Thanks man.I bought a Hydra but I'm not very happy with it. I unhooked it scooped out the green foam and currently thinking about what to do with it. I do want fans running but not 24/7 and I'm on the fence about putting beads in it or just leaving it empty.
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I ditched the green foam in that bad boy and did this. Seems to rock it out pretty nice.
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You should plug the cabinet into a timer you can get at wal mart or home depot and set it to go off every few hours just to circulate the air

Why were you unhappy about the Hydra?
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That's a good idea, I will try that. Unhappy with it because the hygrometer even though it's adjustable is about 5 rh high at it's lowest setting. Plus my rh is still around 68% with 4 lbs of beads. That's not because of the hydra but I have calibrated both of my seperate rectangle hygrometers and sealed my humidor. I put a bag of beads in a ziplok bag with a hygrometer and they are at 73%, is it possible that the wrong beads were sent? I'm not sure what is going on but I need to remove rh at this point so the hydra is doing me no good.
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Do you have the fans plugged into the right spot on the hydra... there are 2 plugs and 1 runs constantly and the other only runs when the fans on the hydra are running.
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What is wrong with 68%?
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I've got the same cabinet. I sealed the doors and drawer and I think I have 2 lbs of heartfelt beads in it (did the calculator and rounded up ) and if I wet 50-60 % of the beads it seems to hold at 65 -67 . I use a hygrometer from wally world that I've salt tested, I mark the corrected points on the front with a dry marker. Do you know for sure the beads you already had are 65% ? Try locking some of the new batch in a tupperware type container with your hygrometer over night and see what the reading is, do you still have the beads separate from the first ones you had, if so try 2 containers and compare. It could happen that they sent you the wrong beads.
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Yeah, they are in the right spot.

I bought 65% beads to keep my cigars at 65%. I actually would like 63%, I find that cigars burn, smoke, and taste better at lower RH.

So I am testing my beads in a separate ziplock bag and after 24 hrs they are reading 71%. I dont have them separate but I know I bought 65%, the bag said 65% but they have behaved like 70%. I really don't want to think that I was sent the wrong beads but I have tried everything to disprove this. It really sucks cause I have yet to fully smoke several sticks I've been wanting to try since the wrappers need a lower RH, the Face that split on me made me realize this. I think I need to call heartfelt and see what can be done.
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How much of the beads are you wetting till there clear ?
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About 60% or so. I have not added water to them since I got them about 3 weeks ago. You said what I have been thinking since about the 3rd day I had them, that I might have been sent the wrong ones.
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It's a possibility, I'd give them a call and see what they have to say, but I know if wet a lot of the beads it will run up to about 68-69 so I only get about 50% wet then it will hang around 64-66
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Ok, I'll try that. Thanks man:-)
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Update. Contacted Heartfelt beads and got in touch with David. He replaced my beads and sent 65% beads within a week. My humidor is now rock solid from 62%-65% exactly where I wanted it and my cigars are smoking like a dream. I think it goes to show that it is totally worth the extra $ for a good humidor and proper RH material.
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