Bumpyroad
Virginia
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Joined: 12/01/2005
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siliconjunkie wrote:My guess is that all the campgrounds with sewage problems are more than likely undersized or poorly designed and maintained systems. There isn't enough chemical in a given tank dump to matter or "kill" a properly designed and sized system. It is a fraction of a percent, well under 1% at most. Blaming it on chemicals is just a good scape goat.
yep, I remember a CDC or somesuch report a few years back that reported at most a slight setback in bacterial action that bounced right back very quickly.
bumpy
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Kirk
Livingston, Texas.
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Joined: 06/17/2001
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Quote:I use the bleach method about every 3rd tank. The question is, how much bleach? If you put in the entire gallon, you could have a negative effect on some smaller septic systems. If you put in a cup, you probably don't do anything except make you feel that you did something. Using a great deal of it will just kill the bacteria in the tank, both helpful and harmful.
There are two kinds of natural bacteria, aerobic(the helpful kind) and anaerobic(the kind that make the odors). The aerobic is what makes septic systems work and what is working in the tanks of so many of us who are fulltime and use no additives at all.
As fulltimers for more than eight years, we rarely add anything to our black tank, but in very hot weather we do occasionally use Oxy-Kem2.
In a clinic put on by people from Thetford, we were told that the very best way to clean waste tanks is to get some TSP(tri-sodium phosphate) in the wallpaper department of a home supply store and add the entire package, 1/2 to each tank along with 1/2 tank of water just before travel. Once you arrive at your next stop, dump the tanks and they will be nicely cleaned and with a product that is environmentally friendly. That is what we have been doing for more than five years now.
Good travelin! ........Kirk
sent via Starband, Manual Flyer dish
www.adventure.1tree.net
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Skip and Norine
Fulltiming since Oct 2006
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Joined: 05/07/2005
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ShapeShifter wrote:raydf_1 wrote:An RV technician told me the other day that instead of buying expensive chemicals for sanitizing the black water tank in my new RV, I could use instead standard household bleach or chlorine and pour a gallon of it down the toilet after emptying the black water tank.
A gallon!?!  That seems really excessive, and far more expensive than the commercial chemical products where you only use a few ounces. It doesn't sound like good advice to me.
Ditto.
You got VERY bad advice.
We're fulltimers and we don't use ANYTHING in our black tank - no "Geo Method" no Thetford, no NOTHING.
All we do is dump and thoroughly flush it one a week.
2 years as fulltimers and no odor problems WHATSOEVER.
Water is a wonderful thing.
Traveling our country and seeing the sights, enjoying fun-filled days and campfire nights
See our travel pics
The rig: 2006 SportsCoach Cross Country SE
The toad: 2006 Saturn Vue
The Captain: Skip
The Co-Captain: Norine
Furry passengers: Penny & Biscuit
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raydf_1
Miami FL
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Joined: 05/10/2008
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Skip/Norine/Folks:
Thanks! Yes, there's no doubt that the technician who gave me this piece of advice wasn't an RVer himself! Thanks to the advice received right here in this thread by you and many other fellow RVers, I'm now quite clear on what works and what doesn't as to black water maintenance... I do agree with you that simple is beautiful!
Cheers!
Skip and Norine wrote:
You got VERY bad advice.
We're fulltimers and we don't use ANYTHING in our black tank - no "Geo Method" no Thetford, no NOTHING.
All we do is dump and thoroughly flush it one a week.
2 years as fulltimers and no odor problems WHATSOEVER.
Water is a wonderful thing.
Ray
2009 Fleetwood Pulse 24A
Miami FL
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joanne0012
Boston, MA
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Joined: 02/01/2005
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raydf_1 wrote:An RV technician told me the other day that instead of buying expensive chemicals for sanitizing the black water tank in my new RV, I could use instead standard household bleach or chlorine and pour a gallon of it down the toilet after emptying the black water tank. ..
Technically, this would be a great way to sanitize your black tank. The problem is, there's no reason to ever sanitize your black tank, unless perhaps you're going to work on it (changing the valve, etc.).
Joanne
1994 Lazy Daze 23.5' TK
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wa8yxm
Wherever I happen to park
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Joined: 07/04/2006
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I agree NO CHEMICALS IN THE BLACK TANK.. I part time.. When I'm living in the MH I use a deadly chemical known by many names. one of them is Dihydrogen monooxcide, It is a major component of acid rain, promotes rust and is the primary cause of drowning... The common name for this chemical is WATER.
When I'm parked for the winter I use pink stuff (At least enough to wet the seals on the dump valve
When I'm parked for a month or more in the summer I use a waste digester (Biological) product since the MH is never fully out of service (I use it almost every day and when you gotta go.. That happens to be the room I use (for other things) so why run back into the house when you have a perfectly good Throne right below you?) But normally I just dump as needed.. Today. .It's needed (Will dump when I return to the rig)
Nothin adds excitment like something that is none of your business
Kenwood TS-2000 housed in a 2005 Damon Intruder 377
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nayl
Waverly PA
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Joined: 04/24/2004
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I use Eco-Save. They have a few different formulas, I prefer the concentrated product and use an ounce for the black tank and about half that for the gray tank. Eco-Save
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Bumpyroad
Virginia
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Joined: 12/01/2005
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nayl wrote:I use Eco-Save. They have a few different formulas, I prefer the concentrated product and use an ounce for the black tank and about half that for the gray tank. Eco-Save
well I see that *Contains no perfume, nor surfactants, just friendly bacteria and bran" at least your tank will get adequate fiber in its diet.
bumpy
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