Tam's post really shook me up. My tank's kH is usually way off the chart, so I thought I had nothing to worry about with pH swings, but I recently checked with our Gilbert water plant, and they said the kH was really low...the range went down as low as four! I'm not sure what is going on with my water cuz its always been that high, and its about 100+ ppms higher than their given range. I'm really scared it might drop. Their pH range is also at least a full .5 ppms lower, so if there was a pH swing, it would definately kill my fish.

My question...Do they sell a drop test kit for kH? I used to have the test strips but they are out and they were SO expensive (not to mention, inaccurate).

I thought Aquarium Pharmaceuticals sold a kH drop test kit. *checking their site*
Yup they do, one for Freshwater/Saltwater kH and a Freshwater gH & kH drop test. Doesn't look like you can order it from them though. Maybe Dr. Fosters & Smith?
I'm actually looking for one myself after Tam's post.
~ Jessica

i got my little one for 6 bucks at petsmart

i found it online too if you don't have one nearby, here's the link. if anyone wants to do a little online shopping, i got a mailer today offering 10% off any order $50 or more, at the checkout page enter coupon code DISCTEN.

http://www.petsmart.com/global/product_det...D=1126310976111

Psh, I guess they don't include kH and gH in your masterkit lol. I guess it gives a good reason to jack up the price on the individual kH!! I'll take a look next time I'm at Petsmart, tho I doubt they'll have it...they never have anything important lol.

Hey Lauren, I bought the tetratest laborett master kit, for $20 it has Kh, Gh, Ph, Amonia, Nitrates, Nitrites and CO2, I dunno it's accuracy yet but it was a great price for all those.

Hey Tam..could you tell me how high the pH goes on the test kit? Is it the drop kind? I can't afford the strips cuz they run out SO quickly. Is testing CO2 for planted tanks only? Isn't that the waste product of breathing? I'm not good in chem class.

Yes they're the drops. The pH goes up to 10ppm. I believe so, yes CO2 is for planted tanks.

Tell me if its acurate soon I still have an average of half left of my master kit (man I blew right threw that one!!) and I'm really low on cash. Do you know if I can just purchase the single kH for now?

They sell single Kh tests yes. But they're like $7-8.00.

Yikes! x_X

Man..I gotta do more chores. $20 bucks a month allowance isn't cutting my fishy costs lol. Anyways, I'll probably buy the AP kH separately for now. When I begin running low on all of them I'll probably get the tetratest laborett next, since it is about the same price but has kH and gH. I'll try really hard to get it before my goldfish, also. My existing money will be spent soon after I get my filters from smack and graham (even though they are free-VERY low priced) and a python syphon. Those pythons are expensive!

Alway's good to know your kh & the gh levels for base lines. We've put less importance on the gh though, instead focusing on kh. But recent findings have shown gh to be something just as important. In green water/algae situations, if the gh isn't there, the ph can actually raise.... It seems the gh supports the kh & ph. While Kh maintains your ph and keeps it from going down, the gh in its own turn, keeps the ph from raising too high....

If the gh is low, its simple to raise. Calcium Carbonate and magnesium in equal parts.. for our AQ's, the kents marine calcium works, and good ol epsome salt is your magnesium.... Doesn't take much. I've used those to buffer my pond with heavy rain even, along with good ol baking soda......

kissy im preety sure nutrafin do a kH drop tester, i reckon its about 6-7$ goodluck

lol. na kissy, not in my master. i didn't even know what kh was when i got that though; so i didn't know i was missing anything

this is my first time hearing about Kh..what is it and what is the purpose of tsting it....

Kh is the carbonate in your water, it 'buffers' your pH so it doesn't crash. If you want to see the devestating effects of NOT testing it and actualy having your tank crash, go browse my recent post.

I'm using the tetra KH test.