Product: Tropic Marin KH Alkalinity Test Information:
What does alkalinity mean?
Alkalinity is measure of the concentration of hydrogen carbonate and carbonate ions in water with increasing pH value also the hydroxide ions. The concentration of these ions determines the buffering capacity of water, i.e. the capability to the water to maintain proper pH. If the percentage of hydrogen carbonate and carbonate ions is too low, the pH value of the water mat drop severely (acidity drop) causing a life threatening condition for many invertebrates and fish.
What is the optimal alkalinity?
In a marine aquarium, the alkalinity should be between 8 and 12 ˚dKH (german carbonate hardness). The Tropic Marin KH Alkalinity Test Kit makes it possible to quickly determine the buffering capacity of your aquarium water. This test kit will do approximately 150 tests (depending on test results) that are both fast and accurate.
Directions:
Shake the dropper bottle before use. Rinse the glass vial in tap water. Then several times with aquarium water and fill it with the aquarium water sample up to the 5 ml mark using the measuring syringe. Counting each drop, add KH-test reagent drop by drop (shake vessel lightly after each drop) until the color of the solution turns from GREEN to RED-ORANGE. Each drop of reagent corresponds to one degree of hardness. The total number of the drops used equals the total hardness of the solution in ˚dKH, for ex. 12 drops = 12˚dKH. To increase the accuracy of the measurement, a 10 ml water sample can be used. In this case one drop corresponds to 0,5 ˚dKH, e.g. 15 drops=7,5 ˚dKH. Rinse the glass vial and the measuring syringe with tap water.
When your alkalinity is too high or low: If the values are too low, use Tropic Marin Triple Buffer for adjustment of the alkalinity and the pH value to the optimal marine values. There are many different possibilities for water softening when the alkalinity is too high (above 18 ˚dKH). Ask your local aquarium store for advice. Schedule of water hardness:
Drops
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
dKH (German degree)
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
English degree
1.25
2.5
3.75
5
6.25
7.5
8.75
10
11.25
12.25
French degree
1.78
3.56
5.34
7.12
8.90
10.68
12.46
14.24
16.02
17.80
mg /l (ppm) CaCO 2
17.85
35.70
53.55
71.40
89.25
107.10
124.95
142.80
160.65
178.50
mval /l CaCO 2
0.357
0.713
1.070
1.427
1.783
2.140
2.496
2.853
3.210
3.566
Caution:
