I was watching a video the other day about cleaning out the black tank. The video had a "RV Tank Cleaning Company" showing how to hydroblast the tank to really clean them out (black and gray).In this the "technician" asked what type of tank treatments the guy was using and he outlined several he had used. The technician commented that you really do not want anything that breaks down the solids because it simply turns everything into "pancake batter" that causes problems with sensors. Really you want something that will control the odors, but the key is simply to use lots of water. He commented several times a RV black tank is not a septic system and it simply just needs to hold the waste not treat it. He even showed how to make a solution with Pine-Sol and Calgon.It kind of makes sense, I do agree water is your friend. But, this is the first time I've ever heard of not wanting to break down solids in your black tank. Everybody knows these sensors never work; so, is this the problem that we are making "pancake batter" that is gunking up the sensors?Honestly, I can't say I'm buying all this, but thought it would be an interesting topic to get others thoughts.

Most people selling anything to do with the black tank are taking through the wrong end of the alimentary canal.. that is their words belong in said black tank. The sensors will work.. when the tank is new or when it's been completly cleaned. in short one time.. If you want sensors that work google SEE-LEVEL (With the hyphen) ther are other types of sensors that work better. I never did get around to testing HORST.. planned on it but it never happened. Horst is a "Traditional" sensor that works with your existing panel but is supposed to be more immune to "Sliming"."The stuff WILL break down, no matter if you add $$$ chemicals or not.. Best chemical to use in your tank is water.

I can understand what the guy is saying, but I am not sure if it makes that much of a difference if you are dumping regularly. Odor control I can certainly understand, lol!I stopped using black tank chemicals soon after buying our camper. We are weekend campers and do not have a seasonal site, so I empty and rinse the black tank at the end of our weekend camping. My black tank sensors work, sort of - I consider them more of guidelines (said in a pirate voice). There are a variety of ways to do everything involved with camping / RV'ing, figure out what works for you.

As a guy eating pancakes, I should not have clicked on this one right now….So short story, it’s a holding tank. If the baby Ruth’s could come out whole, that would be best. Less mess in the tank.

The sensors in my 45 year old motorhome work. In all three tanks (fresh, black and gray). I have only used chemicals occasionally- usually because someone gave me a bag. I have never spent hours with a high pressure washer hydroblasting the tank.I simply use a decent amount of water, the minimal amount of paper, and wait til the tank is at least 2/3 full before dumping. Who know what the owners before me did.

Do I Want to Break Down Solids? | Good Sam Community

wa8yxm
Explorer III
Oct 02, 2021
Most people selling anything to do with the black tank are taking through the wrong end of the alimentary canal.. that is their words belong in said black tank. The sensors will work.. when the tank is new or when it's been completly cleaned. in short one time.. If you want sensors that work google SEE-LEVEL (With the hyphen) ther are other types of sensors that work better. I never did get around to testing HORST.. planned on it but it never happened. Horst is a "Traditional" sensor that works with your existing panel but is supposed to be more immune to "Sliming".
"
The stuff WILL break down, no matter if you add $$$ chemicals or not.. Best chemical to use in your tank is water.
Tvov
Explorer II
Oct 02, 2021
I can understand what the guy is saying, but I am not sure if it makes that much of a difference if you are dumping regularly. Odor control I can certainly understand, lol!

I stopped using black tank chemicals soon after buying our camper. We are weekend campers and do not have a seasonal site, so I empty and rinse the black tank at the end of our weekend camping. My black tank sensors work, sort of - I consider them more of guidelines (said in a pirate voice).

There are a variety of ways to do everything involved with camping / RV'ing, figure out what works for you.
Grit_dog
Navigator
Oct 02, 2021
As a guy eating pancakes, I should not have clicked on this one right now….
So short story, it’s a holding tank. If the baby Ruth’s could come out whole, that would be best. Less mess in the tank.
Unobtanium
Explorer
Oct 02, 2021
Lay off the cheese.
toedtoes
Explorer III
Oct 02, 2021
The sensors in my 45 year old motorhome work. In all three tanks (fresh, black and gray).

I have only used chemicals occasionally- usually because someone gave me a bag. I have never spent hours with a high pressure washer hydroblasting the tank.

I simply use a decent amount of water, the minimal amount of paper, and wait til the tank is at least 2/3 full before dumping. Who know what the owners before me did.
wildtoad
Explorer II
Oct 02, 2021
I disagree with the poop tank technician. If you don’t break down the solids it increases the possibility for “them” to create a blockage, add in copious amounts of TP which will further increase the chance. But DO use plenty of water, and dump only when near full.
way2roll
Navigator II
Oct 02, 2021
Lots of water and black tank flush. Never needed chemicals or anything else. No problem, 3 RV's in 10 years.
jdc1
Explorer II
Oct 02, 2021
Just adding a couple inches of water after flushing has controlled odors for me for over 30 years.
DrewE
Explorer II
Oct 02, 2021
Most of the solids break down to a fair degree, at least in the sense of turning to mush as opposed to being chemically or biologically transformed, simply from being in water for a period of time.

I find my (standard, probe-style) black tank level monitor is not particularly reliable, the gray tank one mostly accurate but not perfectly so, and the fresh water tank one trustworthy. None, of course, are very precise, with extremely limited resolution. I also find that the gray tank gets pretty near full when my fresh water tank gets pretty near empty, and by then there's sufficient stuff to make emptying the black tank reasonable, so I service all three tanks at the same time based on that.
wanderingbob
Explorer II
Oct 02, 2021
Use your black tank flush like a loaded gun , you only get one chance to screw every thing up . Do not turn it on a go to a movie or rodeo , stand right there and !

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