- Nov 20, 2008
- 30
Now that I understand my pool's chemistry, I want to apply the education I've gotten to my pond and aquarium.
I raise African Cichlids. I'm confused about two terms used in aquarium chemistry General Hardness & Calcium Hardness.
From an African Cichlid website:
General Info On Water Hardness
General Hardness
Total, general or permanent hardness is represented by the letters gH. It is determined by the concentration of calcium and magnesium salts, i.e. the amount of calcium (Ca++) and magnesium (Mg++) ions, which are dissolved in the water. The amount of dissolved minerals is dependent upon the source of the water, and the type of treatment processes it has undergone. Total hardness or general hardness is sometimes referred to as total dissolved salts (TDS).
Hard water (> 200 ppm) is high in calcium and magnesium, while soft water (50 to 100 ppm) is low in these minerals.
Carbonate Hardness
Carbonate, bicarbonate or temporary hardness is formed from the compounds of calcium and magnesium with carbonic acid, i.e. it is the measure of carbonate (CO3-) and bicarbonate (HCO3-) ion concentrations dissolved in the water. It is represented by the letters kH. Their concentration is dependent on the source of the water and the treatment processes it has undergone.
Carbonate hardness helps stabilize the pH value and prevents dangerous drops in the pH value (acid drop or pH crash). It is sometimes referred to as alkalinity. An aquarium with a low kH level (50 ppm or less) will tend to be acidic. Aquariums with these parameters are subject to rapid shifts in pH, if not monitored carefully. Water with a high kH level (> 200 ppm) usually has a high pH. The biological breakdown processes in an aquarium, and the carbon dioxide consumption by plants, deplete the carbonate hardness in the water. Drastic changes in pH values can harm your fish.
Is gH in the fish world the same as CH in the pool world?
Is kH the same as TA?
Could a Taylor K-2005 test kit be used to measure these levels?
I raise African Cichlids. I'm confused about two terms used in aquarium chemistry General Hardness & Calcium Hardness.
From an African Cichlid website:
General Info On Water Hardness
General Hardness
Total, general or permanent hardness is represented by the letters gH. It is determined by the concentration of calcium and magnesium salts, i.e. the amount of calcium (Ca++) and magnesium (Mg++) ions, which are dissolved in the water. The amount of dissolved minerals is dependent upon the source of the water, and the type of treatment processes it has undergone. Total hardness or general hardness is sometimes referred to as total dissolved salts (TDS).
Hard water (> 200 ppm) is high in calcium and magnesium, while soft water (50 to 100 ppm) is low in these minerals.
Carbonate Hardness
Carbonate, bicarbonate or temporary hardness is formed from the compounds of calcium and magnesium with carbonic acid, i.e. it is the measure of carbonate (CO3-) and bicarbonate (HCO3-) ion concentrations dissolved in the water. It is represented by the letters kH. Their concentration is dependent on the source of the water and the treatment processes it has undergone.
Carbonate hardness helps stabilize the pH value and prevents dangerous drops in the pH value (acid drop or pH crash). It is sometimes referred to as alkalinity. An aquarium with a low kH level (50 ppm or less) will tend to be acidic. Aquariums with these parameters are subject to rapid shifts in pH, if not monitored carefully. Water with a high kH level (> 200 ppm) usually has a high pH. The biological breakdown processes in an aquarium, and the carbon dioxide consumption by plants, deplete the carbonate hardness in the water. Drastic changes in pH values can harm your fish.
Is gH in the fish world the same as CH in the pool world?
Is kH the same as TA?
Could a Taylor K-2005 test kit be used to measure these levels?