Conversion?

[JD52]

Randy, I gotta quick question for ya, how do you convert mg/l to ppm when measuring calcium? Im not even sure this is a lagitimate question! I was approached with this and I really had no clue... DUH! I know.
Thanks!
Jim

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

They are close enough to be the same thing.

1 ppm = one part per million = 1 mg/kg

one mg/L is a little different as 1.000 L of seawater weighs about 1.026 kg, but that is only a 2-3% difference.

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

OTOH, :D , some kits read in ppm CaCO3 equivalents. The Hach kit, for example. In that case, you multiply by 0.4 to get ppm calcium ion.

[JD52]

uhh, could you splain that in simple doofas lingo? He claims that his LFS came up with 86 mg/l of calcium, I dont know what kind of kit. What would 86 mg/l be in ppm?

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

If it is really 86 ppm of calcium, then that is essentially the same as 86 mg/L of calcium.

Some kits read in a different sort of unit, but unless they say so, you should assume that the units are in calcum itself.