Big sponge instead of humidity pads?

[crazzzymike13]

I bought a sportsman cabinet incubator from a friend a while back ago. To boost the humidity on day 18 I really need the humidity pads that go in the water. Instead of the humidity pads would those big sponges from Walmart work? Is there a big difference?

 

[R2elk]

I bought a sportsman cabinet incubator from a friend a while back ago. To boost the humidity on day 18 I really need the humidity pads that go in the water. Instead of the humidity pads would those big sponges from Walmart work? Is there a big difference?

I got some really dense sponges from Menard's because they were really cheap and good for a lot of different uses. I tried them instead of the humidity pads and they did not work at all. They just wouldn't wick the water up like I thought they would. If the sponges that you are considering are a very porous and non-dense they might work but I never got around to getting any very porous sponges to try.

If those sponges are very dense, they will not work.

 

[subhanalah]

Natural sea sponges are very absorbent and "fluffy".
You can find them in most arts and crafts store.

They also have a LOT of exposed surface area. I think it would probably work great.

 

[lazy gardener]

Can you bleach a sea sponge? If I spent the money on one, I'd want to use it over. I bought a cheap pack of sponges at the dollar store, and cut them into 1 - 2" strips and they worked great in my small home made incubator. I wired a pudding cup to the wire upright section that keeps the chicks away from the electronic stuff, stood the sponge (s) in the cup, and added water as needed with a syringe hooked to a piece of aquarium air line tubing. If you get the cheap ones, there's a cellulose one that wicks well, and then a plastic one that's more shiny that doesn't wick well at all.

 

[subhanalah]

I wouldn't bleach even a regular sponge, but that's just me. I use tea tree oil and scalding hot water to disinfect mine.