Do I Want to Break Down Solids?

[nagel]

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.

[2012Coleman]

So thinking about "pancake batter" - the more water I put in it, the thinner it gets so the only answer is to use lots of water. That plus gravity will empty the contents of your black tank regardless of solids being broken down or not. After emptying, use the built in tank sprayer or one of those wands. The only time I put anything in my tanks is while in storage. As for the tank sensors, well those are never right and I never give them much attention.

[frankwp]

A agree that chemicals other than plain old water are not needed on a regular basis. Prior to the last trip of the season home, I fill the tank about half full & pour a couple of cups of low suds liquid laundry detergent & then dump & rinse close to home.

As for not breaking down solids, the "technician" clearly doesn't know what he's talking about. I have a clear elbow on my hose & the only thing I've seen that's remotely solid is the occasional shred of TP. Poop breaks down very quickly just by sitting in the water for a few hours.

[CavemanCharlie]

I would think that if your "Solids" are so solid that they don't break down in water easily anyway that you need to eat more fiber.

[way2roll]

nagel wrote:
All good comments. Wasn't my intention on starting the sensor debate again, but good thoughts. I was more reacting to the thought of not using something to break down solids in you tank. Like some said solids will naturally breakdown, but if I don't put something in the tank to help will it create a "dam" inside the tank. Probably not if enough water is used. I guess everything I've ever read or watched has always inferred that you want your black tank to be "mush" and this guy who is a "professional" is indicating the opposite and supports his position by saying the "pancake batter" affects sensors in a negative way.

The Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wr4TGBPyPe0

What I've heard: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GyWMyZ02_7M&t=225s

If you ask me, it's way overthinking it. It's a holding tank, not a septic tank. Stuff only stays in my tanks for 4-5 days at the most. Not nearly enough time for any real breakdown to occur without caustic chemicals, and to what end? Lots of water, no problems.

[nagel]

All good comments. Wasn't my intention on starting the sensor debate again, but good thoughts. I was more reacting to the thought of not using something to break down solids in you tank. Like some said solids will naturally breakdown, but if I don't put something in the tank to help will it create a "dam" inside the tank. Probably not if enough water is used. I guess everything I've ever read or watched has always inferred that you want your black tank to be "mush" and this guy who is a "professional" is indicating the opposite and supports his position by saying the "pancake batter" affects sensors in a negative way.

The Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wr4TGBPyPe0

What I've heard: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GyWMyZ02_7M&t=225s

[noteven]

Video 1 of 4 of a famous series:

See inside RV black tank

[Timmo_]

Dumping a bags worth of ice also is a great way to "clean" the black tank as well and breakdown (macerate) those silly brown pickles.

[pianotuna]

If they can't make a reliable sensor for a Nuclear plant, how do you expect the "two bit" RV makers to create one that is reliable?

[Super_Dave]

My black tank sensor has never worked, reads 2/3's full even when empty.

[Lwiddis]

Plenty of water and a short drive is all you need for a good dump.

[Cummins12V98]

I have my cell phone on me with a loud "BARK" for the alarm. EASY to get distracted and then the dreaded POOP Volcano comes shooting out the vent on your roof!!!

Only time I get any odors is if I have an exhaust fan running as it will suck odors up thru the toilet drain hole when flushing. I add about one minute of water using the flush with tank drain closed.

[wanderingbob]

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 !

[DrewE]

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.

[jdc1]

Just adding a couple inches of water after flushing has controlled odors for me for over 30 years.