What is this floating in my tank?

It's hard for me to imagine the home made mask deteriorating AND flowing up the hose. The tank isn't open to outside air other than that pumped by the machine, which means it passes through the air filter. (Technically it isn't a fully sealed system so SOME air could come from other locations, but it wouldn't be enough to inject fibers).

I vote mold, and I've seen it in my machine one or two days after cleaning if I leave water in it.

Distilled water is not sterile.

I take the tank out in the AM; empty and let dry or clean with Dawn (uncreamed) and dry. The machine has a chance to dry out, too. The water is fresh every night; I am fortunate to have a R/O unit so I use that treated water. Also, the hoses and mask are cleaned daily. Also, I change both the filters once a week. This may be overkill but I'm a retired hospice nurse and have watched a number of dear people die from breathing difficulties. I'm pretty particular about the air that goes into my lungs. This only takes 5-10 minutes tops to do as part of my morning routine; less time than hooking up at night. Also, If something waves back at you from the tank, move it on out; if it swims to the side, move it on out-- my last-but best -advice.

Lynda

I use wally world distilled water and awhile back I noticed an angel hair like ball in the tank after refilling it . I use the good filters and I sterilize my equipment frequently . I tossed the water and I didn't feel it or anything I thought it was a fluke dust bunny but I had a feeling it came from the jug , I watch for it now and I suspect wally world suppliers.
Maybe dust in the jug before they filled it . I am concerned and I intend to do some testing on the water now for worse . If so I will start to steam distill my own . Maybe some good ideas on testing the water would be helpful -never did anything but test for minerals . I'm more concerned about bacteria.
I might start by using a filter funnel to fill the tank. Perhaps its coming off the outside of the jug . Maybe I will rinse the outside before opening . I guess I could transfer the jug to a big clear jug to see if it got stuff in it from the factory. I will start there.

Some thoughts to consider.

1) Get another tank. Clean the one you've got very thoroughly. Clean the old one, fill it with fresh distilled water, and let it sit for a while. See if stuff grows in it.

I like to have two tanks. I switch weekly, then clean the dirty one and let it sit and dry out for a week. Let the old one sit clean and dry for a few weeks. See if the crud happens in the new tank.

How old is your tank?

If you're using insurance, they usually will buy a new tank every 6 months or so. If not, they're not that expensive from cpap.com.

2) Switch away from Dawn. Maybe there's something in there that is related. You might try something like dry dishwasher powder. Put a very small amount into the tank, put in some water and shake or swish it around very vigorously. Don't let the water get all over the place. Rinse thoroughly.

I've always been a little suspicious about household dishwashing liquid. It's not really intended for this use, and it's got crap like hand conditioner, perfume, "rinse aids," etc. I've always wondered if some of this stuff might stick to the surfaces and leave behind something that germs can feed on once you fill it back up with water.

3) Remove the water tank so you don't spill water into the machine. Then examine the machine carefully.

Double check your filters in the back of the machine. It's real easy for them to fall out or not be seated well. Look to see if there is any sign of dust on the machine showing that dust is going around the filter.

Shine a light down the air inlet. Is there any sign of dust inside the air duct?

Once you get fuzz into the blower unit, it might build up and occasionally come out in chunks.

Take out the filters and disconnect the humidifier. Look for dust inside the air outlet. Turn the machine on full blast and see if you see anything coming out. Maybe a blast of air will blow out some loose dust.

4) Examine the water tank carefully. Is there anything down in the seam where the metal plate joins the plastic of the tank? Maybe there's something growing there.

5) Get some Control III that our host sells.

6) Once you get a spare tank, try heat sanitizing the old one. For Respironics PRS1 tanks, I have heated a big pot of water to boiling temperature, turned off the heat, and then dropped the parts from the tank into the water until it cools

Only do this if you have another tank you can use if you damage the old one. I've only done this on the "50" series PRS1 tank, and they have changed the design on 60 series tanks. I also can't guarantee that they haven't changed the plastic even on the older models.

