PerceptivePesce Posted January 13, 2023 Share Posted January 13, 2023 I read somewhere that fluval Ca tests may register results for freshwater. I got a color change so I think it worked! However, the units of measurement fluval uses is mg/L, and I only understand PPM. Is there a way to convert mg/L into ppm? I tried a Google search but I'm getting conflicting info, plus I don't quite grasp what I'm doing. 😁 The results of my test: After adding #2 reagent the water turned hot pink. After adding one drop of the last reagent, #3, the water color did not change. After adding the second drop of reagent #3 the water turned purple. The instructions say to multiply the number of #3 drops by 20mg/L. So I have 40mg of Ca in 340 Liters. What's that in ppm? (I added the "hot pink" distinction because the provided color chart shows a pastel pink. Because of the hot pink I'm thinking a multiplier of 1.5 may be more accurate? ) Help! 😱 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mmiller2001 Posted January 13, 2023 Share Posted January 13, 2023 Mg/L is also ppm. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PerceptivePesce Posted January 13, 2023 Author Share Posted January 13, 2023 On 1/13/2023 at 4:43 PM, Mmiller2001 said: Mg/L is also ppm. Well, that was easy. So I have 40, maybe 30ppm of Ca... The last time I tested GH, 4 days ago, I had 7dGH. I add 3dGH of CaSO4.2H2O and 1dGH MgSO4.7H2O in a 3:1 ratio of Ca:Mg to rodi. So, that must mean there is something leeching Mg in the water, or I'm doing something wrong... I'm gonna do a GH test now! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PerceptivePesce Posted January 13, 2023 Author Share Posted January 13, 2023 I just got 6dGH which is a GH number I've gotten before. It fluctuates between 6 & 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mmiller2001 Posted January 14, 2023 Share Posted January 14, 2023 You should use the ppm to calculate the ratio. ?ppm of Ca=?dGH, ?ppm of Mg=?dGH then add those degrees for total GH. So, 21ppm Ca and 7ppm Mg is a 3:1 (just an example). 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PerceptivePesce Posted January 14, 2023 Author Share Posted January 14, 2023 On 1/13/2023 at 6:22 PM, Mmiller2001 said: You should use the ppm to calculate the ratio. ?ppm of Ca=?dGH, ?ppm of Mg=?dGH then add those degrees for total GH. So, 21ppm Ca and 7ppm Mg is a 3:1 (just an example). Oh, crap! You're right, I forgot! I was just going over my old remin numbers and was confused as to why they didnt match what i just posted. Sorry! My old Ca:Mg numbers, what I've been using, are total 4dGH & the ratio is 3:1ppm. Ugh, now I have to start over. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PerceptivePesce Posted January 14, 2023 Author Share Posted January 14, 2023 Oh, And I was dosing a 4:1 ratio. Oops, heh Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PerceptivePesce Posted January 14, 2023 Author Share Posted January 14, 2023 (edited) I'm starting to understand. These numbers match the fluval test when considering something is definitely leeching into my tank. Increasing the Ca ppm to 30-40 would explain the extra dGH. GH & KH are both going up 2 degrees over what I dose, so it may be CaCO3 leeching because it increases GH & KH equally. I use a digital scale that measures to the hundredths. I think I'll increase the GH I dose by 1 degree and see if the GH goes higher than 7dGH, or if 7dGH is some kind of equilibrium for whatever is leeching. I dont know if that will work, but I guess I'll try. Edited January 14, 2023 by PerceptivePesce 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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