO/DI [water] – de-ionized water (pure water, containing no salt ions or minerals)
- TDS [meter] – Total Dissolved Solids (more dissolved solids = more dissolved ions = more conductivity/TDS)
- UGF – Under Gravel Filter
Water Statistics/Parameters
- NH3 – Ammonia
- NH4 – Ammonium (positive ion)
- NO2 – Nitrite (negative ion)
- NO3 – Nitrate (negative ion)
- GH – General Hardness GH (measured in degrees – or, dGH – amount of calcium and/or magnesium ions a.k.a. “hardness”)
- KH – Carbonate Hardness KH (measured in degrees – or, dKH – prevents sudden pH swings)
- pH – Power of Hydrogen (measure of acidity; scales from 0-14)
- PPM – Parts Per Million
Flora
- BBA – Black Beard Algae
- BGA – Blue Green Algae
- DBF – Driftwood Bio Film (#gross)
- IAL – Indian Almond Leaf
- GDA – Green Dust Algae
- GHA – Green Hair Algae
- GSA – Green Spot Algae
- PSO – Pogostemon Stellatus ‘Octopus’
Fauna
- BB – Beneficial Bacteria
- BBS – Baby Brine Shrimp
- CAE – Chinese Algae Eater
- CB – Captive Bred
- CPD – Celestial Pearl Danios
- CRS – Crystal Red Shrimp
- GBR – German Blue Ram
- GSP – Green Spotted Puffer
- MTS – Malaysian Trumpet Snail
- NEO[s] – Neocaridina davidi shrimp
- RCS – Red Cherry Shrimp
- SAE – Siamese Algae Eater
- SAP – South American Puffer
- WCMM – White Cloud Mountain Minnow
- WC – Wild Caught
Saltwater/Marine
- FO [tank] – Fish Only
- FOWLR [tank] – Fish Only With Live Rock (without intentional coral vs. a reef tank that contains coral, anemones, and other saltwater invertebrates)
Other
- CPS – Chain Pet Store
- DIY – Do It Yourself
- LFC – Local Fish Club
- LFS – Local Fish Store
- LPS – Local Pet Store
- MJS – Multiple Jar Syndrome (pre-industrial)
- MTS – Multiple Tank Syndrome
- OTS – Old Tank Syndrome
- PWC – Partial Water Change
- QT – Quarantine
- STT – Seasoned Tank Time
- SNAFU – Situation Nermal, All Fixed Up (algae and parameters under control!)
- TIL – Today I Learned
- TLA – Three Letter Acronym
- W/C – Water Change
- WYSIWYG – What You See Is What You Get
- UMTS – Unresolved Multiple Tank Syndrome
What is Next
I suggest you to have a look in my “Water Parameters” article to learn about pH, Ammonia, Nitrites, Nitrates and much more. Click here.
