Is Alkalinity and KH the same?

angela318 · 01/13/2008, 03:47 PM

Is Alkalinity=KH? I only test KH and never test for Alkalinity, just wondering are they the same thing? Thanks!

angela318 · 01/13/2008, 03:51 PM

If I use Calcium Reactor do I need to worry about Calcium and Alkalinity? Which brand is good?

ksouers · 01/13/2008, 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by angela318
Is Alkalinity=KH? I only test KH and never test for Alkalinity, just wondering are they the same thing? Thanks!

Yes, they are the same. KH, also dKH, is the units that alkalinity is measured in. You may also see it as meq/l, this is a single digit with 2 decimals: 3.89 meq/l is roughly equal to 11 dKH.

I'm probably going over some things you already know, forgive me if I do:
If you have corals you have to worry about calcium and alkalinity. A calcium reactor can supply a large amount of calcium, and it will affect (lower) the alkalinity. So, if you use a calcium reactor you would probably want to supplement your top-off water with a kalkwasser drip to help maintain alkalinity.

If you don't have corals, you don't have to worry about either. If you only have a few corals, then a kalkwasser drip is probably all you need to keep your calcium and alkalinity up. A calcium reactor is usually used on large tanks (over 120 gallons) with lots of stony corals.

Using a kalkwasser drip for your top-off will maintain calcium and alkalinity levels and keep them balanced. In either case you will have to maintain your magnesium level (about 1300 ppm) in order to keep your calcium up.

I don't use a calcium reactor so I'm afraid I can't recommend one. So far a kalk drip has been sufficient for my needs. But GEO and Korallin are both talked about favorably, though I'm certain there are other brands that are just as functional if not as well built. It seems that calcium reactor brands, like skimmers, can produce some rather polarizing debates.

Hope this helped.

datablitz · 01/13/2008, 07:28 PM

yes they are the same.

a calcium reactor adds calcium and buffer to the tank, generally maintaing both levels fairly stable. it is important to keep these levels stable in a reef tank either by using a calcium reactor, a doser, or manually adding chemicals daily. if you are adding these products it is very important to be testing your levels.

kalk is generally for more advanced people, it must be used with caution as it has a P of 12 and can crash your tank is used improperly

01/13/2008, 03:47 PM	#1
angela318 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 4	Is Alkalinity and KH the same? Is Alkalinity=KH? I only test KH and never test for Alkalinity, just wondering are they the same thing? Thanks!

01/13/2008, 03:51 PM	#2
angela318 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 4	If I use Calcium Reactor do I need to worry about Calcium and Alkalinity? Which brand is good?

01/13/2008, 07:28 PM	#4
datablitz Moved On Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Blacklick, Ohio Posts: 347	yes they are the same. a calcium reactor adds calcium and buffer to the tank, generally maintaing both levels fairly stable. it is important to keep these levels stable in a reef tank either by using a calcium reactor, a doser, or manually adding chemicals daily. if you are adding these products it is very important to be testing your levels. kalk is generally for more advanced people, it must be used with caution as it has a P of 12 and can crash your tank is used improperly