Glossary

carbonate hardness

Measure of the alkalinity of water as dictated by the presence of bicarbonate and carbonate ions. Usually expressed as parts per million, milligrams per litre, or degrees (dKH) of which 1 dKH corresponds to 17.848 ppm. Sometimes used a synonym for, but not equivalent to, temporary hardness.

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Related terms

alkalinity
Measure of the buffering capacity of a given water body, i.e. its capacity to neutralize acids and bases thereby maintaining a fairly stable pH. Water containing compounds, such as bicarbonates, carbonates, and hydroxides has a stronger such capacity and is referred to as hard water, while water lacking or deficient in them is termed soft water. Soft water aquaria tend to be susceptible to pH crashes if not maintained correctly.
KH
Commonest unit of measurement for carbonate hardness used in aquaria, and an abbreviation of the German term 'Karbonathärte'. 1 degree KH corresponds to a litre of water containing approximately 17.848 milligrams of calcium carbonate in solution.
parts per million
Unit expressing the part of a whole number in units of 1/1000000. Abbreviated to ppm.
synonym
In zoological nomenclature, any of two or more names of the same taxonomic rank used to denote the same taxon. Names referred to as synonyms are not usually valid in the current sense.
temporary hardness
Refers to the portion of hardness in a water body arising from the presence of dissolved calcium hydrogencarbonate and magnesium hydrogencarbonate. These become less soluble as temperature increases so are removed when water is boiled, for example. Temporary hardness is sometimes referred to as, but is not equivalent to, carbonate hardness.

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