I did damage one of the ResMed S9 non-cleanable tanks this way. S9 dishwashable tanks and PRS1 mod 50 tanks had no problem. I don't do it regularly, but I have done it when I got a used tank.

By the way, even boiling water won't kill off every kind of germ, but it kills off most kind of germs.

7) Do you use the official manufacturer's filters? See if you can easily pull fuzz off the filter you have. If so, does it look like your crud? Be sure you have the "non-fuzzy" side of the fine filter towards the machine.

Even if you get the filter direct from your DME, that doesn't mean it's the real manufacturer's filter.

8) Pull out the crud, examine it. Let it dry out and see if you can figure out anything new after it dries out.

knightlite wrote:I use wally world distilled water and awhile back I noticed an angel hair like ball in the tank after refilling it . I use the good filters and I sterilize my equipment frequently . I tossed the water and I didn't feel it or anything I thought it was a fluke dust bunny but I had a feeling it came from the jug , I watch for it now and I suspect wally world suppliers.
Maybe dust in the jug before they filled it . I am concerned and I intend to do some testing on the water now for worse . If so I will start to steam distill my own . Maybe some good ideas on testing the water would be helpful -never did anything but test for minerals . I'm more concerned about bacteria.
I might start by using a filter funnel to fill the tank. Perhaps its coming off the outside of the jug . Maybe I will rinse the outside before opening . I guess I could transfer the jug to a big clear jug to see if it got stuff in it from the factory. I will start there.

Take your suspicious water, pour it into a clean glass, then cover it with something that will keep dust out, and let the water evaporate. See what's left behind. You could also do the same thing by boiling a pot of it dry, but be careful not to burn whatever pot you're using.

By the way, for a while, check the tank for fuzz every morning, dump the water, rinse, let it sit dry and open for the day, refill only just before bed.

Phew I missed a lot of posts today at work it seems.

Ok the tank is about 2 months old. I finally got a new one because my old tank kept getting pink mold in it. I checked last night before bed and the filters had fell out at some point. I just rinsed the black filter; not sure if I have a new one somewhere. I only use vinegar to clean my tank with. My hose hasn't been replaced in about 6 months. Mask is new. Right now I do plan on emptying the water every day just like I did at the beginning.

Do I understand correctly that you only use the standard grey filter on the intake?
The grey filter only stops the largest particles and not the really fine ones like mold spores.

No I use both. I just rinsed off the gray one tonight. The white one looks okay.

I wonder if there's something that feeds off of vinegar? Yes, full strength distilled vinegar kills a lot of stuff, but maybe the diluted vinegar residue might not encourage the growth of certain organisms.

As long as we are discussing cleaners, has anyone tried the stuff zymurgists use to clean up before they make beer?
Any unplanned growing things will ruin the beer.

Well I've had several nights of no mask liner and putting very little water in the tank and emptying it every morning. And so far no more floaties.

How can people have "floaties", "floaters", "slime", etc. in their CPAP/BiPAP machines water tank ???
I clean MY tank, mask, and hoses EVERY DAY and replace with FRESH distilled water every night.
I replace MY filters (both the black sponge AND the white cotton fiber filter) on the 1st and the 15th of every month.
I replace MY Blue "gel" inserts on the 1st and 15th of every month.
I replace MY hose 4 times per year.

it's not rocket science here kids, it's all about keeping clean and sanitary the very machine that works directly and deeply
within your LUNGS !!!

I have Narcolepsy AND Sleep Apnea which I take very seriously.

-ed gale
(also on FB as same name)

@ed gale: You must be a real treat to live with!

chunkyfrog wrote:@ed gale: You must be a real treat to live with!

+1 = OCD.

Rarely wash my tank or hose... never have had any floaties. Keep my filters changed on the first of every month and wash my mouthguard on my tappap with toothpaste and a toothbrush or rinse with mouthwash every morning. My deceased hubby was OCD...boy can I relate .