Hi,
I haven't written in a while so bear with me. I am going to purchase some
Hardness Test Kits and would like some input from this newsgroup. I'm
contemplating purchasing the LaMotte Alkalinity (kh), Calcium Hardness (gh),
and Hardness (total). Would I be overdoing it by purchasing all three?
Hardness is sometimes confusing for me. I understand carbonate hardness
(kh)is also called 'alkalinity' and that I add baking soda to increase the
kh and stablize the ph. I understand that calcium hardeness (gh) is also
called 'general hardness' and I am just now experimenting with raising the
gh with gypsum which does not raise my ph of 7.4. Do I need to know the
total hardness (what symbol is it?) and what do I do with that info? add
something?

What gets confusing is when I look thru my catalogs at the test kits shown
and they show alkalinity (ok), carbonate hardenss (ok), hardness (gh or
kh?) calcium (is this a hardness test or just for reef aquariums?), total
hardness(?). Can anyone decipher the question marks for me?

Thanks,
Barbara

Hi,
I have the LaMotte Total Hardness Test Kit. (paperwork says, Direct Reading
Titrator method, Model PHT-DR-LI, Code 4482-DR-LI.) Helped me alot. I add
gypsum also, along with the occasional Sul/Pot/Mag.

--
Wendy* in N. California,

"When you lose, don't lose the lesson." - Dalai Lama


"R&B Thomas" wrote in message
...
Hi,
I haven't written in a while so bear with me. I am going to purchase
some
Hardness Test Kits and would like some input from this newsgroup. I'm
contemplating purchasing the LaMotte Alkalinity (kh), Calcium Hardness
(gh),
and Hardness (total). Would I be overdoing it by purchasing all three?
Hardness is sometimes confusing for me. I understand carbonate hardness
(kh)is also called 'alkalinity' and that I add baking soda to increase
the
kh and stablize the ph. I understand that calcium hardeness (gh) is also
called 'general hardness' and I am just now experimenting with raising the
gh with gypsum which does not raise my ph of 7.4. Do I need to know the
total hardness (what symbol is it?) and what do I do with that info? add
something?

What gets confusing is when I look thru my catalogs at the test kits shown
and they show alkalinity (ok), carbonate hardenss (ok), hardness (gh or
kh?) calcium (is this a hardness test or just for reef aquariums?), total
hardness(?). Can anyone decipher the question marks for me?

Thanks,
Barbara

GH (general hardness) is the total hardness, measuring the total amount of
calcium and magnesium. To get the amount of each, you need to have a
calcium hardness test or a calcium test. The proportions of calcium to
magnesium are important for hydroponics, since plants need both calcium and
magnesium, in certain proportions to get the best growth, and with a total
lack of either, the plants will not grow.

KH is the carbonate hardness, which isn't really a hardness, but a buffering
capability.

Hardness, unless otherwise specified could be either, but I would expect GH.

Personally, the only one that I worry about is the KH.
--
RichToyBox
http://www.geocities.com/richtoybox/pondintro.html


"R&B Thomas" wrote in message
...
Hi,
I haven't written in a while so bear with me. I am going to purchase
some
Hardness Test Kits and would like some input from this newsgroup. I'm
contemplating purchasing the LaMotte Alkalinity (kh), Calcium Hardness
(gh),
and Hardness (total). Would I be overdoing it by purchasing all three?
Hardness is sometimes confusing for me. I understand carbonate hardness
(kh)is also called 'alkalinity' and that I add baking soda to increase
the
kh and stablize the ph. I understand that calcium hardeness (gh) is also
called 'general hardness' and I am just now experimenting with raising the
gh with gypsum which does not raise my ph of 7.4. Do I need to know the
total hardness (what symbol is it?) and what do I do with that info? add
something?

What gets confusing is when I look thru my catalogs at the test kits shown
and they show alkalinity (ok), carbonate hardenss (ok), hardness (gh or
kh?) calcium (is this a hardness test or just for reef aquariums?), total
hardness(?). Can anyone decipher the question marks for me?

Thanks,
Barbara