It was time to do the regular change out of the green foam in my Cigar Oasis II XL before mold developed. I read on another forum about using floral water beads as an alternative, and that these are less prone to mold, so I thought I would give them a try.
The packet below (pic 1) was purchased yesterday at WalMart for $3.99. It is about as big as a seed packet. I poured only 1/3 into my Oasis (pic 2) along with 1.5 quarts of distilled water. Within 6 hours, these rice-sized beads absorbed 40x their weight in H2O, and filled the entire container up (pic 3). I don't see it to be any different as a water retention medium than green foam, but I'll report back later on the success of this.
I have two reservoirs I swap around for my large Hydra. I found that letting one dry out completely between swaps stops the mold growth. those beads look like the trick though. it takes a bit to get the foam to absorb all the water. the beads look easy.
Good to know,keep us updated on the progress.
Cool!
I've used those in the past but the results were not up to par. They went brown / black in a month or so and I stopped using them. Did not smell bad or show any signs of mold or anything, I just did not like the color they were turning to. They are one way humidification usually used for reptiles, plants and other stuff.
I've been using heartfelt (or equivalent 2 way humidification beads) since, with nothing negative to report. I add some Boveda packs in the dry (winter) season to stabilize all my humidors and coolerdors.
Hope you get better results than I did.
Sorry if I sound like I'm raining on your parade, just wanted to share my experience with them.
I use jar's with the jell made from the same stuff as the bead's and after a couple of year's I change them out as they start to loose their absorption ability. Other then that I have found them to be very effective for RH.
I have been using the SAP crystals for 5+ years in my Cigar oasis and Hydra. I get them in bulk for the Greenhouse. They work really well for one way humidification. Just experiment a little with a combo of kitty litter or Heartfelt beads to really dial in the humidity. I replace them once a year just to be on the safe side and have never had a problem with mold or discoloration.
QuoteMojo66 - 12/29/2013 1:23 PM
I've used those in the past but the results were not up to par. They went brown / black in a month or so and I stopped using them. Did not smell bad or show any signs of mold or anything, I just did not like the color they were turning to. They are one way humidification usually used for reptiles, plants and other stuff.
I've been using heartfelt (or equivalent 2 way humidification beads) since, with nothing negative to report. I add some Boveda packs in the dry (winter) season to stabilize all my humidors and coolerdors.
Hope you get better results than I did.
Sorry if I sound like I'm raining on your parade, just wanted to share my experience with them.
Thanks for the input: its good to know and watch out for. This is an experiment for me, so if I get the same results you did I will just have figure out another method.
Wow..great idea...
Thanks for being the guinea pig, Bruce. I replace the green foam every 6 months, but would switch to those beads if they work.
thanks for sharing, always good to know about alternatives
There are as many alternatives to humidification as there is in birth control and some work while others don't. I've used the green floral foam and almost every single one of them developed mold. I have tried the water beads as well and they worked for awhile and as was said started to discolor and that creep'd me out so I went to gels but that became more labor intensive to equalize the amounts that were needed to keep my RH where I wanted it. It was then I tried beads from Heartfelts....they worked for a couple of years and they discolored as well and gave off a little funk to them...so out they went after I tried KL...easiest thing to use and I was able to dial in whatever % I wanted and I'm still on the initial jug of KL I bought a few years ago for $15. I know that everybody has their "go to" RH media and Im curios as to how this goes for you.
Looking forward to the results of your experiment.
I also have the Oasis II XL, and I've never replaced the green foam. Mold has never developed. :confused:
QuoteCigary - 12/29/2013 9:23 PM
There are as many alternatives to humidification as there is in birth control and some work while others don't. I've used the green floral foam and almost every single one of them developed mold. I have tried the water beads as well and they worked for awhile and as was said started to discolor and that creep'd me out so I went to gels but that became more labor intensive to equalize the amounts that were needed to keep my RH where I wanted it. It was then I tried beads from Heartfelts....they worked for a couple of years and they discolored as well and gave off a little funk to them...so out they went after I tried KL...easiest thing to use and I was able to dial in whatever % I wanted and I'm still on the initial jug of KL I bought a few years ago for $15. I know that everybody has their "go to" RH media and Im curios as to how this goes for you.
Gary, did you put the KL in an active humidifier? I'd be good with that as I use KL in all of my other passive humidified cabinets.
Do you have an update on this Bruce? I have a cigar oasis XL in my aging table and just ordered a hydra for my wineador I'm building, wondering your luck as I been hearing more people have been swapping out that green foam. My oasis foam still looks fine but I'm doing some research now as it's getting close to 6 months or so.
