sirdarksol

Using initialisms: If you're using an initialism, abbreviation, or acronym that isn't really widely used on the forum, it's a good idea to use the full term, followed by the abbreviation in parenthesis. After that, you can just use the abbreviation.
For example, if I'm talking about filters:
The hang-on-back (HOB) filter is extremely versatile. As its name suggests, the HOB hangs on the back...

This is a work in progress. Please feel free to add to it. Thanks to Lucy for the list she sent me. It tripled the list I had here.
Also, the fact that these are here does not mean you need to use them. Many of them are already kind of dead (there are two in the list that I've never seen before). I'm not including this so that everyone talks exactly the same, but rather for people to brush up on their aquarium speak.
Edit: I am editing some of the new answers into my own post. Others, I'm leaving out (though they'll still be in the post further down the list). I'm basing this largely on whether or not they're commonly used on the forum.

FISH

GBR = German Blue Ram

EBR = Electric Blue Ram

BR = Bolivian Ram

JD = Jack Dempsey (a type of Cichlid)

EBJD = Electric Blue Jack Dempsey

DG = Dwarf Gourami

WCMM = White Cloud MountainMinnow

F8 = Figure Eight Puffer

GSP = green spotted puffer

BN = Bristlenose Pleco

CAE = Chinese Algae Eater

SAE = Siamese Algae Eater

RTS = red tail shark

CD = Corydoras

INVERTEBRATES

RCS = Red Cherry Shrimp

CRS = Crystal Red Shrimp

MTS = Malaysian Trumpet Snail

betta TAIL TYPES

HM = Half Moon

CT = Crown Tail

OHM = Over Half Moon

PK = Planket

VT = Veil Tail

DT = Delta Tail

AMPHIBIANS

ADF = African Dwarf Frog

ACF = African Clawed Frog

LIGHTING

WPG = Watts per Gallon

T5, T8 = Size of light tube (5/8" or 1" diameter)

HO/VHO = (Very) High Output

MH = Metal halide

CFL - Compact Fluorescent

MISCELLANEOUS


DFS = Doctors Foster and Smith (a pet supply company)

MTS = Multiple Tank Syndrome (a communicable disease which causes aquarists to buy more and more tanks in order to accommodate more fish.)
(also Malaysian Trumpet Snail)

NTS = New Tank Syndrome (more of an old school term from when less was known about the nitrogen cycle)

FOWLER = Fish Only With live rock (a type of marine aquarium)

SA = South American (Usually referring to the area for Cichlids)

CA = Central American (Usually referring to the area for Cichlids)

RO = reverse osmosis (a process that creates nearly pure water)

API = Aquarium Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Most often used to describe the API Master test kit)

HOB = Hang On Back (type of filter)

PWC = Partial water change

DIY = Do It Yourself

UGF = Under Gravel Filter

GPH = Gallons Per Hour (a reference to filter/pump power.)

LPS = Local Pet Store

LFS = Local Fish Store (not to be confused with a Petsmart, Petco, or Walmart, which are usually referred to by name and as "big chain" )

TSS = Tetra Safe Start (water conditioner/bacterial additive)

AC = activated carbon

FW = Fresh Water

SW = Salt Water

NH3 = ammonia

NO2 = Nitrites

NO3 = Nitrates

COMMON NET SPEAK

IDK = I Don't Know

LOL = Laugh Out Loud

ROFL/ROTFL = Rolling on the floor laughing

IMO /IMHO = In My (Humble) Opinion

FYI = For Your Information

BTW = By The Way

IME = In My Experience

OT = Off Topic

OP = Original Poster/post

LIVE PLANT RELATED


CO2 = Carbon Dioxide (plants breathe carbon dioxide and turn into oxygen)

sirdarksol

Yes. This list is really aimed at the stuff Fishloreans use.

aquarist48

Good morning.

I have added the members suggestions to the main list that I felt would be useful on Fish Lore, and deleted the posts to help keep the thread clean.

Feel free to add your suggestions in your own posts in this thread, we'll add them to the main list from time to time and then delete them as I've just done.

Remember to post abbreviations that would be related to Fish Lore.

I've also sorted the abbreviations into categories to make it a little easier.
(thanks Rynar)
Thanks!
Ken

Elodea

How about FS (For Sale) and WTB (Want To Buy)?

(and SDS - Sirdarksol)

catsma_97504

PO4 = phosphate
GH = General Hardness
KH = Carbonate Hardness
PPM = Parts Per Million, same as mg/L
B/S/T = Buy, Sell, Trade
WC = Water Change

Maybe this list could be merged with the dictionary/definitions page? http://www.fishlore.com/fishdictionary/dictionary.htm

sirdarksol

This list is not meant to be comprehensive, unlike the definitions page. This was just meant to hold a few of the most commonly used acronyms and initialisms. I'll be thinning the list out pretty soon, I think, as it's getting so long as to be useless.

I think the best way to be understood is to use the full term. If someone uses a term you don't understand, ask. Neither takes very long.

Kunsthure

GGR = German gold ram or gold German ram

LF = long fin

HF = high fin

DP = dwarf puffer

I don't think I've ever seen anyone using GSP, F8 or CD.

-Lisa

Lucy

If you e-mail the page to yourself as a link, it won't be the same as now when sds changes it.

This what I do if I want to take notes.

Hold down the left click button and run it over the text to highlight want you want to copy.
Right click on the highlighted text.
Left click on the word Copy.
Go to your start menu, Bring up Note pad.
(Under All Programs-->Accessories-->Note Pad)
Right click on the blank space in note pad.
Left Click the word Paste

At the top left on the note pad, left click on File, left click on save.
Name the document and save it where ever you want on your computer.
My Documents is a good place.

Hope that made sense.

aquarist48

Bump for new members and older ones too that may not be aware of Fish Lore Commonly Used Abbreviations.

Ken