Holding Tanks



Last updated 2011 March 16



Things don't drain, sensors don't work and so many chemicals to choose from make this subject a difficult one to pin down. Again, I wish to take a slightly different approach and present information in the way in which I analysed which one I would use.

I have used several of these products. I do not have a boroscope to look in the tanks so I am simply using the sensor function as a metric of effectiveness.

We are a holding tank chemical manufacturer's nightmare: We stay in one place for long periods of time (no agitation) and I like to leave the gray water valve open in extremely cold weather because I would rather have it stuck open then closed.

Since my sensors weren't working, I thought, now is a good time to try different products to see what works for me. Each product contains enough treatments for each tank to give it a fair test so let's see what happens. I also added an odor column when we both complained of a black tank odor after flushing:

Method


________________		 Black or Grey

________		 Description


________________		 Sensors Function?

________		 Ofensive Odors Detected? ________ Comments


___________________
Dawn Dishwashing Liquid Both Dawn Dishwashing liquid Gray=No ?? Come on, we wash dishes with this every day and my gray sensors still don't work.
Exodor Porta-Pak Black Handy gel packs in a re-sealable bag Grey=No Black=Yes Black=Yes Says it treats gray water too but I have no idea how you would get the packet in that tank
"Geo Method" Both Calgon Water Softner, Laundry detergent & Bleach Gray=No ?? See notes below...
Happy Camper Both Bucket of powder Haven't tried it yet ?? None
Odorlos Both Green Liquid Black=?? ?? Nice dispenser labeled for 20 & 40 gallon dose.
Pine-Sol Both Pine-Sol Black=No Pine Beats nothing.
Pure Power Both Liquid bottle Gray=No Black=No ?? None
UNIQUE Digest It Concentrate Both ??? Haven't tried it yet ?? None
Thetford Aqua-Kem Black The blue stuff Black=Yes ?? I tried both powder and liquid, used long term the black sensors started working again.
Walex Bio-Pak Black Handy packs Haven't tried it yet ?? None
RV-Trine Black Green Liquid No Yes In use now. Nice dispenser labeled for 20 & 40 gallon dose.


Notes:

Calgon - only need 1 cup of the liquid vs. 2 cups of the powder. Obtainable at Albertsons or Super Wal-Mart

Under no circumstances would I put chlorine bleach into a spetic system as it will kill the bacteria responsible for septic function. The city water treatment facility has some mechanisms for dealing with chlorine, but, even then this is argueably not ecologically responsible. Though articles have been written that show reasonable amounts of bleach does not cause serious harm to a septic system I still choose not to do it. (We are on septic in our current location.)



Non-precipitating water conditioners

Calgon (a mixture of non-precipitating and precipitating chemicals), White Rain, Blue Raindrops, Spring Rain

Precipitating water softeners

Arm and Hammer Washing Soda, Raindrops, Blue Dew, Borax, Climalene, Melo, White King Water Softener, Borateem

TP

Many people have talked about this and my favorite is the kid that did this for a Science Project. I took for granted when people said that they were all the same with a couple of exceptions. Either test it yourself or use our chart. This is half a glass of cool water (who heats the black water?), 1 sheet, two seconds of shaking (we don't drive around alot), and the time to dissolve to small particles.

Manufacturer

________________		 Product

________		 Dissolved in

________________		 Where can I buy it?
____________		 Comments

___________________
Safeway Ultra Softly Instant! Safeway This is the fastest dissolving paper so far.
Scott Safe for Septic and RV Less than 5 min Safeway Now we are talking. This is not the same as "Safe for Septic" only.
Thetford Campa.Chem Never Walmart I don't know what this stuff is made of but it doesn't desolve, ever.
TST ?? ?? Walmart None


I think we are going to stick with Scott for a while so if you do this test on some others please email me the results and I will include them here.



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