Is filtered water the same as distilled?

[iloveclmore]

Just invest in some beads from Heartfelt. I just did (though I don't have them yet) and I hear they work wonders (from just about everyone here). I presume I will never go back to foam.

[Ceedee]

foam/sponge=cremosas

Beads=cigars you spend $$ on.

The whole thing about foam/sponges is all they do is hydrate - the do not absorb ambient moisture. Any slight change in temp causes either condensation or evaporation from the sponge which can severely mess up your humidor. There never is an equilibrium and as a result, your cigars suffer. There is no quick fix for foam or sponges. In the end, if you really are collecting and smoking expensive cigars (a relative term), then spend the extra $$ to get something that will really work and keep your investment safe. That being said, an oasis is a difft animal and used for large humis. Most you will find, combine an oasis with beads. My 2¢.



CD

[ksnake]

Ordered some beads and a block of sponge. You were right, sponge was cheap! Even if beads turn out to be better, getting more sponge was painless. Thanks for the input!

[ksnake]

Originally Posted by Ceedee

Most you will find, combine an oasis with beads.

That's what I will be doing most likely. Hopefully next year I can report back with some experience under my belt.

[Snapperhead-cl]

I know this is an old post but I would really like to throw my 2 cents into the ring.

The rainsoft system uses an ion exchange system along with a carbon filter to filter out 99.94% of all chemicals and additives in the water. It is better then using tap water as it has less bacteria in it due to the ion exchanger but there is still some left. It the rainsoft system uses an ultraviolet polisher to finish the process then it is really close to distilled water.

Distilled water is water that has been boiled off in a large boiler to a temperature normally to 250 degrees under pressure and goes through a moisture separator to produce a dry steam and then condensed back down to normal H20. Although it has been boiled there is still a little bacteria in there. It is a lot less then you could get anywhere else. (at least that is what our boat used in the Navy)

[buttah]

Again I know this is old but I'm going to throw my opinion out here too. I'm using a Cigar Oasis in my larger humidor along with 2 ounces of 70% Heartfelt beads to absorb any excess humidity. In my desktop humi I just have the 2 ounces of heartfelt beads. I will have to say that the beads by themselves are entirely too much work. They don't hold a consistent RH worth a crap. They are 70% beads and my humi(which sits inside a wine fridge set at 65 degrees) varies anywhere between 63 and 74% depending on how the beads feel that day. Second those beads shed all over the place. I would recommend them to absorb excess humidity but thats all, I'll be buying another Oasis.

[pv1191-cl]

I use RO/DI water. I have saltwater aquariums and have an RO/DI at my house. I also have TDS and phosphate meters on the water comming out. Everything is 0. No TDS, phosphates,nitrates, nitrite, ammonia, chlorine, nothing. The Rainsoft system I believe is an R/O only system. There are a few microbes and disolved solids that would make it through.

[Rah55]

Originally Posted by tobacmon

Thanks Christian - I started using 50/50 and ran out RECENTLY but will pick up a bottle---

I think the floral arrangement foam is the same thing also--Paul

Save yourself some bucks and buy a bottle of propylene glycol at your local pharmecy and mix it 50/50 yourself. It'll save you a lot!

[The EVP]

One thing that I need to add here....do not use PG Solution if you are using beads. The PG solution will cause the beads to burst.

[sseagle]

Sterile Water is in fact the same as Distilled... yes, I had to figure that out one day, paint shop needed distilled and I only stock Sterile.. lol

[DanRichmond]

Xikar makes a lower concentration of PG/water solution that will work with their humidification blocks which do contain beads.

[willjs7]

What about RO/DI water? (reverse osmosis/deionized) I ask this because that is what I make for my saltwater fish tank.

[The EVP]

Originally Posted by willjs7

What about RO/DI water? (reverse osmosis/deionized) I ask this because that is what I make for my saltwater fish tank.

No, not the same. Anyone that uses anything other than distilled water risks tainting their cigars and humidor with mineral deposits. RO/DI, filtered, spring, tap.....doesn't matter where the water comes from. The only water that should be used in any humidor should be distilled and distilled only.

[The EVP]

Originally Posted by DanRichmond

Xikar makes a lower concentration of PG/water solution that will work with their humidification blocks which do contain beads.

Did not know this....I'll have to check that out.

[willjs7]

Originally Posted by The EVP

No, not the same. Anyone that uses anything other than distilled water risks tainting their cigars and humidor with mineral deposits. RO/DI, filtered, spring, tap.....doesn't matter where the water comes from. The only water that should be used in any humidor should be distilled and distilled only.

The only reason I ask is because my water has less minerals than is in distilled. I use a TDS Meter, which checks for dissolved minerals and solids. The water I use and make has less than 2 ppm of dissolved solids. I need to retest my distilled water.