Carbonate & Total Hardness Test Kit for Freshwater & Saltwater

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 stabalize water pH. Carbonate Hardness is also an important source of energy for nitrifying bacteria that eliminate ammonia and nitrite. In addtion carbonates are used by plants for photosynthesis when carbon dioxide is absent. _____________________________________________________________________________________