Help with black collecting on exhaust filter

I have three masks and they are all marginal. I am 5 weeks into having CPAP and am totally dragging and never felt worse. My eyes water all the time, some days I have huge sneezing fits and seem plagued by allergies all day as never before. I never felt tired or needed to nap before I got CPAP equipment even though my AHI was 60 per hour at my sleep test. My pressure is 11. One of my masks, the one that I am most comfortable with is the FP Eson. If it were not so big that it sticks into my eye sockets and didn't make my face swell up like a balloon by morning, I would settle on it probably. The other two are the Swift nasal pillows which hurt my nose and the Wisp. The shape of the Wisp is much better than Eson and I fit in between the Petite and the Small/Medium and am struggling to decide which is the lesser of two evils.

The FP is best overall, though way too big for my face, because neither husband nor I can sleep with the mass exhaust coming out of my other two masks. The FP has a small white replaceable filter that pops over the exhale port and it is by far the better for it. BUT, the white replaceable filter developed black pinpoints of dirt or something that line up with each hole in the exhalation port. This is strange because the rectangular filter on the back of my machine appears clean. Where can the black be coming from? I taped the Eson filters (split them to half thickness to guard against reduce pressure drop and very carefully so as not to block anything) onto the Swift and the Wisp exhaust ports. This makes them useable but I got the same black using them as I did with the Eson. I am using distilled water, I've been washing my masks every day or so, I've never washed my heated tube but then I've only had it just over a month. I wondered about oil left over from machining during manufacture, or leaks letting air in somewhere other than through the intake filter. I showed the black exhaust marks to my DME who I like and he'd never seen anything like it. Anyone with similar experience or other ideas? (Not to offend, and I'm happy to hear all comments, but do not wander OT into telling me I'm going to die by using the FP filters on the other masks. Anyone who has an FP Q with a filter will tell you this is an essential part of any mask and it is only the FP competitors who might argue against them.)

First a question...

Do you smoke?

When you blow your nose is the mucous black?

OK two questions and both answers are most likely NO.

I would suggest running a test. Using tape or plastic wrap find a way to plug the part of the mask that blows air into your nose but leave the exhaust open. Run your machine for a few hours and check the filter. If the black shows up it means that it is coming from your machine or hose. You may be able to find a way to hook the mask up to the machine without the hose and that would eliminate the hose.

Let us know what you find.

I would just take it to the dealer and tell them what's wrong... you shouldn't be subjected to whatever it is!

The black spots are most likely mildew that loves the nice warm exhaust air you are breathing out.
I get them on my mask also. Its a humidity issue.

The white "filter" is really an air diffuser to quiet the noise of the air leaving the mask.
Since you don't get any air flow in through this diffuser, there should be no cause for alarm.

I added a bacterial filter inline with my CPAP hose and that reduces the problem as well as catching any nasties that make it through the filters on the air intake of the machine.

I have the same issue. Did you figure out what it is?

I use a Piliaro Q which has the exhaust filter over the exhaust port, which makes it very silent and defuses the exhaust air so it does not blow on partner or bedding and make noise (very silient).
It also develops black spots in the filter over time.
I also use a Amara View, and I cut a resmed filter in half and put it over the exhaust port on it, makes it very quiet.
It also develops black in the filter.

I think the suggestion that it is some kind of mildew is probably correct .

http://i.imgur.com/CMljODW.jpg