Calcium is not the only substance needed to form the skeletal material of corals and allow calcareous algae to grow. Carbonate and bicarbonate are also needed and these two substances can have a major effect on stabilizing or buffering pH levels in the aquarium in the correct range of 8.1 to 8.4.The total carbonate and bicarbonate concentration is also called alkalinity or carbonate hardness and for a stable system the alkalinity should not fluctuate by more than 5% from the optimum level of approx. 2.8 meq/L i.e. a maximum fluctuation of 0.14 meq/L.The Salifert test is sensitive enough to detect small changes in levels of alkalinity, measuring in steps of 0.1 meq/L and demonstrating a very sharp color change.Sufficient for 100 to 200 tests.The Salifert KH + pH buffer additive makes correction of the alkalinity or carbonate hardness simple and does not upset the pH of the systemCan be used for marine water, frewshwater and garden pond water.Warning!The KH/Alkalinity reageant contains a dye. Avoid spilling the dye on fabric and other materials since they may become stained. Keep out of reach of children. Not for consumption.INSTRUCTIONS for usage Add with the 5ml syringe 4ml of water in the test vial. For a lower resolution and more tests per kit add 2 instead of 4ml. Shake the KH-Ind dropping bottle a few times and add 2 drops in the test vial (1 drop for the low resolution mode). Put the plastic tip firmly on the 1ml syringe. And draw into the syringe the KH reagent (ensure that the end of the plastic tip is constantly submersed in the KH reagent) till the lower end of the black mark of the piston is exactly at the 1.00ml mark. There will be some air present just below the piston. This is the air which was present between the end of the piston and the plastic tip. This will not influence the test result. Add dropwise with the 1ml syringe the KH reagent to the water in the test tube. Swril after each drop a second or two. Continue with this until the colour changes from blue/green to a orange-red or pink colour (whichever colour is observed first). Hold the syringe with the tip facing upwards and read the position of the now, the upper end, of the black part of the piston. The syringe has graduations of 0.01ml. Read the KH or alkalinity value from the table or calculate as follows. KH in dKH = (1 - reading in step5) x 16 Alk in meq/L = (1 - reading in step5) x 5.71 If you've chosen for the lower resolution multiply the calculated result by 2. Natural seawater has a KH of 8 dKH or alkalinity of 2.9 meq/L. KH and alkalinity are increased safely with Salifert's KH + pH Buffer.
