Question about possible mold / bacterial contamination

[Conrad]

I DO clean my tank--when it needs it.
The walmart pink slime appeared IMMEDIATELY after cleaning the tank!
And ONLY with walmart DW.
I had to dump that jug.
Now I only use home distilled--no pink slime!

The walmart pink slime appeared IMMEDIATELY after cleaning the tank!

You don't say?

[chunkyfrog]

Well, within a day or two.
That kind of "immediate".
Enough to rule out other things.

[Conrad]

Well, within a day or two.
That kind of "immediate".
Enough to rule out other things.

But only growing in your tank and not the Walmart gallon jug, right? Why would it only grow in your tank and not the jug? Hmmmmmm?

[chunkyfrog]

Since I swapped jugs, and not the tank--and no more mold, I don't really care why.

[lynninnj]

When we used distilled water from walmart, the pink slime happened.
It does not with our home distiller.
I don't trust some of the "distilled water" out there.
Or the people selling it.

Perhaps your issue has something to do with the fact that you never clean your equipment?

I've been using Wally's distilled water since day one and I never had an issue with any colors in my water revisor.

No, it is caused by using Distilled water with "Minerals Added" which is normally sold in the baby section. If there is no distilled in the regular water area some employees who don't realize its for a cpap will direct people to it.

Using water with minerals in it and/or leaving wet/moist things out in the open air to dry are IMHO worse than not cleaning.

Bottom line - "Read the label".

I read labels all the time. I buy this at wally world if they don’t have red cap distilled.

Can you show me ANY labeled distilled that shows minerals added?

Last I checked that isn’t distilled but I would love to know which brands to avoid.

I thought the pink stuff was in the air till it settled in the water basin.

[SleepGeek]

When we used distilled water from walmart, the pink slime happened.
It does not with our home distiller.
I don't trust some of the "distilled water" out there.
Or the people selling it.

Perhaps your issue has something to do with the fact that you never clean your equipment?

I've been using Wally's distilled water since day one and I never had an issue with any colors in my water revisor.

No, it is caused by using Distilled water with "Minerals Added" which is normally sold in the baby section. If there is no distilled in the regular water area some employees who don't realize its for a cpap will direct people to it.

Using water with minerals in it and/or leaving wet/moist things out in the open air to dry are IMHO worse than not cleaning.

Bottom line - "Read the label".

I read labels all the time. I buy this at wally world if they don’t have red cap distilled.

Can you show me ANY labeled distilled that shows minerals added?

Last I checked that isn’t distilled but I would love to know which brands to avoid.

I thought the pink stuff was in the air till it settled in the water basin.

No idea what

red cap distilled

is.

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=183546&p=1402053&hi ... F#p1402053

[lynninnj]

When we used distilled water from walmart, the pink slime happened.
It does not with our home distiller.
I don't trust some of the "distilled water" out there.
Or the people selling it.

Perhaps your issue has something to do with the fact that you never clean your equipment?

I've been using Wally's distilled water since day one and I never had an issue with any colors in my water revisor.

No, it is caused by using Distilled water with "Minerals Added" which is normally sold in the baby section. If there is no distilled in the regular water area some employees who don't realize its for a cpap will direct people to it.

Using water with minerals in it and/or leaving wet/moist things out in the open air to dry are IMHO worse than not cleaning.

Bottom line - "Read the label".

I read labels all the time. I buy this at wally world if they don’t have red cap distilled.

Can you show me ANY labeled distilled that shows minerals added?

Last I checked that isn’t distilled but I would love to know which brands to avoid.

I thought the pink stuff was in the air till it settled in the water basin.

No idea what

red cap distilled

is.

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=183546&p=1402053&hi ... F#p1402053

Wally world distilled has red cap.

By definition, you didn’t describe distilled water you described “remineralized water”.

[SleepGeek]

Wally world distilled has red cap.

By definition, you didn’t describe distilled water you described “remineralized water”.

Please... I didn't define it, buy it, or label it.
Have you looked at the label yet?
I only pointed it out for people who don't/have not yet looked at or read the label.

Here it is once again....

I read labels all the time. I buy this at wally world if they don’t have red cap distilled.

