Stupid question: is Carbonate hardness PH or alkalinity.
- Thread starter James w Lewis
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Russellaqua
Coral Junkie
Carbonate hardness is neither really, but is most similar to alkalinity. Alkalinity is a measurement of the ability of a water sample to resist pH changes due to the ions present in it. Because the ions in greatest abundance in our tanks (and most natural waters) are products of dissolving calcium and magnesium carbonates/bicarbonates, alkalinity and carbonate hardness can be thought of as essentially the same. On the other hand, pH is a type measurement of the amount of hydrogen ions in a sample (-log [H+].)
Randy Holmes-Farley
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As folks have indicated, alkalinity is the kit to measure the availability of bicarbonate and carbonate ion for corals to make skeletons. It is a critical tst kit. Probably the most important in an established reef.
pH is less important, and I'd use a meter before a kit. I might not even use a pH kit as opposed to just not testing it.
These have more:
The “How To” Guide to Reef Aquarium Chemistry for Beginners, Part 1: The Salt Water Itself
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-03/rhf/index.php
The “How To” Guide to Reef Aquarium Chemistry for Beginners, Part 2: What Chemicals Must be Supplemented
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-04/rhf/index.php
The "How To" Guide to Reef Aquarium Chemistry for Beginners, Part 3: pH
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-05/rhf/index.php
The “How To” Guide to Reef Aquarium Chemistry for Beginners,
Part 4: What Chemicals May Detrimentally Accumulate
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-09/rhf/index.php
pH is less important, and I'd use a meter before a kit. I might not even use a pH kit as opposed to just not testing it.
These have more:
The “How To” Guide to Reef Aquarium Chemistry for Beginners, Part 1: The Salt Water Itself
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-03/rhf/index.php
The “How To” Guide to Reef Aquarium Chemistry for Beginners, Part 2: What Chemicals Must be Supplemented
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-04/rhf/index.php
The "How To" Guide to Reef Aquarium Chemistry for Beginners, Part 3: pH
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-05/rhf/index.php
The “How To” Guide to Reef Aquarium Chemistry for Beginners,
Part 4: What Chemicals May Detrimentally Accumulate
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-09/rhf/index.php
