How long can we store our dosign supplies?

[YOYOYOReefer]

I found some long lost unopened BRS kalk gallon plastic pails and some Magnesium supplement . They have to have been sitting on a shelf in the basement 5-7 years maybe longer. Are these still usable?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

The magnesium is good forever.

The calcium hydroxide (kalk) has slowly lost potency as CO2 entered it and formed calcium carbonate, but it is still fine to use. You may just find more undissolvable solids than before.

 

[YOYOYOReefer]

Thanks Randy. Appreciate your wisdom.

Im getting ready to try your 2 part out for the first time. Never kept a reef without a calcium reactor , but ive always want to try the 2 part . When switching to 2 part Is the best way to remove a calcium reactor cold turkey or back it down slowly when converting. Mesaure the CA and Alk drop over a 24 hour period to figure out the daily uptake? Should i leave kalkwasser reactor on teh ATO or remove it right away. Tank is 8ft x2ft x1ft and wall to wall acan and lps corals and live rock all pink corraline everwhere. Im not exactly sure what my daily consumption rates are to get the initial dosing right.