Post by Carl on Feb 5, 2009 10:58:26 GMT -5
I updated my Aquarium GH, KH, pH, minerals article once more.
This time I added more outside resource links, as well I added emphasis on truly understanding GH, which based on my email and what I read elsewhere is still very misunderstood (at least based on the most current research and many of my own past tests)
Even if you have read this article, please look over the overview, GH, and calcium sections once more.
This line in particular is an important point:
It is also noteworthy that a GH test is not always an accurate measure of positive calcium and other mineral ions (cations), as with many Ammonia test kits, they are inaccurate after using products such as Prime and give false positive for ammonia NH3 as they cannot discern the difference between the NH3 and NH4+. The same can be said for GH tests that may show a high GH when in reality all positive calcium ions are depleted due to Redox balancing, which is why one MUST constantly supply these mineral cations by whatever means, whether by regular water changes (which often are not enough, ESPECIALLY in small aquariums) or by use of mineral replenishers such as Wonder Shells (which will throw off accurate readings of GH test kits due to their constant supply of positive mineral ions such as calcium!!!).
Think of it this way; a storage battery "works" only when a positive and a negative electrode are present to maintain an electrical current. When the positive plates become exhausted, the battery is no longer any good.
Aquarium GH, KH, pH, mineral cations, more
Carl
This time I added more outside resource links, as well I added emphasis on truly understanding GH, which based on my email and what I read elsewhere is still very misunderstood (at least based on the most current research and many of my own past tests)
Even if you have read this article, please look over the overview, GH, and calcium sections once more.
This line in particular is an important point:
It is also noteworthy that a GH test is not always an accurate measure of positive calcium and other mineral ions (cations), as with many Ammonia test kits, they are inaccurate after using products such as Prime and give false positive for ammonia NH3 as they cannot discern the difference between the NH3 and NH4+. The same can be said for GH tests that may show a high GH when in reality all positive calcium ions are depleted due to Redox balancing, which is why one MUST constantly supply these mineral cations by whatever means, whether by regular water changes (which often are not enough, ESPECIALLY in small aquariums) or by use of mineral replenishers such as Wonder Shells (which will throw off accurate readings of GH test kits due to their constant supply of positive mineral ions such as calcium!!!).
Think of it this way; a storage battery "works" only when a positive and a negative electrode are present to maintain an electrical current. When the positive plates become exhausted, the battery is no longer any good.
Aquarium GH, KH, pH, mineral cations, more
Carl
