Am I too new for this forum?

KentuckyKenny · Feb 26, 2021

I really know very little about saltwater tanks. As I scan through these threads I see so many abbreviation, terms and words that I have no clue what they mean. I'm thinking that I am too new and wonder if I'll get anything out of my research. Am I? Should I be approaching this differently?

Ippyroy · Feb 26, 2021

KentuckyKenny said:
I really know very little about saltwater tanks. As I scan through these threads I see so many abbreviation, terms and words that I have no clue what they mean. I'm thinking that I am too new and wonder if I'll get anything out of my research. Am I? Should I be approaching this differently?

Feel free to ask questions about abbreviations. Many people on here are willing to help. Welcome to R2R!

Rmckoy · Feb 26, 2021

Never too new .
The Only way to learn is to ask

mdb_talon · Feb 26, 2021

Most definetely not! Yes some things are hard to understand at first, but generally speaking people are very nice and helpful. Just post in the thread if you need explanations. Somewhere around the web is actually a list of common acronyms and "reef speak" I cant find it at the moment, but I bet someone chimes in with a link otherwise I will keep looking.

You will learn a lot from the forum. Sometimes you will get conflicting advice or answers, but that is part of the hobby and overall your knowledge will most definetely grow quicker than you would think.

Welcome by the way!

Ippyroy · Feb 26, 2021

Here you go!

Acronyms and Abbreviations for the Reef Aquarist

Reef aquarium acronyms for beginners.

www.reef2reef.com

Reef. · Feb 26, 2021

KentuckyKenny said:
I really know very little about saltwater tanks. As I scan through these threads I see so many abbreviation, terms and words that I have no clue what they mean. I'm thinking that I am too new and wonder if I'll get anything out of my research. Am I? Should I be approaching this differently?

give it a couple of weeks and you’ll be right at home.

anything you are unsure of just ask, don’t just let it go.

CollectOyster04 · Feb 26, 2021

The search feature will/should be your friend. You'll be amazed how fast you fall down the many rabbit holes to be found. When the search fails you, ask away. Start slow (cliché I know), and don't stress out about the lack of knowledge. It'll come to you sooner than you think.

ReefSapper · Feb 26, 2021

Just don't be afraid to ask the questions, if someone gives you a hard time for being new and asking a question they are a jerk lol. 1 piece of advice, do research outside of this forum as well, many smart people on here but many more that respond and answer out of turn without truly understanding the facts. Just be cautious, i use this forum a ton and value it but make sure you follow up with alternate research. You will learn certain people on here on true experts and you can take their word but dont trust every thing written...plenty of jokers like me that only think we are smart

dwest · Feb 26, 2021

What part of ky are you from?

TheDragonsReef · Feb 26, 2021

Not at all, beginners are welcome. Here are some of the most common abbreviations

Fowlr - fish only with live rock
NSW - natural sea water
ULN -ultra low nutrient
ULM - ultra low maintenance
RODI - reverse osmosis de-ionizing
Alk - alkalinity
Cal - calcium
MG - magnesium
Sg - specific gravity
No3 - nitrate
Po4 - phosphate

rtparty · Feb 26, 2021

Go check out ReefDudes video on YouTube. He goes over the common abbreviations we use in the hobby

Reef. · Feb 26, 2021

rtparty said:
Go check out ReefDudes video on YouTube. He goes over the common abbreviations we use in the hobby

or just google the abbreviation followed by reef2reef or reef tank and it’ll likely be on the first line of google search results.

BaysEndReef · Feb 26, 2021

rtparty said:
Go check out ReefDudes video on YouTube. He goes over the common abbreviations we use in the hobby

+1 for this!!

DeniseAndy · Feb 26, 2021

Welcome.
It is a very overwhelming hobby to start. However, every hobby is really. Just takes time to get the flow. I still do not know all these acronyms and I have done this for over 17 years.
Ask lots of questions, you will get many responses. Check out those who have actual experience with the thing you are searching for. Do research outside the forum too as stated above.
Some of the good older books are still great for knowing the basics. Those do not change, much.

Jekyl · Feb 26, 2021

KentuckyKenny said:
I really know very little about saltwater tanks. As I scan through these threads I see so many abbreviation, terms and words that I have no clue what they mean. I'm thinking that I am too new and wonder if I'll get anything out of my research. Am I? Should I be approaching this differently?

You are in the perfect place. Ask as much as you want. No one here will put you down for it.

Uncle99 · Feb 26, 2021

I found sitting back and watching demos on the tube to be extremely handy, there are step by step videos that helped me a ton.

Welcome, good luck, ask whatever you wish.

RobertTheNurse · Feb 26, 2021

Hiiiiiii! Welcome!!!

Never too new for this place. What helped me was read read read. I'm also a visual learner, so I watched a lot of YouTube videos.

When you're researching...brainstorm (if you haven't already) what type of tank you want.

LEARN THE NITROGEN CYCLE.

Take things slow. It seems like when things are rushed we run into problems.

dvgyfresh · Feb 26, 2021

If you don’t have 3 PHDs in marine biology... lol I’m just kidding I started this year and the only thing I knew was that saltwater tanks need saltwater

Robert M Balzli Jr. · Feb 26, 2021

Good luck... it takes time to learn it all. At least people are replying to you. I’ve stop asking questions because I get few answers. But if I read enough I get answers on here. I guess people get tired of answering the same question over and over again. Just keep researching and get many answers before you make decisions, because there are so many opinions and different tank chemistry’s. This hobby is constantly changing. Welcome!