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CO2, pH, KH and alkalinity - limitations
You can only use the pH charts to estimate CO2 concentration where the
only contribution to alkalinity is from carbonate/bicarbonate. If there
is peat, black water extract, wood, humins, significant organic matter
or soil, or other acids and bases in your tap water, the charts are not
very accurate. Also, the CO2 test kits will also be affected by those
acids (and bases). If the KH is rather high and the humins are fairly
low, they can approximate it.
IMHO, you are better off in those situations going strictly by bubble
count and by observing the daily pH fluctutations.
Steve Pushak Vancouver, BC, CANADA
Visit "Steve's Aquatic Page" http://home.infinet.net/teban/
for LOTS of pics, tips and links for aquatic gardening!!!