Holding tank chemicals

A lot of different ideas. I've had some serious problems with some good old pyramids. I know after my surgery for a doctor running a scope through my colon, the removed 10 inches of colon. No cancer, just screw ups bys the doctor. Anyway it made things more sticky. Finally when Cameo was just about 6 weeks old we went to unique digest it. He also used it overnight to eat down my pyramid. My trade in also had the pyramid. I do leave the black tank valve closed until time to drain, then wash with black tank flush until clear piece of pipe is clean. One critical thing I have learned. Do not let unique or Happy Camper freeze. It seems to kill the ingredients, and pyramid will began again. Maybe some of you do not need anything, but I do. We are all a little different.

Ole Man Dan wrote:
I use a little DAWN in the Black tank/ about 3-5 gal. water.
Sloshes the suds while traveling. Everything comes out. No smell.

I've started adding some to the Grey Tank recently. It started to smell and the water was nasty. Cleaned it up. No smell.

You had to add dawn to the grey? What do you wash dishes with?

Rollnhome wrote:
You will find many do not use chemicals, nor do they use RV toilet paper. The trick is to use plenty of water when you flush. Your holding tanks are a sealed system. Properly empty and flush your tanks and you will be fine.

Wrong...more use chemicals than do not.

KISS is my motto. Keep it simple stupid. No fancy chemicals, no RV toilet paper, no smell, so no problem. I don't understand what all the stink is about.

mlts22 wrote:
... I do like the 35+ CFM computer fan idea, although the "Lil' Stanker" is not sold anymore. I also believe that at least some type of item, be it Camco's vent, a solar fan, or a computer fan connected to the 12 volt system should be standard on at least the black tank, if not both the grey and black tank vents. ....

Correct. "Lil's Stanker" Roof Top Power vent is no longer made. Their replacement product is inline (inside wall cavity or inside roof cavity") prduct is listed at: http://www.lslproducts.net/IL-DSPage.html

Too bad I didn't know about their replacement product - before creating my own power vent system.

If I buy another RV (TT/ 5er), I will buy/install their 12V product. Very easy inline install and with this product, one doesn't need to change the factory roof vent.

Simply install, connect 12V wire, install switch and its done. No more smells inside the bathroom (especially when the toilet valve is opened). And, no more ongoing chemical costs either.

I use a little DAWN in the Black tank/ about 3-5 gal. water.
Sloshes the suds while traveling. Everything comes out. No smell.

I've started adding some to the Grey Tank recently. It started to smell and the water was nasty. Cleaned it up. No smell.

Stickdog,

I wouldn't recommend newsprint or aluminum foil, but anything softer than that is fine. The black tank is not a processing point. It is just a holding tank.

By the way, I can think of several other reasons not to recommend newsprint or aluminum foil which have nothing to do with the tank.

Scott_85 wrote:
So thanks to everybody on here I got some stuff just to try but I will also use copious amounts to water for the black water tank. I think I will just end up using cheap dish soap and water just to keep the smell down if I can. Also my 5er has a black tank flush so after I dump my black tank I will pour more dish soap down the toilet and run the flush a couple of times until the water run until no more brown or suds.

As you've probably discovered, you can use whatever you want. Proper tank maintenance is much more important than the chemicals you use. We use the Thetford Aqua Chem powder simply because we got free samples with our first trailer and the wife likes the smell so we never changed. Our local Wal Mart carries it so it's convenient.

So thanks to everybody on here I got some stuff just to try but I will also use copious amounts to water for the black water tank. I think I will just end up using cheap dish soap and water just to keep the smell down if I can. Also my 5er has a black tank flush so after I dump my black tank I will pour more dish soap down the toilet and run the flush a couple of times until the water run until no more brown or suds.

4 years fulltiming nothing but water.

Here's a question about TP, what difference does it make if it takes 30 seconds or 5 minutes to break down, unless you throw 3 or 4 rolls down and then run out pull the dump handle under normal usage it all breaks down before dumping.