In a walk-in?
Sounds like your RO system was contaminated.
Actually, beads can be used: http://www.fuji-silysia.co.jp/englis..._home_gel.html
However, it sounds like there is enough cedar going in to serve the beads' buffering function.
(As an aside, Fuji's Artsorb beads (beads with Lithium-Chloride) are repackaged and sold by at least one reputable bead vendor.)
Active humidifier: has a fan.
Passive humidifer: doesn't have a fan.
(more or less)
The big wheel kind is no different from a wick/pleated filter/wet brick - they're all "evaporative" - essentially just like a wet towel with a fan blowing on the towel. Advantage: cheap. Disadvantages: The towel eventually gums up with whatever junk is in the water (usually calcium) and you replace it. Bad stuff can grow on the towel. You also can't turn them off, you can just switch them from active (fan on) to passive (fan off). (This is why some Cigar Oases have flapper valves.)
The second kind atomizes the water, either with pressure (like a spray bottle), or by shaking the water (ultrasonic), or some other method. These are the kind that generate white dust (with tap water) because all the junk that is gumming up the towel in the first type gets dumped into the air with this type. Hence RO water filtration, etc. Advantages: more effective than the above type (gets more moisture into the air faster and with less noise for the same footprint). Turns off. Less maintenance. Disadvantages: needs clean water to avoid the white dust, and a fairly large air space (i.e., they won't work that well in a typical cabinet humidor).
The third kind heats the water to convert the water to steam. This kind (obviously) generates heat, so isn't used that much until you get into humidifying large areas (unless you want the heat - remember Vicks Vaporizers?). Advantages: Steam is clean (germ-wise), and a steam humidifier is the most efficient. Disadvantage: highest initial cost. Probably can't be used for your application, although Honeywell does have some that might work.
Regardless of type, the important things are to: move the humidity (i.e., air) around - even when the humidifier is "off" (which is why Oust fans are so useful in Vinotemps, etc.); use a good humidistat, located properly; and, because humidistats work on RH and not absolute humidity, control temperature fluctuations.
You're storing closed boxes, so you don't have to get too fancy IMHO. Noise is probably not a huge concern, either. Myself, I'd start simple, although you might as well put in the plumbing now. Good luck!
(My humidifier was bucket of water with an aquarium heater and air stones in it - but I suspect that you don't want to get that simple)
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