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Mineral Chemistry
KH vs Alkalinity Distinction
The precise distinction between carbonate hardness (KH) and total alkalinity - important for reef precision but often conflated in freshwater.
Unit: dKH vs meq/L Code: KH_ALK
📖 Overview
KH measures carbonate and bicarbonate. Total alkalinity measures ALL buffering ions (carbonate + bicarbonate + borate + hydroxide). In freshwater with negligible borate, KH ≈ alkalinity. In seawater, borate contributes measurably. Reef test kits measure total alkalinity (2.5-4.5 meq/L or 7-11 dKH) - not pure KH.