Question Rebreather sanitizer

[Pavao]

I am in the "only when there is damage or stink" camp.
Stuff seems to last a long time if you don't leave things baking in direct sunlight, and have cool/dry storage.

Have ended all dive days with prompt rinsing, brief dilute steramine soak, freshwater rinseout, semi-diligent open air hanging dryout procedures. Water can remain in the corrugated hoses and counterlungs for several days. Might try the blower idea of @Pavao one of these days.

I believe that’s the key, drying it fast to remove the conditions which allows stuff to grow.
Makes me feel even safer knowing you just air dry yours and have had no problems.

 

[tongl]

Where do you get the Chemgene?

From work, supplier is Fisher Scientific

 

[Wibble]

From work, supplier is Fisher Scientific

Thanks.

For some reason AP Diving's stopped selling the concentrate. Now have a better source

Search Results Page | Fisher Scientific

 

[stretchthepenn]

Two and 1/2 years, about 150-175 hours, since certification... My original container of steramine remains unopened...

@stretchthepenn can confirm our instructor "recommended" following the manufacturers guidelines, but advised he seldom (if ever) did anything other than rinsing well with fresh water and allowing to dry (which is the key in his opinion). According to him, his incidence of respiratory issues was less than his colleagues who sanitized after every dive.

It's served me well thus far and I have no plans to change my routine.

Agreed, all around. We've followed our instructor's advice to stick with freshwater rinses, and we've had zero troubles. I've never cracked the Steramine bottle.

To be fair, I've also built a forced-air drying rig that dries the counterlungs thoroughly, so that may be part of my personal success story.

 

[LFMarm]

I have always used Steramine tablets for sterilizing my loop and counter lungs but am considering switching sanitizers due to a concern of respiring dried residue. I have put together a table highlighting the key differences between Steramine and the other cleaning/sanitizing agents explicitly designed for diving and respiratory equipment:

Product	Key Ingredient(s)	Intended Use	Residue	Rinse Required?	Safety for Breathing Systems	Effectiveness
Steramine	Quaternary Ammonium Compounds (Quats)	General sanitization (food, surfaces)	May leave residue	Yes	Not explicitly safe for respiration	Effective against bacteria, viruses, and fungi.
Biox Cleaner	Biodegradable surfactants and detergents	Diving equipment and rebreathers	Minimal when rinsed	Yes	Specifically safe for diving systems	Highly effective, safe for frequent use.
Virkon™ S	Potassium peroxymonosulfate & inorganic salts	Medical, aquaculture, and diving gear	Very minimal	Yes	Safe for diving/respiratory systems	Broad-spectrum (viruses, bacteria, fungi).
Diversol™ / ProKlenz™	Chlorine-based or hydrogen peroxide blends	Medical-grade respiratory cleaning	Minimal when rinsed	Yes	Safe for respiratory systems	Medical-grade cleaning; effective against a wide range of pathogens.
Sterisil / Stericlean	Mild peracetic acid and hydrogen peroxide	Respiratory and medical equipment	Virtually none	Yes	Designed for respiratory use	Highly effective and eco-friendly.
Ozonated Water	Ozone (generated from oxygen)	Eco-friendly disinfection	None	No (if used alone)	Safe for respiratory systems	Kills pathogens without chemicals; eco-friendly.

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Comparison Insights​

1. Steramine:
   • Not specifically designed for breathing systems.
   • Requires thorough rinsing to remove residue that could irritate respiratory pathways.
2. Biox Cleaner:
   • Specifically formulated for diving equipment, making it safer and more effective for rebreathers and counterlungs.
   • Requires rinsing but leaves minimal residue.
3. Virkon™ S:
   • Broad-spectrum and highly effective, with very low residue when rinsed.
   • Commonly used in technical and professional diving for its safety profile.
4. Diversol™ / ProKlenz™:
   • Medical-grade cleaner effective for respiratory systems.
   • Requires rinsing but leaves little residue when used correctly.
5. Sterisil / Stericlean:
   • Designed for respiratory systems with virtually no harmful residues.
   • Excellent option for diving applications requiring stringent safety.
6. Ozonated Water:
   • The safest option with no residue as it breaks down into oxygen.
   • Requires an ozone generator but eliminates chemical concerns.

As a final note, I have not experienced any negative or irritating symptoms using Steramine and I will likely use up the remainder of the tablets I have. I couldn't find another similar thread with sanitizer alternatives and was wondering what others might use as a safer alternative?

Thanks for sharing. Based on my experience, the only 2 options widely used are Steramine in the US and Virkon in Europe.
Based on my research, while Virkon has a wider sterilization spectrum than Steramine, it is more aggressive on soft plastic (i.e., o-rings).