Sterilizing options

[EE-JIT]

What do Choptima divers use for sterilizing the loop? Does any one have safe alternatives to steramine perhaps baby bottle sterilizing agent?

 

[davehicks]

What wrong with steramine that you an alternative? There are other brands like virkon, but its pretty much the same thing.

 

[Mobulai]

Check this whole thread out

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.

---

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?

 

[happy-diver]

1. Steramine:
   • Not specifically designed for breathing systems.
   • Requires thorough rinsing to remove residue that could irritate respiratory pathways.

Well there you go, here we are again

So again the winner is WASHING POWDER an ALDI product inc pat pend etc

It's cheep but it's good!


In the interests of complete transparency I'm not a Choptima diver, I am a B.U.M. Diver!

B.U.M. Breathing. Underwater. Machine.

 

[Mobulai]

1. Steramine:
   • Not specifically designed for breathing systems.
   • Requires thorough rinsing to remove residue that could irritate respiratory pathways.

Well there you go, here we are again

View attachment 911907

So again the winner is WASHING POWDER an ALDI product inc pat pend etc

It's cheep but it's good!


In the interests of complete transparency I'm not a Choptima diver, I am a B.U.M. Diver!

View attachment 911908

B.U.M. Breathing. Underwater. Machine.

Me and a friend actually tried a variant of this — not bad at all

 

[Rollin Bonz]

Just say "No"

 

[LFMarm]

Check this whole thread out

Thanks for sharing. Based on my experience, the only 2 options widely used are Steramine in the US and Virkon in Europe.

Regarding Steramine. I also rinse after sterilizing with Steramine but I am an exception amongst all my team mates – everyone lets it dry only. I don’t see any concern on irritation if you rinse it.

Regarding your list. Another aspect that should be considered is how aggressive these are on plastic. Based on my research, while Virkon has a wider sterilization spectrum than Steramine, it is more aggressive on soft plastic (i.e., o-rings).

 

[Mobulai]

Just say "No"

When it’s a home build out of plumbing parts and a dormabag, and none of these products are available in your region, that “No” easily becomes a “Why the hell not”

 

[DiveLikeAMuppet]

Regarding your list. Another aspect that should be considered is how aggressive these are on plastic. Based on my research, while Virkon has a wider sterilization spectrum than Steramine, it is more aggressive on soft plastic (i.e., o-rings).

I used a poorly diluted Virkon, left the loop in for too long (got distracted) and I had to change my mushroom valves because they started making funny noises and when I took them out, had a different texture from new ones.

 

[LFMarm]

I used a poorly diluted Virkon, left the loop in for too long (got distracted) and I had to change my mushroom valves because they started making funny noises and when I took them out, had a different texture from new ones

With Steramine you can spray and let it dry or you can soak but not for longer than 10 mins (everything is sterilized before that and keeping it longer may damage the plastic).