KH Test Kit - really needed?

I see,
So you are saying that with a KH test kit, it's easier to gauge how much
baking soda to add to achieve a particular KH (and hence a particular pH)?
Roughly how closely linked are KH and pH values? I know they are linked to
eachother in chemistry terms, but does it usually hold that at a particular
KH you tend to have a particular pH?
Regards,
Richard.

"Rick" wrote in message
...

"Richard Phillips" wrote in message
news:vgC1c.187$re1.61@newsfe1-win...
Hello,

There is an article on www.oscarfish.com that advises a KH test kit is
one
of the important test kit to own (along with ammonia, nitrite, nitrate,
pH).
I was all set to buy one, but then I spotted some API pH Up (my pH tends
to
be on the lower side) and was thinking about buying this aswell.
Now I don't understand what the point of owning a KH test kit is, since
if
my pH is low then won't I simply use pH Up to bring it back to the 6.5-7
mark regardless of the calcium carbonate levels?
I am guessing that pH Up probably modifies the ammount of calcium
carbonate
in order to adjust the pH, so what is the point of knowing KH aslong as
the
pH is correct?
Or am I missing somthing important about KH?

Regards,
Richard.



I have all those test kits and in a fully cycled tank I never have to use
my
ammonia or nitrite kit. I have an electronic PH meter and I use my KH kit
a
lot simply because I have heavily planted tanks and the PH values and KH
values are tied together to determine the amount of CO2 that I need to
inject. In your case I would do the necessary research to find the best
water conditions for your fish and then adjust you PH and KH to match
that.
I would not use chemicals like PH up or down to change your PH levels.
This
is only a temporary solution and the PH will change back to its original
state. The constant swing in PH can be harmful to your fish. If your water
needs to be harder and more alkaline then adjust using baking soda to get
it
to the right conditions. Once you know how much you need to add to get to
a
certain point you can then easily maintain this level. The KH/GH test kit
is
handy to have to check every now and again to make sure you are in the
proper range. In my African tank my tap water comes out at about 7.5 and
hardness around 70 PPM. Using baking soda I easily maintain PH of 8.0 and
hardness around 140-170 PPM.

Rick