Drop-ins or liquid?

I've not found that to be a problem but we try to wait to dump until the tank is nearly full. We also use a cup of Calgon and a few squirts of Dawn to `move' things along.
One of the advantages of owning your own RV is that you get to do what you want; despite what others state. One example is to dump before traveling. The better way is to dump immediately upon arrival because the `stuff' will have mixed pretty well during travel.
BTW the ice cube idea has been debunked. They just float round on the top.

We have always used Thetford liquid (in the premeasured 6 pack). Once emptied, we prime the tank with a couple of gallons of water and one bottle. (be liberal with the water) We always allow the tank to fill to above 3/4 before dumping, never less (even if I have to top it off manually first). We dump our black water followed by our grey water to rinse out the hoses. Keep in mind that the whatever deodorizer product you use, water is your friend and it needs time to work which is why you need to priming the tank helps as any stubborn particles will dissolve while your RV is awaiting your next trip. Also, if you dump your black tank every weekend, you may be dumping it too often, i.e. it is not full enough.

First, no that is not your problem.
2nd WHy are you throging money down the toilet (literally) the chemicals really do not do much for you if anything, clearly NOT worth the money

IF you can go a month without dumping then a biological like RID-EX RV (not a recommendation for that brand or any other brand. but an example of what I'm talking about) may help.. or not. But for the most part all of em are money down the toilet and that's all.

|True story
Fellow RVer had that same (Very slow drain) issue. Finally he got into the tank

When they cut the hole in the floor.. they just dropped the wood into the tank, where it clogged the drain.

He got it out. (they make elbow length or longer "Rubber gloves"_
Rinsed it off
Double bagged it
Sent it to the CEO of the company.

Dick_B wrote:
I've not found that to be a problem but we try to wait to dump until the tank is nearly full. We also use a cup of Calgon and a few squirts of Dawn to `move' things along.

Ditto along with LOTS of water which IMO is the main key in keeping things "MOVING":B

Larry

Also, you dont need to buy grossly overpriced bad TP.
Any brand that is okfor home use with septic tank syatems are fine. (we use angelsoft). If you are worried about a problem in the tank, I havent done it but saw a comment in here about cleaning a tank with ice.
Empty tank as fully as possible, dump 10 pounds of ice down the toilet and drive a few miles making some turns as you go. Chunks of ice break up stuff sticking to sides and bottom, will melt within a half hour so can be easily dumped.

First, if you are not using enough water in your tank, "things" will not come out.

Second, if you are using enough water in your tank, "things" still do not come out completely the first time.

Third, if you are using enough water in your tank, "things" will begin to accumulate over time, even though you think it's all coming out.

How to prevent this slow build up? Well, first, simply dumping the thank once and then moving on does not get it "all". If you were to get a clear section of sewer pipe and attach to your outlet and what what is coming out, you'd see what I'm talking about.

The first dump drains most of the contents. But there is still "stuff" in there that's clinking on. Over time, this build up until you do literally have poop pyramids all over, that gradually grow and grow and grow.

To prevent this from happening in the first place, flush the tank out initially, then rinse it again. If you use that clear section of pipe, you'll be shocked how much MORE comes out when you fill the tank a second time.

Do it a 3rd time and you'll still be shocked how much more comes out. You thought it all came out that first time? Wrong! Absolutely not.

If you have a black tank rinser, use it. And watch what happens through that clear section of pipe.

I cleaned mine out very through a couple weeks ago at home. After the initial flush, I ran about 150 gallons of water though the tank until the water coming out of the tank ran clear. I catch it in my blue tote and then can dump it into my septic tank at home. So, I do know how much water I ran through the tank to clean it out. My tote is 32 gallons, and it was 5 trips to the septic tank.

Now think about it? You flush black once and out comes the "stuff". But now you rinse again (either by back flushing, the black tank flusher, or just adding more water down the toilet), and now you dump again. What color is the contents coming out! Right! Poop brown! So, where does all that Poop brown come from? It comes from all the stuff that didn't come out the first time. Over time, this builds up, and up, and up, and up.

My suggestion before doing anything drastic is to simply get that tank rinsed out completely. If you have to, get an RV toilet wand, attach to the end of a garden hose, and spray the he!! out of the tank until it runs clear. Those toilet wands are great! I think they work better and do more to clean the tanks than the built in black tank sprayer.

Anyway, do this first. See if it makes any difference. Flush that tank. Pulverize the inside with the tank flusher. Make it break up the crud stuck in there, and I but you'll be just fine!

Thanks for all your responses so far. We do connect city water at the control panel to flush the tank as we dump. It may not have been 3/4 full when we started. We'll watch that next time. The ice idea is a little intriguing. Might have to try that.

In my many many years of RVing I have never used additives. I do use a fresh water flush system. No chemicals needed ever. If you smell sewer gas you have a leak in vent tube. RV toilot paper is also a scam. Flush it and you will be fine

I re-read your post and I can't imagine the "drop in" RV black tank pouch things building up and clogging your outlet. They are designed to dissolve and do so pretty well.

Here's something you can do though. Add some water to your toilet and then drop the pouch in the toilet. Let it sit. They take about 2 minutes and the outer plastic is dissolved. You can see it this way. Then let the contents of the toilet "go". But you'll see what I mean.

An another note, I feel you are wasting your money on using those black tank pouches and liquids. There are other and better and cheaper ways to accomplish the same thing, that have an end result even better.

It's call the "Geo Method". Look it up on the internet. But basically, it's a method for keeping the tanks clean and no odor forming by using simple household products instead of chemical designated for "RV use"... which are usually very expensive, when you really think about it.

What is the "Geo Method"? Simply put, you use dishwashing liquid, or laundry detergent, or bleach, or water softener for laundry like Calgon, down the toilet. These products keep the insides of the tanks slippery, preventing less build up over time, cost less, are environmental and septic tank friendly, and are readily available products that can be purchased anywhere.

Very simply, when leaving the campground, dump your tanks. Then add a few gallons of water, drop in some laundry detergent, softener, and/or bleach (like what you'd use in cloths washing machine) and drive to your next destination. The sloshing of the water while driving will pulverize the inside of your tanks, cleaning anything stuck to the sides, wash it out. Reach your destination, dump it and you'll be shocked what comes out.

Add some dishwashing liquid to the black tank. Use the toilet normal, and the dishwashing liquid will constantly help break down and attempt to clean anything that gets in there.

Of course, the cleaner the tank, the less smells you have too.

Hope this helps.

Ditto on adding a few gallons before each use of the tank. Also don't skimp on water when flushing each time. Trying to conserve water only makes it worse. Then fill the tank to as full as possible before opening the dump valve.

You need to rinse the tank out before leaving a CG using an in-tank rinser, down the toilet wand or back flush elbow. In some cases you may need to repeat the fill & dump process again.

Treatment chemicals are a waste of money. My lovely DW is into selling Avon products and now claims Avon shampoo works great. Whatever... :M If you need a really deep cleaning, liquid Drano can be used. Won't hurt metal or plastic and our owners manual says to use it. Don't rely on the holding tank indicator panel because the sensors get gummed up with slime over them. False readings are normal. Better to peer down the toilet with a flashlight.

TP doesn't need to be the "for RV use" labeled stuff with it's mafia-inspired pricing. There are a few brands of household TP that disintegrate the same. Costco's Kirkland brand is what we use. You can do a test in a jar with a couple of sheets to check.