A LK A LIN ITY A N D

H A R D N ESS

Chem icalVariables:
TotalAlkalinity
Total Alkalinity: the total amount of

titratable bases in water expressed as mg/L of

equivalent CaCO3.
Alkalinity is primarily composed of the

following ions: CO3-. HCO3-. hydroxides.

ammonium. borates. silicates. phosphates.
Alkalinity in ponds is determined by both the
quality of the water and bottom muds.
Calcium is often added to water to increase its
alkalinity. buffer against pH changes.

TotalAlkalinity
Total alkalinity = 200 mg/L. Good buffering

capacity of a water source.

Freshwater 5 mg/L (soft water) to 500 mg/L

(hard water).
Seawater ~ 115-120 mg/L.
Seldom see pH problems in natural seawater.
Alkalinity < 30 mg/L? Problem?

TotalAlkalinity
Total Alkalinity (TA) level can be associated with
several potential problems in aquaculture:
If TA< 50 mg/L: copper compounds are more
toxic. avoid their use as algicides (copper sulfate)
Natural waters with less than 40 mg/L alkalinity
as CaCO3 have limited biofiltration capacity. pH
independent (What does this mean?)
Low alkalinity = low CO2 --> low natural
productivity
Low alkalinity equals low pH.

TotalH ardness
Total Hardness: total concentration of metal

ions expressed in terms of mg/L of equiva- lent

CaCO3.
Primary ions are Ca2+ and Mg2+. also iron and

manganese.
Total Hardness approximates total alkalinity.
Calcium is used for bone and exoskeleton
formation and absorbed across gills.
Soft water = molt problems.
bone deformities....
or minimally...clogged pipes!

CONVERSION OF WATER HARDNESS UNITS

Water
Interna Physica Americ English French German
o
o
o
Hardness
tional
l
a&
e
f
dH
Unit
recomm measur states
Definition ended
es
PPM
mmol/li mval/lit
ter
er
100mg
CaCO3
per 1000
ml water

28 mg CaO
1 part
1
or 50 mg CaCO3 per grainCaCO3
CaCO3
million = 1
per
per 1000 mg CaCO3
gallon=
ml water
14.3 mg
per 1000
ml water CaCO3 per
1000 ml
water

10 mg/
CaCO3
per 1000
ml water

10 mg/CaO
per 1000
ml water

1 mmol/litre

100

7.0

10.00

5.6

1 mval/litre

0.5

50

3.5

5.00

2.8

1 PPM

0.01

0.02

0.070

0.10

0.056

1 Oe

0.1429

0.285

14.29

1.429

0.7999

1 Of

0.10

0.20

10.00

0.700

0.5599

DEGREE OF HARDNESS EXPRESION

SOFT: < 1.6 mmol/l = 160 PPM = 9 odH
SLIGHTLY HARD: 1.6-3.2 mmol/l = 160-320 PPM = 9-18 odH
HARD: 3.2-4.6 mmol/l = 320-460 PPM = 18-26 odH
VERY HARD: ABOVE 4.6 mmol/l = ABOVE 460 PPM =
ABOVE 26 odH

Chem icalVariables: pH
pH: the level or intensity of a

substances acidic or basic character.

pH: the negative logarithm of the
hydrogen ion concentration (activity) of
a substance.
pH = -log(1/[H+]).
Ionization of water is low (1x10-7 moles
of H+/L and 1x10-7 moles OH-/L).
Neutral pH = similar levels of H+ and
OH-

Chem icalVariables: pH
At acidic pH levels. the quantity of H+

predominates.
Acidic pH = pH < 7. basic = pH >7
Most natural waters: pH of 5-10. usually 6.5-9;
however. there are exceptions.
Acid rain. pollution.
Can change due to atm. CO2 , fish respiration.
pH of ocean water is stable (carbonate buffering
system. later).

Chem icalVariables: pH
Other sources of change:
Decay of organic matter.
Oxidation of compounds in bottom sediments.
Depletion of CO2 by phytoplankton on diel

basis.
Oxidation of sulfide containing minerals in
bottom soils (e.g.. oxidation of iron pyrite by
sulfide oxidizing bacteria under anaerobic
conditions).

Chem icalVariables:
Carbon D ioxide
Normal component of all natural waters.
Sources: atmospheric diffusion. respiration

of cultured species. biological oxidation of

organic compounds.
Usually transported in the blood as HCO3 Converted to CO2 at the gill interface.

diffusion into medium.

As the level of CO2 in the medium increases.
the gradient allowing diffusion is less.

Chem icalVariables:
Carbon D ioxide
This causes blood CO2 levels to increase.

lowering blood pH.

With lower blood pH. carrying capacity of
hemoglobin decreases. also binding affinity for
oxygen to hemoglobin.
This phenomenon is known as the Bohr-Root
effect.
CO2 also interferes with oxygen uptake by
eggs and larvae.

CO 2 LevelAff
ects H em oglobin
Saturation

Chem icalVariables: carbon

dioxide
In the marine environment. excesses of

CO2 are mitigated by the carbonate

buffering system.
CO2 reacts with water to produce H2CO3.
carbonic acid.
H2CO3 reacts with CaCO3 to form HCO3(bicarbonate) and CO32- (carbonate).
As CO2 is used for photosynthesis. the

reaction shifts to the left. converting

bicarbonates back to CO2.
What large-scale implications does this

The Eff
ect ofpH on Carbonate
Buff
ering

Chem icalVariables: carbon dioxide

Concentrations of CO2

are small. even though

it is highly soluble in
water
inverse relationship
between [CO2] and
temperature/salinity
thus. CO2 solubility
depends upon many
factors

Chem icalVariable:
Carbon D ioxide
CO2 is not particularly toxic to fish or

invertebrates. given sufficient D.O. is

available.
Maximum tolerance level appears to be
around 50 mg/L for most species.
Good working level of around 15-20
mg/L.
Diel fluctuation opposite to that of D.O.
Higher levels in warmer months of year.