Black tank and toilet paper and chemicals

MUST get tank clean after each camping trip. :D

Getting black tank clean takes WORK.... :(

I've tried the Valterra back flush elbow with limited success. Just filling the tank to near full or full gives limited success. Chemicals don't do a lot to break down the solids in the short time it's in the tank. Tried the bag of ice trick once without success. The GEO method might work but I've never tried it.

I can now get the tank spotless. We have a built-in flusher (rinser). I use it around 3-6 times for 5 or so minutes while breaking camp and then I fill the tank until it is nearly full and let it rip... I know it's clean when I can see little droplets of yellow ABS glue on the tank bottom. It's really nice having a really clean tank - no clogging, no false readings, full use of the tank's capacity and no chemical cleaners required. If you can see white on the bottom of the tank, it's not clean.

It also really helps to put 3-5 gallons of water in the tanks each time before using it after dumping and using plenty of water when you flush the p**p down.

A Tornado Rotary tank rinser is definitely a worthwhile upgrade but you'll need access to your black tank. You can see the upgrade on ModMyRV.com

There are at least two types of Costco TP. One breaks down and the other does not. Just because TP is labelled for RV use does not mean it breaks down. I did the TP test once and found that one of the major RV brands did not break down. I think it was Thetford but I'd have to dig up my notes. We use either the Costco TP or one of the other household brands. RV TP is mafia-priced and not worth it. If you find something that does break down, it might help if you cut the label off the package and stick it say on an inside cabinet door of your bathroom.

I think that TP that does not break down can end up fouling the tank sensors easier.

We always put 10 lb of ice in the tank with some water after we empty it. Breaks up everything and we use Costco TP. Rarely, unless we set for a month or so without using it, do we use the Blue stuff.

Been FULLTIMING for three years. Last year in a MH.
We use any paper that is septic safe and the cheapest.
Use plenty of water and run the tank flush for a few minutes before and after dumping.
Fill the stool after dumping and release while tank flush is running.
We use dawn dish washing liquid and powder water softening.
So far so good!

As an owner of one of the back flush gizmos, I can tell you that I ALWAYS get more out of the tank on the second and third time than on the original dump.

You need to fill the tank a couple times and allow water to do its job and carry the stuff out. One pull of the handle will NOT do it unless you have one of the black tank spray things built in.

xteacher wrote:
These things have worked for us:

*Don't poo in the camper toilet (use campground restroom for this).

Sorry but that may be the #1 and #2 best reason to own a TT.

I didn't read all 4 pages of this thread. I use the Scott rapidly dissolving stuff myself. Here is a link that may help you decide what you need.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDLXXRVe2pc

These things have worked for us:

*Don't poo in the camper toilet (use campground restroom for this).
*Use as little toilet paper as possible and plenty of water to flush with each use. We do use tank treatment.
*Don't dump until full, or nearly full; add water if necessary. Gravity and plenty of water pressure helps!
*If your camper doesn't have a black tank flusher built in, buy a wand to attach to a separate hose. After dumping the black tank, put the wand down the toilet tube and spray, raising the wand up and down and all around, lol, for several minutes. Be careful not to raise it into the toilet bowl itself, or you'll get a shower!
*dump grey tank to rinse stinky slinky.

Scotts single ply and no checmicals at all. Works for us.

My feeling is that you're not using nearly enough water in the system. Flushing at home is a totally different thing....you want LOTS of water in an RV. Although the preferred method, we don't necessarily wait until 2/3 full. But.....we use lots of water in addition to the approx. 5 gallons initially with the black tank treatment - we use Odorlos. We've gotten into the habit of whenever we're passing by, just press the lever for maybe a 10-count or so. Whatever our last day is - say Sunday if we're only doing a weekend or long weekend, I really hit the water hard. The gauges are near worthless, so do count on them for anything near accurate. Water and LOTS of it! If you don't have a built in tank flush, suggest you look into something like the Tornado, which we put in our HTT. Also strongly suggest a clear fitting if you don't already have one. Then you can SEE what's happening. If you know for sure that x amount should be in the tank, but only a small amount drains, then you need to backflush, add more water, whatever. After dumping and before we move an inch, I add a fresh dose of Odorlos and about 5 gallons of water. Never, never let your black tank sit dry. TP?? The cheapest single ply we can find. Not the time to think about soft and fluffy, you want it to dissolve asap.

The one time we do skip a dumping is if we're on a longer trip and we can use one driving day to slosh and then dump the next. Obviously, on a single night we don't dump each time....usually 3 - 4 day or maybe 5 tops.

I've always used the cheapest TP I can find. Dollar store brand works great.

And here's another tip. Put some strips of TP in the bowl before #2. Then *everything* slides right down and doesn't leave any 'mess' in the bowl to clean up later.