Common aquarium hobby abbreviations: LFS (Local Fish Store), LRS (Local Reef Store), LHB (Local Hobbyist Breeder), FOWLR (Fish Only With Live Rock), MO (Mail-Order), DT (Display Tank), QT (Quarantine), FW/SW (Fresh/Saltwater).
Aquarium-hobby abbreviations confuse beginners. Sourcing: LFS = Local Fish Store. LRS = Local Reef Store. LHB = Local Hobbyist Breeder. MO = Mail-Order. WYSIWYG = What You See Is What You Get (photo before purchase). Tank types: DT = Display Tank. QT = Quarantine Tank. HT = Hospital Tank. FOWLR = Fish-Only With Live Rock. SW/FW = Saltwater/Freshwater. NPS = Non-Photosynthetic (corals). Equipment: ATO = Auto Top-Off. RODI = Reverse Osmosis Deionized water. UV = Ultraviolet sterilizer. GFO = Granular Ferric Oxide. GAC = Granular Activated Carbon. Coral codes: SPS = Small Polyp Stony. LPS = Large Polyp Stony. NPS = Non-Photosynthetic. WW = Walt Wreath (named morph prefix). JF = Jason Fox (named morph prefix). Fish behavior: HOB = Hang-On-Back (filter). FB = Free-Bagged shipping. DOA = Dead On Arrival. Methods: EI = Estimative Index (planted fert). PPS = Perpetual Preservation System (planted fert). DSB = Deep Sand Bed. SSB = Shallow Sand Bed. BB = Bare Bottom. Diseases: NTD = Neon Tetra Disease. HLLE = Head + Lateral Line Erosion. HITH = Hole In The Head. AEFW = Acro-Eating Flatworms.
Reviewed by the Fast Aquatics husbandry team · Updated May 2026
Common aquarium hobby abbreviations: LFS (Local Fish Store), LRS (Local Reef Store), LHB (Local Hobbyist Breeder), FOWLR (Fish Only With Live Rock), MO (Mail-Order), DT (Display Tank), QT (Quarantine), FW/SW (Fresh/Saltwater). Aquarium-hobby abbreviations confuse beginners. Sourcing: LFS = Local Fish Store. LRS = Local Reef Store. LHB = Local Hobbyist Breeder. MO = Mail-Order. WYSIWYG = What You See Is What You Get (photo before purchase).
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