Carbonate Hardness (aka - Alkalinity, Buffering Capacity):

Alkalinity or Carbonate Hardness (KH) is a measure of the buffering capacity of water, or its ability to resist change in pH. Aquariums where alkalinity is allowed to drop too long or too low can often suffer a situation where the pH then “crashes” to levels below 5.0 - leading to very inefficient or total loss of biological filtration and direct irritation or stress on some fish species.

Although commercial chemical buffers are available, natural water relies primarily on a carbonate-bicarbonate buffer system, hence the name hobby use of “carbonate hardness”. Favorable levels of carbonate hardness are between 3° and 10° dH. This kit contains one 10-ml test reagent, a test vial and instructions and recommendations.

This kit is for Freshwater (including outdoor ponds), Brackish and Saltwater.

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