This got pushed off fast lol...
:bump: anybody have any experience with this?
:bump:
QuoteBrlesq - 12/29/2013 10:37 PM QuoteCigary - 12/29/2013 9:23 PM There are as many alternatives to humidification as there is in birth control and some work while others don't. I've used the green floral foam and almost every single one of them developed mold. I have tried the water beads as well and they worked for awhile and as was said started to discolor and that creep'd me out so I went to gels but that became more labor intensive to equalize the amounts that were needed to keep my RH where I wanted it. It was then I tried beads from Heartfelts....they worked for a couple of years and they discolored as well and gave off a little funk to them...so out they went after I tried KL...easiest thing to use and I was able to dial in whatever % I wanted and I'm still on the initial jug of KL I bought a few years ago for $15. I know that everybody has their "go to" RH media and Im curios as to how this goes for you.
Gary, did you put the KL in an active humidifier? I'd be good with that as I use KL in all of my other passive humidified cabinets.
I've used KL in just about every kind of setup...KL is such a great source of humidification in active/passive that I don't use any other kind of source anymore....it's proved to me how it works for the last 5 years.
So you can replace the green foam with KL in the container for an active system?
Sorry, Adam, didn't see your post yesterday.
Yes, this system has worked VERY well. Uses less water over time than the green foam, and they seem very clean with no signs of mold or other growths. I have only needed to add water once a month now. I also have bags of KL on different levels of my tower and they help keep my humidity rock steady. I do not add water to these.
I've been using something similar to those floral beads in my 20-25 stick desk humidors ... I use a DryMistStat in those boxes. I check them every few weeks and refill to the line on each tube as needed with distilled water.
These DryMistStats are 3-5 years old now and still work fine, but I have noticed that the "crytsals" are getting brown in a couple of the older tubes now and it's taking a bit longer for the distilled water to be absorbed in those tubes ... It'sno big deal though, the ones getting brown still work OK (for now anyway) ... I'm guessing I'll just have to replaced a stick with a new one after 5-6 years of use, as I expect the distilled water's absorption to gradually be further impeded and need to be discarded at some point.
BTW, I've never had an issue with mold using these.
Awesome...I think I may switch to those beads in a few months. I don't want to risk the foam becoming moldy. It's only a few months old but I'd rather play it safe and change those every 6 months or so. Thanks for the help!
I was really interested in how it works with the active system? It doesn't seem like the foam was very absorbent I was surprised when I opened the cartridge and saw the "green foam" for how expensive it was, been looking to switch it out with something better. I keep a close eye on all my humidors so that's not an issue. I was concerned when I'd read about them getting moldy! So I'm gonna be changing out that foam soon. Thanks again!
I've tried using those too and they do turn brown after a while. As to whether or not they develop molds faster than regular (green) floral foam, I can't say. I've been using red tiles (terra cotta) I had manufactured to fit my humidifier tray. I really like them because they hold water well, release the H20 slowly, and don't get any growth or molds forming on the surface. And if I feel like the tile is a little dirty or is getting there, then I just scrub it really well.
Went to fill my "green foam" up in my oasis and it was starting to get mold growth, needless to say I cut it out. Replaced it with some of the super absorbent polymer beads. So will also keep everybody posted on how it works for me. I was surprised as I've only had that oasis for about 4 months. I check it regularly so the mold is new, but still surprised me. Thanks for the tips on this Bruce :biggrin:
QuoteBewareDaPenguin - 4/19/2014 3:31 PM
Went to fill my "green foam" up in my oasis and it was starting to get mold growth, needless to say I cut it out. Replaced it with some of the super absorbent polymer beads. So will also keep everybody posted on how it works for me. I was surprised as I've only had that oasis for about 4 months. I check it regularly so the mold is new, but still surprised me. Thanks for the tips on this Bruce :biggrin:
You're quite welcome, Adam. I'm now coming up on 4 months use of these, and have had no issues whatsoever. I just wish I had done this a long time ago!
