question about test kits.

[electrikat]

Is carbonate/total hardness the same as alkalinity when it comes to buying a test kit?

 

[LittlePuff]

No. Alkalinity refers to the Ph, hardness refers to the mineral content (mostly calcium) and buffering capacity.


Kim

 

[steve-s]

Alkalinity measures the waters ability to resist changes in pH it does not refer to or measure the pH. A measure of alkalinity in our case (SW) is the total carbonate and bicarbonate in the water. Which in turn is KH and the same as alkalinity, ie... dKH.

GH is the measure of calcium and magnesium combined in the water and a useless measure in terms of SW chemistry. In order for these two elements to make sense they must be quantified seperately.

Cheers
Steve

 

[electrikat]

Thanks ya'll. I'll be asking about the relationship between ca and alk when the alk test gets here in a few days.