Carbonate Hardness Test Kit

Carbonate Hardness Test Kit | Pond Test Kits

Carbonate Hardness Test Kit

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Starts at: $8.98

Brand: Mars FishCare

SKU:AQP59

MPN: 59

Tests tap water and freshwater aquariums for general hardness (GH) and carbonate hardness (KH).

Helps detect stress on fish caused by rapid pH shifts, which result from low KH levels and helps aquarists duplicate the natural habitat of their fish.

Q: What is "Water Hardness"?
A: General Hardness or GH is the measure of calcium (Ca++) and magnesium ions (Mg++) dissolved in water. General Hardness is measured with the GH Test Kit. Carbonate Hardness, also known as KH, refers to the concentration of bicarbonate (HCO3-) and carbonate (CO3--) dissolved in water. Carbonate Hardness is measured with the KH Test Kit.

Calcium and magnesium carry a positive charge and form "ion pairs" with negatively charged ions like bicarbonate, forming calcium bicarbonate and magnesium bicarbonate; Ca(HCO3)2 & Mg(HCO3)2.

Marine reef aquarists interested in measuring the calcium level in their aquariums should use a calcium test kit made specifically for this purpose. The KH Test Kit can be used to test the carbonate hardness in saltwater aquariums.

Q: How do I test for water hardness?
A: GH and KH are easily measured with the GH & KH Test Kit. This kit measures GH and KH in German degrees (° dGH & ° dKH) and parts per million (ppm). Some aquarium literature refers to water hardness in degrees while others use ppm. Your aquarium water may have a high GH and KH, low GH and KH, or a situation where one type of hardness is high and the other low, i.e. low GH & high KH. If, for example, you have a water softener on your tap water supply the GH will be zero (or very low) while the KH, which is not removed by a water softener, will remain high.

In marine aquariums the KH is supplied by the synthetic seawater mix used to make saltwater. The KH level will depend on the particular brand of salt.

Q: What effect does water hardness have on the aquarium?
A: Water with a GH will contain a lot of calcium and/or magnesium. This is great if you are keeping African cichlids or other fish that like hard water. While excessive GH is not dangerous to tropical fish, many species come from water with a GH level of 35-ppm to 90-ppm (2-5° dGH). Most aquatic plants also prefer a GH level of 35-ppm to 90-ppm (2-5° dGH). Excess GH also contributes to white scale build-up on the aquarium lid and light fixture. As aquarium water evaporates calcium and magnesium (and other minerals) are left in the water causing GH to rise over time. Lowering GH (softening) has no effect on pH. Reducing the GH level does increase the effectiveness of Proper pH buffers (freshwater).

KH is important in relation to pH. KH, also known as alkalinity or buffering capacity helps stabilize the pH in the aquarium. Carbonate and bicarbonate ions give water its ability to resist increases or decreases in pH. Water with very low KH may experience wide fluctuations in pH because the buffering capacity is low. A high KH level indicates that the pH will be very stable. High KH is almost always associated with a high pH. This is not the case, however, when Proper pH buffers are added to freshwater aquariums. Proper pH products are true buffers. They will raise or lower pH to reach the pre-set pH level. Proper pH 7.0, for example, increases buffering capacity (KH) at pH 7.0. This means the buffering capacity is strong specifically at pH 7.0. The pH is "locked in" at 7.0.

KH can be adjusted in marine aquariums with Proper pH 8.2. Proper pH 8.2 increases KH by adding a blend of carbonate and bicarbonate buffers to the water. This adjusts the pH to a level of 8.2 to 8.4 depending on the existing buffer provided by the synthetic salt formula. Many marine aquarists try to maintain a KH level around 140 to 178-ppm (8 to 10 ° dKH).

Q: How does KH affect pH adjustments?
A: Carbonate hardness directly affects the ease of making pH adjustments. In freshwater a high KH level makes lowering the pH very difficult. Each time a pH adjuster is added some of the KH is "neutralized". Each consecutive dose reduces the buffering capacity (KH) of the water. The pH will not go down, however, until the "breakpoint" is reached. When the breakpoint is reached the KH is sufficiently reduced to allow the pH to go down. This is why it may take several doses of aquarium pH adjusters to successfully lower the pH. Adjusting the pH is much easier after the KH has been reduced. Maintaining the pH once adjusted can be difficult with tap water having a high KH level. Every time tap water is added more KH is added to the aquarium. This shifts the water chemistry toward a higher pH level. Some aquarists use distilled water to replace evaporated water. Other kinds of bottled water like spring water are usually high in minerals and will increase water hardness. The Tap Water Filter will remove all minerals and pollutants from tap water, permitting easy adjustment of pH and water hardness.

The pH of some synthetic marine salts stabilize below or above the recommended 8.2 to 8.4 pH range. Even though the KH is acceptable, the pH may not be right for the aquarium. Proper pH 8.2 will adjust the pH to the desired pH range of 8.2 to 8.4.

Q: Does evaporation increase water hardness?
A: Yes. When water evaporates, it leaves all the hardness minerals in the aquarium. When you add tap water back to the aquarium, it adds more hardness minerals, which remain as the water evaporates. Partial water changes help keep the water hardness from building up from evaporation. The best way to manage water hardness levels is the Tap Water Filter.

Q: How do I reduce water hardness?
A: Reducing GH can be accomplished with the Water Softener Pillow. The Water Softener Pillow only removes GH and has no effect on KH. The easiest way to reduce GH and KH is with the Tap Water Filter. The Tap Water Filter will make de-ionized water with no GH or KH. You can than adjust the GH and KH with Electro-Right and pH Adjuster or use the de-ionized water to make water changes in your aquarium. Water changes with the Tap Water Filter will gradually reduce GH and KH through dilution. Adding de-ionized water to replace evaporated water prevents water hardness build-up.

View the PDF for complete operating instructions.

View PDF Info Sheet

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