Over the 5+ years of using SAP crystals I have never had a single problem in either my tower or my custom humidor. I dialed in the humidity with a combo of SAP crystals and heartfelt beads. I don't really even check my humidity except for maybe once every couple of months. I just check if the SAP crystals have shrunk every couple of weeks and add a little distilled water. I get mine from Watersorb since I also use them in the greenhouse and planter sheds.
http://water-sorb.com/prices.php
Quotewlfwalleye - 4/19/2014 5:54 PM
Over the 5+ years of using SAP crystals I have never had a single problem in either my tower or my custom humidor. I dialed in the humidity with a combo of SAP crystals and heartfelt beads. I don't really even check my humidity except for maybe once every couple of months. I just check if the SAP crystals have shrunk every couple of weeks and add a little distilled water. I get mine from Watersorb since I also use them in the greenhouse and planter sheds.
http://water-sorb.com/prices.php
Well of course you do. Because they offer the 55 lb. option, and we all know how large your collection is! :rolleyes:
I've popped open all of my old floral foam humidifiers and replaced the foam with the kitty litter crystals. It's easy enough to tape them back closed with a little clear packing tape. In my bigger humidors, I've also used plastic dishes filled with the KL and just set them into open areas. I replace the KL twice a year or so or when they start to yellow and it's worked great. Consistently between 65% and 70%--and only 70% during the first week after refilling since I tend to soak the KL in the dishes well with distilled water, until there is a little water sitting at the very bottom of the dish. On rare occasions this has caused a reading above 70% temporarily, but I just open the lid and pull the trays for a few minutes and then close everything back up and that seems to fix it.
I can usually go up to 2 months or so between messing with the KL without any problems. Waiting this long actually brings it down to 65% for the majority of the 2 months and I have over ten humidors (no towers or coolidors), so it's worth it for the time I save dealing with refilling. Takes me 2 hours to rehydrate everything each time, so only messing with it 6 times a year is preferable. I think next year I'm calling on my friend's friend that makes custom cabinets and going professional with my setup.
QuoteBewareDaPenguin - 4/19/2014 3:31 PM
Went to fill my "green foam" up in my oasis and it was starting to get mold growth, needless to say I cut it out. Replaced it with some of the super absorbent polymer beads. So will also keep everybody posted on how it works for me. I was surprised as I've only had that oasis for about 4 months. I check it regularly so the mold is new, but still surprised me. Thanks for the tips on this Bruce :biggrin:
I must be lucky, because I've had my Oasis XL II for 4+ years and still haven't had to replace the foam. :confused:
I switch both of my foam blocks out every couple of years,though never had a mold issue.
Quotenwb - 4/19/2014 8:51 PM
QuoteBewareDaPenguin - 4/19/2014 3:31 PM
Went to fill my "green foam" up in my oasis and it was starting to get mold growth, needless to say I cut it out. Replaced it with some of the super absorbent polymer beads. So will also keep everybody posted on how it works for me. I was surprised as I've only had that oasis for about 4 months. I check it regularly so the mold is new, but still surprised me. Thanks for the tips on this Bruce :biggrin:
I must be lucky, because I've had my Oasis XL II for 4+ years and still haven't had to replace the foam. :confused:
Yeah Nathan I was very surprised to see it as well. Like I said I check it a few times a week I'm pretty meticulous about checking everything in the humidor. Glad I caught it but still pretty shocked considering I haven't had it very long. I keep it set at 69% and I use the beads on the other shelves to help with stability. Glad yours is holding strong though bro :thumbsup:
QuoteBewareDaPenguin - 4/20/2014 12:55 AM
Quotenwb - 4/19/2014 8:51 PM
QuoteBewareDaPenguin - 4/19/2014 3:31 PM
Went to fill my "green foam" up in my oasis and it was starting to get mold growth, needless to say I cut it out. Replaced it with some of the super absorbent polymer beads. So will also keep everybody posted on how it works for me. I was surprised as I've only had that oasis for about 4 months. I check it regularly so the mold is new, but still surprised me. Thanks for the tips on this Bruce :biggrin:
I must be lucky, because I've had my Oasis XL II for 4+ years and still haven't had to replace the foam. :confused:
Yeah Nathan I was very surprised to see it as well. Like I said I check it a few times a week I'm pretty meticulous about checking everything in the humidor. Glad I caught it but still pretty shocked considering I haven't had it very long. I keep it set at 69% and I use the beads on the other shelves to help with stability. Glad yours is holding strong though bro :thumbsup:
I'm sure I'll need to replace it eventually, and when I do, I'll use beads. I'm not messing with it 'til then, though. :biggrin:
Yeah I had plans to just ride mine out as well Nathan! If it ain't broke don't fix it!! Was surprised when I saw it like I said. The beads seen to be doing a great job so far tho! It seems like the oasis doesn't have to work as hard (stay on as long) with the beads. I only have 3 days of test lol so not an accurate gauge but it seems like they will work better then the foam, and hopefully prolong the life of the oasis :thumbsup: