How do you know when to replace silica dessicant packet from where you store your lens? Do they last forever? I am really paranoid about moisture and fungal growth. Any good tips? I currently have my EOS 50 in the case with the dessicant stuff. Am hoping it is OK.

Thanks

-- latham portous (latport@hotmail.com), March 23, 2002

Answers

The only experience with dessicants I have stems from working in a chemical lab. Silica dessicants certainly don't last forever, they have to be dried quite regularly (every week/month?). This is the case where they are used in tightly closed containers. I wouldn't know how to accomplish this at home. I don't expect the commonly used zipper bags to be as tightly closed as laboratory equipment. Perhaps Tupperware boxes are a good alternative. For this reason I question the use of dessicants for keeping photographic equipment dry. But perhaps I'm totally wrong. I'm interested whether anyone has real hands on experience with dessicants in an home environment.

Anyway, I store my equipment in the living quarters of my house, never had any problems with fungi.

-- Jos van Eekelen (jos@compuserve.com), March 23, 2002.

I live in a near tropical section of the USA. I throw away all the dessicant that comes with my equipment and have never had a problem in 30 years of photography. Don't be obsessive.

-- Lee (Leemarthakiri@sport.rr.com), March 23, 2002.

i think Lee is right. if you use your equipment regularly you don't need to worry about moisture and fungus. but if you want to store it for a long period of say few weeks or months, its can creat big problems. but even then checking your equipments regularly and following Eekelen's advice (drying the silica desicants once or twice a month) will keep away moisture and fungus.

-- sajeev (chack74@yahoo.co.in), March 24, 2002.

If you live in a monsoon region, you should be careful--but desicants won't do you much good. You'll need a humidity-controlled locker if you live in a place where it rains half the year.

-- Preston Merchant (merchant@speakeasy.org), March 25, 2002.