dkh vs alkalinity

N

nrbelk

New member
I just received my Hanna Alkalinity test kit. I was super excited because I was going to use it to help me make sure I'm doing home-dosing the right way.

But as I was thinking I realized alkalinity is different than dkh. Did I get the wrong type of test kit? I was planning on using that one home recipe that uses baking soda. From my reading I see that dkh depends on the carbon bases that are in the water while I know that Alkalinity deals more with PH.

Why do they seem to be used interchangeably for each other?

Can I safely use the alkalinity test kit to determine my levels? I hope I can cause those Hanna testers aren't that cheap... :(

Thanks
 
its the same thing

ALK = amount of acid needed to lower PH of the sample to 4.5

hanna measures it in PPM.

We are used to DKH

so take the reading of Hanna in PPM lets say 125 PPM,

then : 125 * 0.056 = 7 dKh


alk is amount of CARBONATE in water. co3.
 
Last edited:
Alkaline is the measurement of all the base of water, or how base the water is. I think.

Much like an acidity test would measure the sum of all the acids in the water. I think dkh is the Carbonate measurement. That is why I'm confused. They are different but used to measure the same thing?

Is that right?
 
Not to be confrontational, but Alkiline is not a word.

Here is the definition for alkalinity:

alkaline condition; the quality that constitutes an alkali.

(source - http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/alkalinity)

And here is the definition for alkaline:

of, relating to, containing, or having the properties of an alkali or alkali metal : basic; especially of a solution : having a pH of more than 7

(source - http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/alkalinity)

from your link I am able to see how I can look at my alkaline value and determine my dkh but why? And is it always safe to do so?

I feel like I don't understand the connection. Why we can take the two different measurements to mean the same thing.

Thanks for replying, I appreciate the help.
 
ok, I think I might be understanding my problem.

Carbonates are the same thing as what makes a solution base?
 
lol you asked, I answered,

I bet you didnt even read the link ? LOL

haha what's wrong with u man ? you want to know about ALKALINITY ? I answered u !

some ppl make u feel sorry u try to help them

ahahah
GOOD LUCK TO YOU in all steps of life !
 
nrbelk said:
ok, I think I might be understanding my problem.

Carbonates are the same thing as what makes a solution base?
Click to expand...

carbonate = co3 = what you said, yes, makes solution more base


how do you measure it ? by adding acid ;) lol

its ALL ON THE ARTICLE, with chemical formulas.
lol
 
ah, my bad. I just saw the chart and didn't think to check the explanation as to why.

All good now.

But really Allmost, I think you need to calm down. Instead of saying stuff like:

haha what's wrong with u man ? you want to know about ALKALINITY ? I answered u !

some ppl make u feel sorry u try to help them

ahahah
GOOD LUCK TO YOU in all steps of life !
Click to expand...

work with me. I was trying to understand and was pointing out to you what I thought might be an error and was confusing me. So I did research on the word to make sure I understood what I was going to say, much like you found that paper that explains why I can use both tests to measure the same thing.
 
your are right :) I meant it in a joking way, but I see how it looks now,

my apology :)+

PS. search for Randy Holmes papers, he is on chemistry forums here and has a set of amazing articles which can help you alot.
 
LOL I had the same experience as the OP. I was very bummed that I was doing something wrong until I actually looked at the paper that comes with the Hanna checker and saw the formula between the two(aka multiply the result from the checker by 0.056) :)
 
ya, I believe his are the homemade dosing instructions I'm planning on using. I hadn't seen this article before.

Sure makes me happy to know that I didn't waste 50 dollars on a test that I didn't need lol.
 
Wow, ok so here goes.

Alkalinity is a property of a solution. It tells you how many basic groups are present in the solution to take up acid.

dkH is the unit of alkalinity. It is the measure that we use to put a number to it. Other options are meq/L and ppm CaCO3. Any of these units can be converted to the others.

The analogy is this. Alkalinity is to temperature as dkH is to degrees Fahrenheit. One is the property and the other is the unit. You could measure temperature in degrees Celsius or even in Kelvins if you wanted. But you are still measuring temperature.
 
lol, I thought I looked for a formula on the instructions and so I went straight to the internet with my *gasp* 89 ppm alkalinity reading. Then that is when the confusion started lol.

Might explain more why my corals seem to crow crazy right after a water change and then slows down a lot until the next water change lol. (I already knew that I would be low, but I didn't realize it was that low)
 
nrbelk said:
ok, I think I might be understanding my problem.

Carbonates are the same thing as what makes a solution base?
Click to expand...

Base is what makes a solution basic. Base is defined either as a chemical species with an lone pair of electrons or as a chemical species which can neutralize an acid. The two definitions are almost the same, but not quite.

Carbonate is one of many many bases that exist. It is the main contributor to the alkalinity in our seawater.
 
ah, thanks, both to Allmost and to Disc1.

I'm finally able to connect the pieces in my head and rest easy :)
 
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