A fresh holding tank?!?-gctid395311

[Guest]

Been a few threads on smelly hoses, tanks etc. While I do not seem to have an odor problem, I would like to get my tank as clean as possible. I should add that I also have a lectra san, electric flush, jabsco macerator.

I was thinking 2 things:

1. Several cycles of adding water and pumping.

2. More consistent use of chemicals.

When I have done some cleaning before, I have just flushed a bunch of times to get water in the tank or poured chems into the head. The second always made me uneasy as not sure of the impact to the lectra san, so I have not done it too much.

I got to thinking, can you just pour in the chems via the pump out, or put a hose in to add water to the tank or is there a one way valve?

Any thoughts are appreciated!

Brad

[MidnightSun]

I clean mine out a couple of times a season after a pump out by simply pouring 1 quart of liquid bleach down the drain hole and then adding about 1/2 - 3/4 of a tank of water. I let it sit for the week and upon my return go for another pump out. This keeps the tank quit clean and does wonders for those sometimes difficult odour problems. Actually I did this last weekend so come this weekend it should be good for the rest of the season.

[Guest]

I must be missing something here. You have a lectra san, so is it before the tank? or do you have a lever or switch you use when you are in a marina to switch it to the tank? Or do you have the ability to send stuff to the tank or the lectra san? If the unit is before the tank I would not be using chemicals in the head since they have to pass through it first. It would be OK to add chemical to the tank from the pump out fitting.

[Guest]

MidnightSun wrote:
I clean mine out a couple of times a season after a pump out by simply pouring 1 quart of liquid bleach down the drain hole and then adding about 1/2 - 3/4 of a tank of water. I let it sit for the week and upon my return go for another pump out. This keeps the tank quit clean and does wonders for those sometimes difficult odour problems. Actually I did this last weekend so come this weekend it should be good for the rest of the season.

Please be careful when using bleach in a holding tank. The mixing of bleach and human waste creates a toxic gas that can be lethal. Take a look at https://"http://www.cruisersforum.co...r /> this post from another forum. Here, Peggy Hall (a very credible authority on marine sanitation systems) explains the consequences associated with adding bleach to a holding tank.

[kwb]

NWCruiser wrote:
It would be OK to add chemical to the tank from the pump out fitting.

Problem is if there is any liquid in the tank to speak of the chemicals will pretty much just sit in the filler hose since it goes to bottom of tank.

If you have lectrasan - why are you holding anything? If you hold the treated waste you start getting bacteria growth and very quickly pass the allowable limits to discharge.

[Guest]

Consider the Sweet Tank system manufactured by Groco. Most holding tank odors are caused by the creation of an anerobic environment due to inadequate ventilation. Chemicals simply cover up the odor, but do not address the anerobic bacteria problem. This unit introduced air into the holding tank, eliminating the need for chemicals. I have heard many positive comments about it.

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[Guest]

hey guys. My lectra san is before my valve. I can direct either way post lectra san.

I was really curious about where to introduce chemicals and water. Would like to bypass lectra san as much as possible for cleaning.

[Iproff]

Brad 3055 wrote:
Been a few threads on smelly hoses, tanks etc. While I do not seem to have an odor problem, I would like to get my tank as clean as possible. I should add that I also have a lectra san, electric flush, jabsco macerator.

I was thinking 2 things:

1. Several cycles of adding water and pumping.

2. More consistent use of chemicals.

When I have done some cleaning before, I have just flushed a bunch of times to get water in the tank or poured chems into the head. The second always made me uneasy as not sure of the impact to the lectra san, so I have not done it too much.

I got to thinking, can you just pour in the chems via the pump out, or put a hose in to add water to the tank or is there a one way valve?

Any thoughts are appreciated!

Brad

Brad I'm not sure if this was discussed on BOC before but Doug told me about a system that is used in RV's to rinse the holding tank. I was going to install one a year ago on my boat, I don't know why boat manufactures don't put them in the holding tanks.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Camco-RV-Tornado-Rotary-Tank-Rinser/7964402

You can do a search on Camco and find a lot of sources, easy to install and not much money, sure beats using chemicals.

Ken

[Guest]

Heres a quote from Peg Hall:

" Neither bleach, nor any products that contain bleach or chlorine should never be used in a marine toilet nor in the holding tank...not only because it can create gasses that are even more lethal than the hydrogen sulfide and sulfur dioxide generated in an anaerobic system, but because bleach/chlorine is both corrosive and highly destructive to rubber and also breaks down hose resistance to odor permeation. "

I have had very good luck with OdorLos. The typical "blue" stuff just disinfects and masks the odors. The Odorlos works differently, bacteria in your holding tanks are living organisms that need energy to break down the waste. Eventually the bacteria run out of aerobic energy sources (air) and start feeding on the anaerobic sulfates in the waste - resulting in a foul odor: hydrogen sulfide.

