To the Hydra users on here

[Coop D]

I have the Hydra LG model, and I was reading that the Anti-fungal breaks down over time. How long does that take to happen while using distilled water??? Is anyone respraying the foam with anti-fungal? I just want to make sure I am protecting my investment as best as possible.

Seeing if I should buy an extra refill container, or if I should just go to the hobby store and buy the green foam and cut it to fit?

Thanks!!!

[KickU2Sleep]

I've had mine for little over a month now..The other day I refilled with distilled and noticed small areas that look like mold....kinda disappointing...Will be interested in an answer to your question as well.....

[Coop D]

I hope it last longer then that!!!

I am thinking of just going to the craft store and getting the green foam and cutting to fit if that is the case.

[KickU2Sleep]

Originally Posted by Coop D

I hope it last longer then that!!!

I am thinking of just going to the craft store and getting the green foam and cutting to fit if that is the case.

I'm sure it would have gone much longer but I'm the constant worrier, so I topped it off, just to be safe...I haven't noticed any off flavors with my cigars so I'm hoping it's only discoloration in the foam...I did see a post somewhere, where someone punched out the foam in the cartridge and replaced it with beads..am thinking about doing this myself if I can only remember where I saw that....

[Coop D]

that's a lot of beads!!!!

Probably take 4-5 lbs of beads easily!!!!

[Buddha024]

Originally Posted by Coop D

that's a lot of beads!!!!

Probably take 4-5 lbs of beads easily!!!!

Good lord. I have never seen a hydra that would hold that many beads. You would need about a gallon-sized jug for that.

[Coop D]

I have the LG series, so it is a decent size cartridge

[Sagellih]

I have the Hydra LG and only noticed a little mold during the summer when the humidity is higher and the unit doesn't run as much. I just scraped some of it off. This summer I will probably keep less water in it and/or go with more beads. I have been keeping it filled during the winter months and have not noticed any problems. I can buy some of the foam at a local craft store for about 5 blocks for a couple of dollars. I figure that I can change it when it needs changed.

[OracleSmoke]

and another one I have spare change for:

I think the antifungal agent the foam is treated with is Propylene Glycol. It has antifungal properties and is food safe. It's about the consistency of think water. It does dry up over a relatively short period of time.

If you're interested in continuing to use foam, you can by PG on ebay pretty cheaply and make your own to retreat your foam. Just don't use it every time tho or it gets more than the recommended mix rate of PG in the foam.

I'm currently using 3 Oasis Plus in my main humi at the moment. In all 3 I've chopped out the factory foam and replaced it with beads. It works very well and I've noticed it seems to last longer without having to replenish the water. I usually fill it up to where the beads are just about to start sloshing around.

I don't use heartfelt beads tho. I use unscented silica beads from cat litter. There's much debate about the RH of Heartfelt beads in comparison to other beads, but from what I've found so far, they're silica beads and there are only so many manufacturers of them for whatever purpose they're used for. So for my purpose, clear car litter beads work champs in an active device and after a year I still have no mildew and have never needed to change beads.

Good luck, hope I didn't start a bead war

[Coop D]

I think the heartfeldt style beads in a Hydra would be pointless since they would tend to dry up.

got a link you can pm me to the cat litter silica???

[OracleSmoke]

Coop

I got mine in jugs from PetSmart... they were exquisicat unscented clear beads. I just noticed there was quite a bit of bead related posting here on puff. I guess I should have perused it a bit before stirring it up again

I bought a few jugs for 6.50 at a local PetSmart a year or so ago. To date, I can't find it anymore. I can't find any cat litter pearls that are unscented. It's tough to even find the pearls anymore, seems like they're only selling crystals nowadays.

The first time I changed to beads was the following winter in Chicago. I noticed the bead configuration lasted longer through the winter months than the foam. But that's always got other factors to it like how often the furnace ran, how often I opened the lower drawers, etc.

Overall though, I think you can get more water into the resevior with beads in it than with foam. I think the cell structure of the foam leaves less room for the water than beads and the open space around them.

When you think about it, you could just put water in the resevoir, but you gotta take care not to move it around and get the fan or electronics wet. I think the unit is closed off enough that during the summer months that it won't evap much more than if you had beads or foam in the res.

I just use beads because I feel I can get more water in there, and they don't mildew and don't need to be changed. They're an effective medium for the water in the unit.

I have no opinion on bead comparisons. I did, however, do quite a bit of research on the manufacture of them.

Sorry for the long winded reply Coop, the short answer is I got mine direct from PetSmart. Not sure at the moment about posting links, but pet food direct may have the correct ones, although there's no picture to ensure they are the same. Also, I got mine in 1 gallon plastic jugs, they seem to sell bags... so I dunno. Give em a call maybe. Wow, just checking their prices... pretty spensive for the same 8 pounds I got for 6.50!!!

Exquisicat Pearl Fresh litter pearls. Unscented, no colored crystals in the jug.

can't PM yet... sorry

[Coop D]

I like long winded post. Gets more information on the post to help me, and whoever else is reading!