I just got back from a trip and several people discussed toilet chemicals.OK which do you use? I travel single and my black tank can last up to 7-8 days or more depending if there are facilities on-site or not.I have used TST and Aqua Kem before and never noticed any orders but my sensors are not reading very accurately. Many people say use Happy Campers and it cleans the sensors..Opinions please..Tks DyIn Northern Calif

We have always used Aqua-Kem and it has worked well. I only use it when I'm not able to empty the tank often. If we are traveling, I don't use anything, just water. If the coach will be sitting, I'll put about 8 oz's. in the tank. Most of the time, it will be there a month at the longest.Our current coach only has ONE holding tank for grey and black (189 gallons). I actually find this setup to be the most logical as you need a lot of water in the black tank. Merging them together solves that problem and allow for more capacity.MM.

Been using Happy Camper for years! Never have stuck sensors. And no odor. It turns everything to a liquid.

In the many years of RVing with several different rigs I have never smelt the need for chemicals. Just a good flushing when we dump does it for us. If you are smelling something in the coach I figure there is a vent leak or? To those who do use chemicals have you ever gone without and how did that work for you? I think part of the puzzle may be the climate you are camping in but again why are you smelling it? Great post. Thanks

Starting our 6th year fulltime 4-19 never used anything other than water, water and more water. Never any odors.

I'll admit my stuff stinks, so I use what ever is on sale. The other reason I use chems is because I want it to break down as fast as possible since we only camp on weekends and dump every time afterwards.

Black tank chemicals, Happy Campers, TST, Aqua Kem ???

RayChez
Explorer
Apr 18, 2015
Nobody said that the smell would come into the motor home. The traps prevent the smell from coming in, BUT! when you dump and apparently some do not care about there neighbors. It stinks up the whole Resort. Simply disgusting that some folks just do not want to spend on something that dissolves solids and cuts down the smell because Enzymes eat up all the waste and keeps the sensors working.
John_S_
Explorer II
Apr 18, 2015
The vacuum breaker and p traps keep the smell out. The black tank will come up when you flush if you are using an exhaust fan and no open windows but if it is not running then nothing really comes up. I just use water and after I dump add a bit of dawn dish soap in to clean the bowl with water as we drive then we flush it and keep going.
Blaster_Man
Explorer
Apr 18, 2015
The P traps in your faucets/shower prevent odors from coming from the tanks into RVs. Chemicals have nothing to do with it...water only. If you want something to help evacuate the tanks, concentrated dish soap (Dawn) will help.
J-Rooster
Explorer
Apr 18, 2015
I've never used chemicals in my black or gray tanks! I use RV Digest in my black tank it eats everything up in the black tank via organisms that digest everything in the tanks.
Mody_n_Domy
Explorer
Apr 18, 2015
I use the single pack laundry soap and use 3 of them I dump the soap out of each package. I mix them in hot water in the bathroom sink which goes to the black tank. The only thing I know its doing is lubricating the valve. As far as black tank smell goes I use a 3 inch hose and allow a trap in the hose and that stops the sewer gas from the campground to back up into my system.
Blackdiamond
Explorer
Apr 17, 2015
Another happy Happy Camper user here.
sdianel_-acct_c
Explorer
Apr 17, 2015
we haven't found anything that will clean the sensors. We use Thetford Campa Clean in the small bottles. We use 2 bottles for our holding tank (read directions). No odor.
Oasisbob
Explorer
Apr 17, 2015
As posted previously we have NEVER used chemicals. Never felt the need and have envirnmental concerns as well. Previous poster mentioned wanting waste to break down quicker. I had the unpleasand experience of having to empty my black tank into buckets to dump at home after a two day outing with five people. I was surprised how quickly the waste broke down on it's ownusing no cgems. Save your money. Save the envirnment. Water only. Try it and see
bshpilot
Explorer
Apr 17, 2015
+1 (more) for Water.

My experience is much like others have stated - chemicals aren't really necessary if you have a tank washer (i installed some TORNADO Tank Flushers ) & use a lot less water cleaning/flushing our tanks now.

IMO the chemicals are only masking the odor at best....and the odor is non-existant in our coach.
The only time we've ever experienced any odor issues is when we've been "curb side" at my MIL's for 6 weeks and the tank got VERY full...and even then the only sign of odor was when we drove down the road to a rest area to dump the tank.

I installed a tank washer on each tank & a couple of QD (quick disconnects) connections that were easily accessible....i carry a short length of hose w/ the matching QD fitting - my short length of hose has an on off valve on it - just connect the hose to the water supply and let it run for a couple of minutes.
DutchmenSport
Explorer
Apr 17, 2015
Water, water, more water. That's pretty much it.