alkalinity confusion

[Jennifier615]

I thought I was ok using my test kit and now I feel kinda confused. When I test I have to take an allotted amount of water from my tank then add drops until a color change......I understand this process what I am confused of is the conversion chart. I take the number of drops and divide by two then there is a conversion chart depending on what you want the final units to be in. I am confused as to what this means in terms to pH. It goes into some huge explanation on aeration and gas exchange as to the true reading of pH.



What are the desirable range?

I've read and the more I read the more I am getting confused.

 

[commonstranger]

Jennifer not sure what kind your using. I would get a Salifert test kit or some kind that has a simple number chart to go off of. You look at see what number the syringe is on then look at the chart and thats it.

 

[Jennifier615]

ok thats not my issue. my issue is from that number how does that convert into pH or am I confusing pH with carbonate hardness?

 

[luckyfish]

Jennifer I'm bot sure but it sounds like you are confusing the 2. pH (partial hydrogen) is a measure of H ions in solution and is expressed from 0-14 (acidic to basic). Distilled water has a pH of 7 salt water 8.0-8.4. Alkalinity is a measure of a solution's ability to resist changes in pH or put another way its buffering capacity and is often measured in DKH (degrees of carbonate hardness) or meq/L (millequivalents per litter).

What test are you using and what are you trying to measure?

 

[Pickupman66]

Great Explanation there Lucky....

 

[Jennifier615]

ok I guess that was what I was confused about so how is it you add an alkaline solution to buffer it doesn't affect pH. I understand the acid/base scale. I understand what a buffer is.......I am having a complete lapse in brain activity to understand just how carbonate hardness works in relation to pH.

 

[Pickupman66]

I tihnk from what Lucky said, the greater your carbonate hardness, the less likey your PH will fluctuate. or at least that is what I got out of it. also higher KH allow for higher CA levels too.

This is what a CA reactor does. it adds a very KH rich water to your tank in low doses to Maintain the levels you are at. basically for stability to replinish what is consumed with Coral growth.