Holding tank chemicals

[Scott_85]

I've search this site and read countless reviews on both CW and Amazon and I can't see which one is the best. Which chemical do you think does the best job and why?

[Scott_85]

Thanks everybody for their input.

[EsoxLucius]

Rollnhome wrote:
FYI you don't need bacteria in your tank. They are holding tanks. The waste should not be in them long enough to breakdown.

You may not need bacteria in the tank, but there is not much you can do about it. It will be there from your own gut. And if anaerobic bacteria proliferate (almost guaranteed within hours) bad odors will be in the tank.

My practice:
1. To maintain my blackwater holding tank I use two tablespoons of Happy Camper Odorless Holding Tank Treatment (53 cents) dissolved into two gallons of water dumped into an emptied blackwater tank.
2. Happy Camper is biodegradable, works in all temperatures, eliminates odor, dissolves toilet paper, liquifies waste, and keeps sensors working properly. I use any two-ply toilet paper that is safe for septic tanks.
3. Proliferation of anaerobic bacteria causes odor. Happy Camper promotes aerobic bacteria which crowds out or kills anaerobic bacteria and accelerates decomposition.
4. With Happy Camper there is no need to use excessive amounts of water. Just two gallons to start and normal use of the toilet and bathroom sink. Filling an empty black tank one-third full with water is wasteful, as is using more water than necessary to flush.
5. Happy Camper is the one blackwater tank treatment I've found that does work. No colored chemicals, no detergent, no water softener, no bleach, no chemical tablets, and no excessive amounts of water.
6. If possible, I wait until my blackwater tank is at least half full before dumping.
7. It is easy and cheap to try Happy Camper to see if it does indeed work for you.

[Old-Biscuit]

For the past 7 yrs.we lived in our 5vr traveling constantly.

Full tanks, empty tanks.........lots of stuff has been in our tanks.

'Nar a chemical used. No smells, no odors.....because ALL the barriers that prevent odors from coming back inside rig worked. Gaskets, seals, vents are designed to keep odors out.

And when dumping I didn't have odors either because the sewer hoses and connections had seals that stopped waste water from leaking out when flowing and odors from getting out when no flow.

Dumping tanks with high levels.....weight/volume of liquids helps to carry solids out.
Flushing tanks after dumping......helps rinse out solids left behind
Adding water after dumping.....helps keep stuff from sticking and drying out

Water is an amazing tool.....no help from chemicals needed.

[Nutinelse2do]

We use the Geo Method, without bleach. Use lots of water.

[tenbear]

I used chemicals when I first started RVing because the salesman said I should. Later I realized the salesman was just interested in making a sale. I stopped using the chemicals and no smell. WOW! Just a waste of $$$$$. Put a few gallons of water in the tank after you dump, then use the toilet normally.

[spoon059]

My wife feels the need to use chemicals, so we buy something cheap at Walmart. Half the time we don't use anything, and if she asks me I tell her I used something. Neither one of us can tell a difference anyways.

I've found that turning the fan OFF while flushing is the single biggest thing you can do to keep odors down. We have a fantastic fan upgrade on our trailer and that sucker moves air!!! Fan off, flush properly and no odors.

To piggyback on what others said... your holding tanks are NOT septic systems. They were never designed to be part of the breakdown process. They are simply a sealed holding system for waste until you can dump it.

[powderman426]

We Cant Wait wrote:
Have never used any chemicals and all the units I've had have never smelled like an outhouse. Use plenty of water when flushing, ensure your vent is operating properly, and toilet seals are good, and your GOOD TO GO.

I'll go along with all but using lots of water. If all is working properly just normal use works well and with the droughts many areas are having over use of water is not a good thing.

[gbopp]

I use the GEO Method, without bleach.

And sometimes, I'll just use a cup of lemon flavored dish detergent.

[We_Cant_Wait]

Have never used any chemicals and all the units I've had have never smelled like an outhouse. Use plenty of water when flushing, ensure your vent is operating properly, and toilet seals are good, and your GOOD TO GO.

[wa8yxm]

The best chemical.. Hydrogen Hydroxide (Another way of saying Water).

Seriously. Short of some very nasty stuff nothing is going to clean the sensors off and make 'em work. and it's the gray tank that stinks to high heaven, not the black, (Yes it smells bad but not nearly as bad).

[HappyKayakers]

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.

X2, especially the flushing part after you dump the tank.

[Bumpyroad]

Rollnhome wrote:
You will find many do not use chemicals, nor do they use RV toilet paper.

corn cobs are very slow to dissolve. reminds me of the sign over the toilets at some hotels in Sochi, "do not throw TP in toilet".
bumpy

[GaryWT]

I use aqua chem blue liquid because I don't want the trailer smelling like an outhouse. I get it at Wal mart and it is easy. If you flush a lot of water down, the smell will come into the trailer if you don't have a chemical in there.

[Rollnhome]

FYI you don't need bacteria in your tank. They are holding tanks. The waste should not be in them long enough to breakdown. The are not septic type tanks. Basically the holding tank chemicals are perfumes to mask the odor. Many use to kill the digestive actives of a live septic system and were outlawed. They have come up with some new septic friendly odor disguising alternatives. Some use them some don't. There is no wrong or right way. Try different brands till you find what fits your needs.

[Scott_85]

I was already planning on regular TP, I've done test and the TP passed. Also on the chemical front I will keep cleaners on hand to keep the smell down. Thanks everybody.