Trying Something New

[Mark Twain]

I just bought a Hydra from Mark at Cigarmony. It seems to offer superior features than the standard cigar oasis. It has an adjustable hygrometer and expansion ports for several computer sized CPU fans. The price combined with the features make this a tempting alternative to the cigar oasis. I’ll do a salt test and post a review once it arrives.

I also bought two pounds of absorbent polymers for $20 to replace the foam that comes in the standard refill cartage.

 

[LilBastage]

I just bought a Hydra from Mark at Cigarmony. It seems to offer superior features than the standard cigar oasis. It has an adjustable hygrometer and expansion ports for several computer sized CPU fans. The price combined with the features make this a tempting alternative to the cigar oasis. I’ll do a salt test and post a review once it arrives.

I also bought two pounds of absorbent polymers for $20 to replace the foam that comes in the standard refill cartage.

Holy cow! That's a lot of polymer. It only takes about a tablespoon full for the Oasis cartridges. You know it expands A LOT, right?


If I ever need another active device, I'll probably try out the Hydra as well. It just looks like it would be more functional.

Good luck in your trials.

 

[Mark Twain]

I just bought a Hydra from Mark at Cigarmony. It seems to offer superior features than the standard cigar oasis. It has an adjustable hygrometer and expansion ports for several computer sized CPU fans. The price combined with the features make this a tempting alternative to the cigar oasis. I’ll do a salt test and post a review once it arrives.

I also bought two pounds of absorbent polymers for $20 to replace the foam that comes in the standard refill cartage.

Holy cow! That's a lot of polymer. It only takes about a tablespoon full for the Oasis cartridges. You know it expands A LOT, right?


If I ever need another active device, I'll probably try out the Hydra as well. It just looks like it would be more functional.

Good luck in your trials.

I got it at Watersorb. I had to order 2pds of the larger polymer for them to ship. I'll never run out of the stuff. :laugh:

 

[LilBastage]

I see. I got mine at a local garden shop. Good luck to you. I'll be interested to see how the Hydra works out.

 

[Marcos]

Although the same gives a descent description, what exactly is absorbent polymer and where is it used? Sorry if this is a silly question but I have never heard about it here yet. Thanks

 

[LilBastage]

Although the same gives a descent description, what exactly is absorbent polymer and where is it used? Sorry if this is a silly question but I have never heard about it here yet. Thanks

They're crystals that adsorb water. AS they adsorb, they grow. It's very similar to the stuff used in disposable diapers to trap the liquids.

Many people take the foam out of their Oasis (or in this case Hydra) cartridges and replace it with these crystals. The crystals hold much more water and last a lot longer between fills. They can also be used over and over without degradation, unlike the original foam. The biggest problem with them can be the development of mold. However, the use of a very small amount of alcohol win the water will keep that under control.

Hope that helps.

 

[humboldtflyer]

They're crystals that adsorb water. AS they adsorb, they grow. It's very similar to the stuff used in disposable diapers to trap the liquids.

Many people take the foam out of their Oasis (or in this case Hydra) cartridges and replace it with these crystals. The crystals hold much more water and last a lot longer between fills. They can also be used over and over without degradation, unlike the original foam. The biggest problem with them can be the development of mold. However, the use of a very small amount of alcohol win the water will keep that under control.

Hope that helps.

like the same stuff that is in the waterpillows?

 

[LilBastage]

They're crystals that adsorb water. AS they adsorb, they grow. It's very similar to the stuff used in disposable diapers to trap the liquids.

Many people take the foam out of their Oasis (or in this case Hydra) cartridges and replace it with these crystals. The crystals hold much more water and last a lot longer between fills. They can also be used over and over without degradation, unlike the original foam. The biggest problem with them can be the development of mold. However, the use of a very small amount of alcohol win the water will keep that under control.

Hope that helps.

like the same stuff that is in the waterpillows?

I'm not familiar with how those work. I've seen them, but I've never actually torn one apart.

It looks like it would be something similar, but I can't say one way or the other.

 

[vortex]

I use the copolymer saturated with a 50-50 Propylene Glycol solution to provide extra water during the dry winter months. The beads(separate container) set the upper RH limit at 65%. The reason I use the 50-50 mixture instead of plain water is to guarantee the RH won't go over 70% even if the beads get saturated due to my lack of attention.

I'm absent minded.

 

[Marcos]

Although the same gives a descent description, what exactly is absorbent polymer and where is it used? Sorry if this is a silly question but I have never heard about it here yet. Thanks

They're crystals that adsorb water. AS they adsorb, they grow. It's very similar to the stuff used in disposable diapers to trap the liquids.

Many people take the foam out of their Oasis (or in this case Hydra) cartridges and replace it with these crystals. The crystals hold much more water and last a lot longer between fills. They can also be used over and over without degradation, unlike the original foam. The biggest problem with them can be the development of mold. However, the use of a very small amount of alcohol win the water will keep that under control.

Hope that helps.

Is this the preferred method over adding beads in place of the foam?

 

[LilBastage]

Although the same gives a descent description, what exactly is absorbent polymer and where is it used? Sorry if this is a silly question but I have never heard about it here yet. Thanks

They're crystals that adsorb water. AS they adsorb, they grow. It's very similar to the stuff used in disposable diapers to trap the liquids.

Many people take the foam out of their Oasis (or in this case Hydra) cartridges and replace it with these crystals. The crystals hold much more water and last a lot longer between fills. They can also be used over and over without degradation, unlike the original foam. The biggest problem with them can be the development of mold. However, the use of a very small amount of alcohol win the water will keep that under control.

Hope that helps.

Is this the preferred method over adding beads in place of the foam?

I never tried beads. The polymers hold water for so long that I never had to add water the cartridge in the few months that I used that setup. I'd imagine with the beads there would be more adding of water needed, but I don't know.

I always thought all the experimenting with stuff like this was fun. I got to the point where I really lost focus and was messing with that stuff more than I was thinking about/smoking my cigars. That's why I finally just gave it all up and stuck them in the basement with beads in my (unplugged) wine fridge. I'd rather concentrate on the cigars instead of the humidity and other stuff like that and that's what I have now with the beads and an oust fan. Every time I look at the remote sensor and the hygros in the unit it is 62-65 degrees and 64%-65% humidity even in the hot and humid part of summer (about 3 weeks here).

 

[Mark Twain]

Got in the mail this afternoon. I'm running a salt test now. It's smaller than I thought it would be (this is not a bad thing.)

 

[sinnyc]

Hey Marc,

Which product did you purchase - can you link it? If this works out for you think I will follow your lead as my Hydra cartridge seems to be getting less absorbent far more quickly than I expected.


- Tim

 

[Mark Twain]

Hey Marc,

Which product did you purchase - can you link it? If this works out for you think I will follow your lead as my Hydra cartridge seems to be getting less absorbent far more quickly than I expected.


- Tim

It only takes a spoonful or so. I'll send along more than enough to you so that you can replace the foam. I honestly don't know what I'm going to do with the rest of this stuff.

The hydra is running now after a salt test. It was off by about 5% and I adjusted. It's now running with foam at 65%.