Rinse and pump out your tank several times, add 4 oz of this stuff and flush. The tank must not have any other chemicals, cleaners, or bleach in it to work. We actually WANT bacteria in our tanks.

BTW, I have no connection with the product, just have had very good luck with it!

[MidnightSun]

CPSS wrote:
Heres a quote from Peg Hall:

" Neither bleach, nor any products that contain bleach or chlorine should never be used in a marine toilet nor in the holding tank...not only because it can create gasses that are even more lethal than the hydrogen sulfide and sulfur dioxide generated in an anaerobic system, but because bleach/chlorine is both corrosive and highly destructive to rubber and also breaks down hose resistance to odor permeation. "

I have had very good luck with OdorLos. The typical "blue" stuff just disinfects and masks the odors. The Odorlos works differently, bacteria in your holding tanks are living organisms that need energy to break down the waste. Eventually the bacteria run out of aerobic energy sources (air) and start feeding on the anaerobic sulfates in the waste - resulting in a foul odor: hydrogen sulfide.

Rinse and pump out your tank several times, add 4 oz of this stuff and flush. The tank must not have any other chemicals, cleaners, or bleach in it to work. We actually WANT bacteria in our tanks.

BTW, I have no connection with the product, just have had very good luck with it!

I won't get into Pegs book but IMHO half of what is in there is OK a best. Many years ago she was here at BOC and she really knew little IMHO. I can write a book also you know, does not mean it is correct. Do some google searches and you will find several who do use bleach. Here is a good one. https://sites.google.com/site/cbruni/

[Guest]

MidnightSun wrote:
I won't get into Pegs book but IMHO half of what is in there is OK a best. Many years ago she was here at BOC and she really knew little IMHO. I can write a book also you know, does not mean it is correct. Do some google searches and you will find several who do use bleach. Here is a good one. https://sites.google.com/site/cbruni/

hmmmm, I have been doing research and cant find anything to really go against what your saying. Anyone find any articles saying otherwise? What I have found is articles saying it most likely wont cause any reactions, and is good for disinfecting. Maybe we should try to debunk this hmm?

[Guest]

MidnightSun wrote:
I won't get into Pegs book but IMHO half of what is in there is OK a best. Many years ago she was here at BOC and she really knew little IMHO. I can write a book also you know, does not mean it is correct. Do some google searches and you will find several who do use bleach. Here is a good one. https://sites.google.com/site/cbruni/

It is common knowledge chlorine is destructive to rubber. If your sanitation system has rubber, chlorine will degrade it. Concentrations and exposure of course play a huge role in the severity and extent of degradation.

[Guest]

My point was that since we cant completely dump our tanks as RV's do (as mentioned in the article), I like the idea of using the natural bacteria to break down and convert the waste. Any of the vacuum type pump outs always leave some in the tank, unlike RV sites that use gravity to completely empty the tank.

I guess there are 2 opinions regarding our holding tanks, 1) blue stuff, or bleach to kill everything, or 2) treat the waste to prevent the odors from forming.

I just got back from 4 days on the boat with no pumpout till we got back to our club. No smells, no problems.

[MidnightSun]

CPSS wrote:
My point was that since we cant completely dump our tanks as RV's do (as mentioned in the article), I like the idea of using the natural bacteria to break down and convert the waste. Any of the vacuum type pump outs always leave some in the tank, unlike RV sites that use gravity to completely empty the tank.

I guess there are 2 opinions regarding our holding tanks, 1) blue stuff, or bleach to kill everything, or 2) treat the waste to prevent the odors from forming.

I just got back from 4 days on the boat with no pumpout till we got back to our club. No smells, no problems.

My opinion is both is best. Bleach to sanitize the tank and system and then the normal holding tank product for a few months and then a bleach sanitization again. My season is about 6 months long so I do the bleach think at launch and then mid season and finally just before haul out. This has worked wonderfully for me.

[Guest]

A rinse of the pipes after tank pumping with white vinegar removes salts and smells from the pipes. Then we pour a cup of tide in the bowl. We also had an access port put in the black water tank for rinsing the tank directly-a couple rinse and pumps and the water in tank is clear and clean.

I found Peg's book quite useful and informative-and the smell of the previous owner has left the boat! Her book is full of tips that will not destroy your system like clorine will, use the ones you like best and work for you. Not to mention that the results of human urine and clorine releases clorine gas, one of the nastiest gases used on the WW1 battle fields.