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
Hardness tional l a& o
e o
f o
dH
Unit recomm measur states
Definition ended es PPM
mmol/li mval/lit
ter er
100mg 28 mg CaO 1 part 1 10 mg/ 10 mg/CaO
CaCO3 or 50 mg CaCO3 per grainCaCO3 CaCO3 per 1000
per 1000 CaCO3 million = 1 per per 1000 ml water
ml water per 1000 mg CaCO3 gallon= ml water
ml water per 1000 14.3 mg
ml water CaCO3 per
1000 ml
water
1 mmol/litre 1 2 100 7.0 10.00 5.6

1 mval/litre 0.5 1 50 3.5 5.00 2.8

1 PPM 0.01 0.02 1 0.070 0.10 0.056

1 Oe 0.1429 0.285 14.29 1 1.429 0.7999

1 Of 0.10 0.20 10.00 0.700 1 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.