General Hardness & Carbonate in Water Test Kit (H-17830) 35 Tests

Product details (archived)

The information below is retained for reference only. This item is discontinued and cannot be ordered.

General Hardness is a measure of all the dissolved salts in the water. This concentration of dissolved salts affects the osmotic regulation systems in fish. In addition, General Hardness influences calcium levels in the blood. The General Hardness should correspond to the original habitat of the species being kept. Carbonate Hardness (commonly called alkalinity) is a measurement of the capacity for water to neutralize an acid, known as the buffering capacity. It is an important component of water chemistry because it helps stabilize water pH. Carbonate Hardness is also an important source of energy for nitrifying bacteria that eliminate ammonia and nitrite. In addition carbonates are used by plants for photosynthesis when carbon dioxide is absent.

Instructions:
General Hardness-Take a sample of the water to be tested and fill the test tube to the 5ml line. Add 1 drop of GH Reagent into the test tube, insert cap and shake well. Avoid skin contact while mixing. Continue to add one drop at a time and shake after each addition. Count the number of drops until the color changes from pink to blue. Multiply the total number of drops by 20 to determine the General Hardness in mg/L (ppm). Carbonate Hardness-Take a sample of the water to be tested and fill the test tube to the 5ml line. Add 1 drop of KH reagent into the test tube, insert cap and shake well to mix. Continue to add a drop at a time and shake after each addition. Count the number of drops it takes for the color to change from blue to a yellow/lime color. Multiply the total number of drops by 10 to determine the carbonate hardness in mg/L (ppm).

Contains - 1 bottle of carbonate hardness reagent, 1 bottle of general hardness reagent, 1 glass test tube with cap, 1 pipette, 1 lab base, and 1 instruction booklet.