Old 2-part mix. Use or not ?

[427HISS]

I bought a used tank and included two gallons of BRS- 2-part Calcium and Alkalinity that he mixed. I don't know how old they are, but I've had them for apx 5 months. Do you think it's safe to use ?

How old is too old and why ?

 

[TJ's Reef]

Kevin, as long as the containers were clean and sealed well it/they should be good for quite some time. On the other hand if it is only a small quantity you may choose to be safer than sorry, dump them and just mix your own knowing exactly whats in there.

Cheers, Todd

 

[427HISS]

Hey buddy,
both containers have a hand pump, so they may not be sealed enough ?
The chemicals look clean, no precipitation or fall out, but even so, I don't know to trust them or not. The cost isn't very high just to make a new batch, so maybe that's what I should do.
Have you ever seen a batch go bad, and if so, what happens, what does it look and maybe even smell like ?

 

[beaslbob]

It's probably ok and I would use them.

And in the mean time look at this stickie:

https://www.reef2reef.com/forums/reef-chemistry-forum/39332-do-yourself-two-part-links.html

And use the diy two part. Same method just a lot less expensive chemicals.

my .02

 

[redfishbluefish]

Just fine to use. The chemicals are highly stable....won't break down. Sodium carbonate or sodium bicarbonate and calcium chloride. Rock solid stable.

 

[427HISS]

beaslbon- thanks for the interesting link.

Just fine to use. The chemicals are highly stable....won't break down. Sodium carbonate or sodium bicarbonate and calcium chloride. Rock solid stable.

I wondered about break down because with kalkwasser, it does have a fall out settling on the bottom of the container. It can also precip in our sumps. So, I'll try it in my quarantine tank and see how it goes.

 

[redfishbluefish]

The difference is that kalkwasser is calcium hydroxide, which when dissolved in water (at a high pH), will react with carbon dioxide to eventually form calcium carbonate, which precipitates out of solution. These types of reactions don't happen with two part chemicals.

 

[beaslbob]

beaslbon- thanks for the interesting link.

...

.

you talking to me? :xd:

Actually the brs methods is just a comercialzed form of the diy two part. the chemicals are so cheap that I used to give them away at local club meetings.