Another black tank question
Thread Starter
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,383
Likes: 193
From: Cambs, England
Another black tank question
Hi guys, we have had our 5th wheel for a year now ('06 Crossroads Cruiser) when we got it the black tank was nearly full, when I tried to empty it not much came out. I determined that the dump valve seal had failed (actually not installed correctly) allowing liquid to trickle through & causing a build up of solid matter, so I replaced the seals, filled the tank to the brim with water & some blue chemical, towed it around some bumpy roads, left it for a couple of weeks then drained it down. The tank gauge now reads either full or 2/3 full regardless of how much is in the tank (I can live with that) & the tank now holds enough that we have lived in it for 2 weeks before being full. I have just removed the toilet to replace the water valve & can still see dried solid matter on the walls of the tank, what chemicals would be safe to use to break this down without damaging the tank/sensors? I've already tried the wand that came with the trailer.
Last edited by senix; Oct 11, 2015 at 09:15 AM. Reason: Edited title -Moderator
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,899
Likes: 12
From: Upstate NY
Some of the folks on the regular RV forums swear by Extreme Happy Camper cleaner:
Amazon.com: EXTREME CLEANER by Happy Campers - RV & Marine Extreme Tank & Sensor Cleaner: Automotive
.
I don't have any experience with it (not exactly cheap either especially if you need to import it to the UK.
A couple trailers back I just used a hose down the toilet drain several times but the poo pyramid was still kinda mushy
so it did clean up.
Amazon.com: EXTREME CLEANER by Happy Campers - RV & Marine Extreme Tank & Sensor Cleaner: Automotive
I don't have any experience with it (not exactly cheap either especially if you need to import it to the UK.
A couple trailers back I just used a hose down the toilet drain several times but the poo pyramid was still kinda mushy
so it did clean up.
FTE Remembers
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 65,938
Likes: 1,432
From: Millersville, MD
Read this: https://sites.google.com/site/cbruni/
I started using this 2 seasons ago now and I won't buy any more holding tank chemicals. This works just too well and better for the environment.
I started using this 2 seasons ago now and I won't buy any more holding tank chemicals. This works just too well and better for the environment.
Thread Starter
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,383
Likes: 193
From: Cambs, England
Cheers guys
That's a good read & makes a lot of sense, when I get home next weekend I'm going to fill the black & grey tanks with some softener & bleach, then it can work it's magic before we go away again.
Read this: https://sites.google.com/site/cbruni/
I started using this 2 seasons ago now and I won't buy any more holding tank chemicals. This works just too well and better for the environment.
I started using this 2 seasons ago now and I won't buy any more holding tank chemicals. This works just too well and better for the environment.
FTE Remembers
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 65,938
Likes: 1,432
From: Millersville, MD
The laundry soap really helps the scrubbing action in the black tank! I also used it i my grey tanks and the color of the water when drained looked like I was dumping the black tank!!
Once all the tanks are clean you can lower the amounts used.
Once all the tanks are clean you can lower the amounts used.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,899
Likes: 12
From: Upstate NY
I didn't have much luck with a very dirty tank using the Geo Method. Does a great job keeping the tank clean once it's been 'purified' though.
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Hotshot
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 10,060
Likes: 491
From: Bristol, TN.
Okay, okay, okay, I just gotta know. Why does anyone spend time worrying about the inside of their dump tanks? Is everyone having an odor problem? There is enough stuff to do on the maintenance list without adding to it. Maybe aesthetics? I don't know.
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Moderator
Joined: May 2004
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From: Home Base Nebraska
As far as maintenance the most important thing is using enough water and not dumping to often. It doesn't hurt anything to go down the road with stuff in your tank, it will breakup buildup. I also never leave my tanks empty, when I used to winterize I put some RV antifreeze in the tanks to keep the seals lubricated, in the summer when stored I flush the tanks and leave water in the tanks to stop the dried scale that can buildup on the tank walls.
Denny
Denny
Hotshot
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 10,060
Likes: 491
From: Bristol, TN.
The reason I asked this question is it is not a given that tanks produce odor in the RV. There is huge variability. Some really bad, some almost not odor at all. With our current fiver I have not used anything in the tanks and have never flushed them. Couple of rigs bad real stinky! I know some folks who have never added anything to their tanks ever and odor is not a problem. 
Lead Driver
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 8,698
Likes: 4,818
From: Itinerant
We use Calgon water softener in the tanks on occasion, before traveling add some so the motion gets the suds going and do what it says it does. Never had problems and does seem to help with orders that start every once in awhile. I'm sure everyone has something they do that seems to work for them.
FTE Remembers
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 65,938
Likes: 1,432
From: Millersville, MD
Go with this instead....does exactly the same thing and a LOT cheaper!
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 6,748
Likes: 119
From: Tallassee, ALabama
Also a good video on black tank cleaning systems...