Can you show me ANY labeled distilled that shows minerals added?

https://www.google.com/search?sca_esv=8 ... ource=lnms

[Ebonyeyez]

Hello,

I recently started using an AirCurve 10 at night about 3 months ago. I made a mistake... Up until now, I would clean all components at night right before bed but neglected to empty the water tank in the unit during the day, so the tank sat in the unit during the day. Nothing really had a chance to dry out (I won’t do that again, I know now it was a mistake).

Yesterday, I found bits of slimy, pinkish substance in the corners of the humidifier tank (mold, bacteria, not sure). A family colleague who is an epidemiologist thought it is likely Serratia marcescens bacteria, but can be certain.

I scrubbed the tank with a small brush and soaked it in vinegar then soap/water, soaked all the other components in vinegar water, and left them to dry. When I scrubbed the tank with a small brush + vinegar, all the discoloration appeared to disappear, along with all the biofilm or whatever that was. I’m going to clean the components again. I understand if it’s mold, all of it may not be eliminated.

When I go online, I read that some people say you should toss the whole unit if there’s even a suspicion of mold because of spores and hard-to-clean areas of the unit, etc. Is this overkill?

What would you suggest? Epidemiologist family colleague didn't seem horribly concerned but said of course the risk isn't zero.

Should I replace the tank? All the components? The whole unit? Do nothing except clean it better from here out?

I was uncertain about the internal unit where things could not be visualized (like the blower unit inside the machine). The tank was sitting connected to the machine full of water, but everything else at least looked fine from what I could visualize. There’s no way to see the inner parts of the machine.

Pictures attached.
IMG-1882-smaller.jpg
IMG-1883-smaller.jpg

Thanks.

I experienced the pink fungi as well when I initially began my cpap journey. I used distilled water but only cleaned my water tank sporadically. I now clean my tank throughly every other day using dish detergent, a paper towel and a small brush to clean the tubes in the tank. Once a month I add vinegar to the mix. All has been well since I made this change. A couple a days ago I viewed a person who id’d himself as a doc I believe located in CA, who reviewed procedures to clean equipment and stay safe. His recommendations was very close to how I clean my equipment now and was previously instructed by a DME rep.

[lynninnj]

Wally world distilled has red cap.

By definition, you didn’t describe distilled water you described “remineralized water”.

Please... I didn't define it, buy it, or label it.
Have you looked at the label yet?
I only pointed it out for people who don't/have not yet looked at or read the label.

Here it is once again....

I read labels all the time. I buy this at wally world if they don’t have red cap distilled.

Can you show me ANY labeled distilled that shows minerals added?

https://www.google.com/search?sca_esv=8 ... ource=lnms

I see.

Thank you.

I have bought this brand in the past but the one I buy is not remineralized.

[chunkyfrog]

One time, I ALMOST bought the distilled baby water--
But I read the label before it was too late!.
Read the freakin' label, for jeebus' sake.
ALWAYS!!!!!!

[lynninnj]

One time, I ALMOST bought the distilled baby water--
But I read the label before it was too late!.
Read the freakin' label, for jeebus' sake.

Some of them say minerals added.

Some do not. (i assume they’re regular distilled)

No need to cry out loud.

[chunkyfrog]

At Walmart, the mineralized baby product is higher priced than plain DW.
I am not "crying"-- rather yelling at ignorance.
In hopes that poor hearing is the problem---instead of a weak link elsewhere.
No village is spared the indignity of that sort--this forum is no exception.
(You know who I am looking at.)

[Conrad]

Oh boy...

You're yelling at ignorance? You're going to need a larger font.

[SleepGeek]

Wally world distilled has red cap.

By definition, you didn’t describe distilled water you described “remineralized water”.

Please... I didn't define it, buy it, or label it.
Have you looked at the label yet?
I only pointed it out for people who don't/have not yet looked at or read the label.

Here it is once again....

I read labels all the time. I buy this at wally world if they don’t have red cap distilled.

Can you show me ANY labeled distilled that shows minerals added?

https://www.google.com/search?sca_esv=8 ... ource=lnms

I see.

Thank you.

I have bought this brand in the past but the one I buy is not remineralized.

Maybe this should be added to the Distilled Water "sticky".