Moth Balls and Silica Gel?

[sappet102]

So I am letting my specimens dry in an airtight container with 5 moth balls which I put in a little paper box inside the container. The humidity in my apartment sometimes reaches toward 60%, but in general is around 50%. I want to put a few silica gel packets in the container as well as the moth balls, can I do this? Will the two react to each other in a negative way that could damage the specimens somehow?

[joniverson]

No. I have almost the same set up currently with silica gel and half a dozen or so moth balls. Been this way for a couple of weeks with no damage. One thing you might want to pick up is a small, cheap humidity meter like used to monitor reptile aquariums, around $6-9 at a pet shop. That way you can tell if the gel is doing its job. Outside of my container, for example humidity ranges in the 80's, but inside 0-10% which tells me my silica is working fine. One alternative to silica gel is kitty litter based silica, a lot cheaper and it too can be "recharged" in the oven with the only issue being no indicator beads but if you use a humidity meter that will take the place of it. Good luck.

[sappet102]

Thanks so much! I ordered a pack of 20 10gram silica packets so I will put some of them in my shadowbox and in my drying box. Thanks again!