KH test ? How to determine ?

[torque6]

I have done the following pics, since KH/GH test dont have any color chart, was wondering if anyone can pinpoint which drop signifies my KH right now.

The numbering refers to no. of drops.

[PeterGwee]

0.

Regards,
Peter Gwee

[torque6]

Peter, i dont have a pic with zero

[blue33]

For my API test kits, it turns from blue to yellow, so how many drops to turn yellow will be how many KH/GH. So i guess yours straight away turn to yellow is ZERO.

[torque6]

So my tank water and tap water no difference then, i tested tap water and it doesnt turn the water to blue as well. KH seems to be 0

[Shadow]

yes singapore tap water is low kH

By the way if you are using ADA or GEX you will see low kH as well, both product have kH lowering property

[torque6]

thanks shadow, looks like will be difficult to determine co2 levels with KH=0....

[Shadow]

yup, that is why drop checker coming handy

and if you do decide to use drop checker, make sure to use kH=4 solution instead of your tank water.

[torque6]

ya, i seen those drop checkers inside the same box as the drop checkers, but i am not sure where to get the replacements for them once there is no more solutions.

[ronang]

It's the same solution as in a ph test kit. You should buffer your tank water a little if you inject CO2, if not the ph can swing like mad when the solenoid switches on and off, or if your bubble rate is not set properly. Use Sodium Bicarbonate to do that. Buffer it to 4 KH, then you can use your tank water for the drop checker as well.

The API test kit is good for KH (easy to see blue to yellow). The GH part is really difficult to see as the colour change is very slight and you will have to look carefully, put a peice of white paper under the test tube and you ill be able to see the change on the first drop. BTW the GH is close to zero in your test.

[Shadow]

That not necessary true if you are using ADA or GEX (not sure for other brand) because it has pH buffering capability as well as kH lowering capability.

[PeterGwee]

The pH crash issue with CO2 injection is just a myth. You cannot measure the water if the KH is near to or zero since the pH/KH relationship breaks down and that is all. A dropchecker takes that issue out of the equation since it doesn't get influenced by the tank water. The only issue with the dropchecker is its response time and your ability to interprete colours.

Regards,
Peter Gwee

[torque6]

Peter,
Agree, that PH crash issue with co2 injection is a myth. Believe you have posted similarly on some threads couple of weeks back. As long as the drop checker is able to determine co2 levels, im still fine with it.

[noblespirit]

hi all.
i thought yellow is suppose to be 1 deg.?since blue is suppose to be zero,the drip count continue till it turn from blue to yellow?please correct me if i am wrong.a little confuse too.