ALK, PH and KH

[kksg2000]

Hi,

Are Dkh and ALK the same thing? Do i have to buy both KH and ALK test kits?

[albinosage]

Googled that for you:

Carbonate hardness, or Carbonate alkalinity is a measure of the alkalinity of water caused by the presence of carbonate (CO32-) and bicarbonate (HCO3-) ions. It is usually expressed either as parts per million (ppm or mg/L), or in degrees KH (dKH). -- Alkalinity, reef.org

Alkalinity is a measure of the pH buffering capacity of water. It indicates the concentration of carbonate (CO3)2-,hydrogen bicarbonate (HCO3)-, borate (BO3)3-, sulphate (SO4)2-, and hydroxide (OH)- anions. -- Wiki

I found this article very useful when learning reef chemistry for the first time last weekend: Reef Aquarium Water Parameters

Short and quick answer: if you don't know, then just assume it's the same cos they are co-related. There's a Salifert test kit for ALK that also gives the equivalent in dKH, because it is a good enough indicator. You should get a very clear picture from reading the above articles.

[kksg2000]

Googled that for you:

I found this article very useful when learning reef chemistry for the first time last weekend: Reef Aquarium Water Parameters

Short and quick answer: if you don't know, then just assume it's the same cos they are co-related. There's a Salifert test kit for ALK that also gives the equivalent in dKH, because it is a good enough indicator. You should get a very clear picture from reading the above articles.

Is Salifert test kit good? I brought a Salifert PO4 test kit yesterday, i could hardly compare the test with the color chart ... i couldn't tell with my eyes..

[albinosage]

I think it is pretty accurate. Other test kits like API are worse.

[albinosage]

Oh and for the PO4, if you can't tell the colours, you can double the water tested and the PO4-1, PO4-2 reagents, then divide the reading by 2 for a clearer result if it is too low on the spectrum to see the blueness.

[kksg2000]

Hi,

I am still have doubts about these 3 parameters. My question is, KH = ALK? If i did a test on KH, should i get another test kit for ALK? For some reasons, i couldn't get a result from my Redsea ALK test kit.

Tks.

[onizukaa]

1) PH got PH test kit/meter to measure which good range is ~ 8.1 to 8.3 (am using a ph pen to measure) ph pen

2) KH i am using salifert to test which good range is (8 ~ 12dKH), alk and kh is the same test kit.

salifert kh/alk tester

The total carbonate and bicarbonate concentration is also called alkalinity (alk) or carbonate hardness (KH)

Click this link for more info

[kksg2000]

alk and kh is the same test kit

If i test KH, am i also testing alk? same?

[Goondoo]

If i test KH, am i also testing alk? same?

Bro,

There are different theories on this..... unlikely you can find a definite answer here.

[albinosage]

Bro,

There are different theories on this..... unlikely you can find a definite answer here.

Hi bro, dHK is the measurement of alkalinity caused by the presence of carbonate and bicarbonate.

There is no discernible difference between dKH and alkalinity for reefers playing with reef chemistry on a hobby level (correct me if I'm wrong). The test kits sold out there for dKH and ALK is actually testing for alkalinity. Rather than to develop a separate hobby test kit for dKH to measure the level of carbonate and bicarbonate, it is widely accepted that the measurement of alkalinity equivalent is enough.

Anyway kksg, you posted the same topic just 2 weeks back and I already replied with a series of articles. Maybe you didn't see it, but I think it's better to continue the same thread in future rather than to start a new one for the exact same topic.

Edited June 29, 2010 by binosage
Merged threads

[kksg2000]

Hi bro, dHK is the measurement of alkalinity caused by the presence of carbonate and bicarbonate.

There is no discernible difference between dKH and alkalinity for reefers playing with reef chemistry on a hobby level (correct me if I'm wrong). The test kits sold out there for dKH and ALK is actually testing for alkalinity. Rather than to develop a separate hobby test kit for dKH to measure the level of carbonate and bicarbonate, it is widely accepted that the measurement of alkalinity equivalent is enough.

Anyway kksg, you posted the same topic just 2 weeks back and I already replied with a series of articles. Maybe you didn't see it, but I think it's better to continue the same thread in future rather than to start a new one for the exact same topic.

ya bro. thanks. you cleared my doubts.