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    Thread: Difference between Total Alkalinity and Calcium Hardness

    1. #1
      McKTX's Avatar
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      Difference between Total Alkalinity and Calcium Hardness

      So I am still a bit confused by the above. If my AL (total alkalinity) is over 180 ppm and my Calcium Hardness is 141. What does this tell me?

      Thank you anyone for helping me understand this.
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      RickF will know the answer.
      people like to vehemently defend their purchases and find it incredulous that anything could be better

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      Quote Originally Posted by Russell Peters View Post
      RickF will know the answer.
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      Quote Originally Posted by Joey S View Post
      You're really on a roll tonight.
      I spoke the truth...
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      Total alkalinity is measure of all alkaline compounds in solution (compounds that can accept a hydrogen ion), whereas carbonate hardness is the measure of buffer capacity (the resistance to change in pH). Some alkali, like sodium hydroxide, contribute to alkalinity, but they do not contribute to buffer capacity (i.e., they do not resist change in pH when an acid is added). Others, like bicarbonate, contribute to both alkalinity and buffer capacity (they resist change in pH by either giving up an H+ or accepting an H+ depending on whether the pH is trying to go up or down). All alkali are counted in total alkalinity, but only those compounds that resist change in pH count towards carbonate hardness.

      The equation for alkalinity is bicarbonate concentration plus 2 x carbonate concentration plus hydroxide concentration minus hydrogen ion concentration. Total alkalinity is important for saltwater aquaria, but it is not very meaningful for ponds. All we need to be concerned about in ponds is pH and KH.

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      So in a nutshell, don't bother to test for total alkalinity when testing. CA at 141 is OK and pond pH ( it is 8) should remain stable that that test level. Have I got it? if so thank you!
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      You've got it. If you are growing live coral, then you need to know total alkalinity as that has an effect on the abiliity of coral to take up calcium and carbonate from the water, but for freshwater applications, total alkalinity is not important.

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      I may be wrong, but a big portion of the total alkalinity as tested is bicarb KH. Some test kits measure KH, and some say they measure Total Alkalinity.

      Calcium Hardness to me is another name for GH, since it does not state carbonate.

      Calcium Hardness and Alkalinity are the names used by Sensafe for KH and GH respectively.
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      I think there is confusion here, that is confusing carbonate hardness and calcium hardness, which I agree with the explanations above.

      Another easy way to explain the difference. "Carbonate hardness" controls the pH when it swings on the low end of the scale. "Calcium hardness" controls the pH when it swings on the high end of the scale.
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      Nice answer

      Quote Originally Posted by RickF View Post
      Total alkalinity is measure of all alkaline compounds in solution (compounds that can accept a hydrogen ion), whereas carbonate hardness is the measure of buffer capacity (the resistance to change in pH). Some alkali, like sodium hydroxide, contribute to alkalinity, but they do not contribute to buffer capacity (i.e., they do not resist change in pH when an acid is added). Others, like bicarbonate, contribute to both alkalinity and buffer capacity (they resist change in pH by either giving up an H+ or accepting an H+ depending on whether the pH is trying to go up or down). All alkali are counted in total alkalinity, but only those compounds that resist change in pH count towards carbonate hardness.

      The equation for alkalinity is bicarbonate concentration plus 2 x carbonate concentration plus hydroxide concentration minus hydrogen ion concentration. Total alkalinity is important for saltwater aquaria, but it is not very meaningful for ponds. All we need to be concerned about in ponds is pH and KH.

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