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#1
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Hardness Test Kits
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 |
#2
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Hardness Test Kits
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 |
#3
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Hardness Test Kits
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 |
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