- What is Carbonate Hardness (KH)?
Carbonate hardness, also known as alkalinity, is the measure of carbonate and bicarbonate concentrations dissolved in water. These minerals are present in municipal, well, and bottled water. The level of carbonate hardness in tap and bottled water depends on the source of the water and the treatment processes it has undergone. Carbonate hardness helps stabilize pH in the aquarium. An aquarium with a low KH level will tend to be acidic. Aquariums with very low KH are subject to rapid pH shifts if not monitored carefully. Water with a high KH level usually has a high pH.
- What is General Hardness (GH)?
General hardness is the measure of calcium and magnesium ion concentrations dissolved in water. These minerals are present in municipal, well, and bottled spring water. The level of general hardness in tap and bottled water depends on the source of the water and the treatment processes it has undergone. Hard water is high in calcium and magnesium, while soft water is low in these minerals.
- How do I care for and clean my test tubes?
Once the test has completed, it is important to rinse the test tube with water right away so that the contents don’t stay in the test tube. This will make sure that the reagents don’t cause anything to stick to the sides of the test tube, which could cause staining over time.
Simply run the water, open the test tube gently (do not twist the cap), and allow the water to dilute and rinse the contents out of the test tube. Avoid getting the contents of the test tube on your skin.
If you find that you have forgotten reagent within your test tube for a long period and the color is sticking to the tube, you are able to use a small bottle brush (and some API Safe & Easy cleaning spray) to gently wash the inside of the tube. Avoid the use of soap, as soap residue could be introduced back into the aquarium when filling the test tube at next use, which is something that could be harmful to your fish.
Replacement test tubes are also available for purchase from online retailers, should you need additional test tubes.
- How hard do I shake the test tube when performing the tests?
While it is important to shake the indicated reagent bottles very vigorously, you should be gentler when shaking the test tubes during testing. Before shaking, make sure that the cap is closed tight. Place a finger or thumb on top of the cap, to make sure it cannot come undone during use. The goal of this shaking step is to mix the contents of the tube together and this can be accomplished by simply inverting the test tube, back and forth every 1-2 seconds, for the indicated amount of time.
- Ni nini ugumu wa kaboni (KH)? Ugumu wa carbonate, pia inajulikana kama alkalinity, ni kipimo cha carbonate na bicarbonate mkusanyiko kufutwa katika maji. Madini hayo yanapatikana katika maji ya manispaa, visima, na maji ya chupa. Kiwango cha ugumu wa kaboni katika maji ya bomba na chupa hutegemea chanzo cha maji na michakato ya matibabu ambayo imepitia. Ugumu wa kaboni husaidia kudumisha kiwango cha pH katika akwariamu. Akwariamu yenye kiwango cha chini cha KH itakuwa na mwelekeo wa kuwa na asidi. Aquariums na chini sana KH ni chini ya mabadiliko ya haraka pH kama si kufuatiliwa kwa uangalifu. Maji yenye kiwango cha juu cha KH kwa kawaida huwa na pH ya juu. - Ni nini Ugumu wa Jumla (GH)? Ugumu wa jumla ni kipimo cha mkusanyiko wa ioni za kalsiamu na magnesiamu zilizomenyolewa katika maji. Madini hayo yanapatikana katika maji ya chemchemi ya manispaa, visima, na chupa. Kiwango cha ugumu wa maji ya bomba na maji ya chupa inategemea chanzo cha maji na taratibu za matibabu ambayo imepitia. Maji magumu yana kiasi kikubwa cha kalsiamu na magnesiamu, huku maji laini yakiwa na kiasi kidogo cha madini hayo. - Ninaweza kutunza na kusafishaje mirija yangu ya majaribio? Mara baada ya mtihani umekamilika, ni muhimu kuosha tube ya mtihani na maji mara moja ili maudhui ya kukaa katika tube ya mtihani. Hii itahakikisha kwamba reagents si kusababisha kitu chochote kushikamana na pande za tube mtihani, ambayo inaweza kusababisha staining baada ya muda. Kuendesha maji, kufungua tube ya majaribio kwa upole (usigeuze cap), na kuruhusu maji dilute na kuosha maudhui nje ya tube ya majaribio. Epuka kupata yaliyomo ya bomba la majaribio kwenye ngozi yako. Kama wewe ni kuangalia kwa ajili ya reagent katika tube yako ya majaribio kwa muda mrefu na rangi ni kushikamana na tube, unaweza kutumia brush ndogo chupa (na baadhi ya API salama na rahisi kusafisha dawa) kwa upole kuosha ndani ya tube. Usitumie sabuni, kwa sababu mabaki ya sabuni yanaweza kuingizwa tena ndani ya aquarium wakati wa kujaza bomba la jaribio wakati wa matumizi ya pili, ambayo inaweza kuwa na madhara kwa samaki wako. Vipuli vya jaribio vya kubadilisha pia vinapatikana kwa ununuzi kutoka kwa wauzaji wa mtandaoni, ikiwa unahitaji vijiko vya jaribio vya ziada. - Ni kwa nguvu gani ninapozungusha bomba la majaribio ninapofanya majaribio? Wakati ni muhimu kutikisa vifurushi vya reagent vilivyoonyeshwa kwa nguvu sana, unapaswa kuwa mpole zaidi wakati wa kutikisa mirija ya majaribio wakati wa majaribio. Kabla ya kutikisa, hakikisha kwamba kifuniko kimefungwa kwa nguvu. Weka kidole au kidole gumba juu ya kofia, ili kuhakikisha haiwezi kuondolewa wakati wa matumizi. Lengo la hatua hii ya kutikisa ni kuchanganya yaliyomo kwenye bomba pamoja na hii inaweza kutimizwa kwa kugeuza tu bomba la jaribio, nyuma na mbele kila sekunde 1-2 kwa muda ulioonyeshwa.