Drop-ins or liquid?

[DoberGirl50]

Hi all! This weekend when draining the black tank, it was very slow. I've been wondering if the outer casing on the drop-ins isn't dissolving and clogging the drain pipes. I went ahead and bought the liquid form, but wanted to ask if any of you have experienced this and what you did to solve it. In case you're wondering, we limit the number of times we go #2 and only use toilet paper designed for RV/boat septic systems.

[CavemanCharlie]

JaxDad wrote:

drsteve wrote:
In light of all this, I'm trying to figure out how the black tank in my previous TT stayed clean for 13 years with no attention other than making sure there was lots of water in the tank when I dumped.

If you're the only one using the RV and you do this, sure it will be fine.

If however, you're buying a second hand unit, or someone else used the unit, it's a different story.

There's an old joke, "If is the biggest little word in the English language."

I mostly just use lots of water. My bathroom sink is connected to the high side of the black tank. If no one is in line behind me at the dump station I dump a couple of small buckets of water through that after pulling the black handle. You can do the same thing dumping a bucket of water through the toilet.

I don't feel the need to get the black tank clean enough to do surgery in. Just want to keep the poo pyramid from building up.

Dump it, throw a bucket of water though it, and go.

[JaxDad]

drsteve wrote:
In light of all this, I'm trying to figure out how the black tank in my previous TT stayed clean for 13 years with no attention other than making sure there was lots of water in the tank when I dumped.

If you're the only one using the RV and you do this, sure it will be fine.

If however, you're buying a second hand unit, or someone else used the unit, it's a different story.

There's an old joke, "If is the biggest little word in the English language."

[hondapro]

I use the wand to clean the tank after every 3rd trip,I always add about 5 gallons of water to the tank after I dump so the tank is not dry,and use plenty of water when flushing.

The wand is not the most pleasant tool to use but they do clean the tank good.

[N2ZPY]

We use the pods. I drop one in and put a few gallons in the tank before leaving home. I then dump usually within an hour of getting back home so things are mixed up really good.

Kevin

[doxiemom11]

During 7 yrs of full-time we have NEVER limited our bodily functions or used any additives. Just plain ole water , a generous amount every time you flush. Don't dump until tank is near full and flush it out every once in awhile. We use regular septic safe paper.

[drsteve]

In light of all this, I'm trying to figure out how the black tank in my previous TT stayed clean for 13 years with no attention other than making sure there was lots of water in the tank when I dumped.

[pianotuna]

I prefer my ice in my coffee. Water and lots of it is the solution.

[JaxDad]

jplante4 wrote:
Find The Fit RV on YouTube. He did extensive testing of various black tank cleaning methods. As Dick_B said the ice cube method didn't fare well.

As noted previously, that was hardly a valid "test" of anything. To start with, even with his 'driving like a maniac for an hour' a downsized pickup (read 'car with no rear body') rides a BUNCH differently than my m/h does, and it certainly take a LOT more than one bag of ice and an hours drive to accomplish much.

People I know and myself have had good results doing it, but as stated, done wrong nearly anything will fail.

The method we've had success with was;

1) Fill the tank nearly full with clean water and let it stand several days, more is better.

2) Drain tank and flush, preferably with a strong stream form a garden hose from above.

3) Before the tank and its contents have a chance to dry out again add (depending on tank size) enough ice to cover the tank bottom, 4 bags minimum, and just enough water for the ice to slide easily, with no water it quickly sticks in place and doesn't move till there's enough melted to do this. Notice in the above video, no water, just ice? Mo water with the ice, no motion, no motion, no cleaning action.

4) Go for a LONG drive, I start with step 2 on the morning I'm leaving on a trip, it gets a solid 8 to 10 hours of motion.

5) Top up the tank with a little more water when you arrive.

6) Done!

[D_E_Bishop]

Before joining the RV.Net Forums, I knew nothing about motorized RV's other than I wanted one, now I know a little more and one thing I have never had a problem with keeping the tanks cleaned up and not smelling.(An aside, the AAV's were both bad when we bought the Winnie, repaired and no more sewer gas smell in the coach)

I read lots of stuff here in the forums and decided to try some things for a problem that only marginally existed. The well publicized pyramid of poop did need addressing but it was hard to educate the DGKs. Now that they are more sophisticated in RVing, it's no problem.

I tried some of the chemicals, ICE w/o softener and others, the best thing so far, as repeated over and over, water and plenty of it, both during and after using the john. We do have a whirling spray flush system in the black tank and it takes far less time and water to flush than the wand or the back flush elbow methods. It is well worth the cost and when we get another rig that will be added if not already installed.

I do use a garbage disposal macerator pump at home and it is almost as fast with that and the flush system and it is with the 3" stinky slinky and flush system. I do like dumping right after traveling because as stated, everything is already mixed up and not settled on the bottom of the tank.

Chemicals, twice a year before storage, just a cap-full, no more. Preventative and probably unneeded.

[Dave_H_M]

listen to the old biscuit.

we sure took off on a tangent here with the toilet paper issue. :R

[Lynnmor]

Here is the video. In my opinion it was not a very good test.

[jplante4]

Find The Fit RV on YouTube. He did extensive testing of various black tank cleaning methods. As Dick_B said the ice cube method didn't fare well.

[JaxDad]

Dick_B wrote:
BTW the ice cube idea has been debunked. They just float round on the top.

If you do just about anything wrong it won’t work they way it’s supposed to.

The *proper* way is to have just enough water that the ice can move around freely on the bottom of the tank.

If you put so much water in that the ice is sloshing around above the deposits of course it’s not going to do anything.

[Ron3rd]

What everyone else said. BTW, if you're doing things correctly, no reason I can think of to limit "#2". Biggest cause of problems I've seen is not using enough water when dumping or leaving the black tank valve open when hooked up to sewer and thus building your own magnificent poop pyramid in the bottom of your now dry black tank

As to tissue, we use Kirkland or Angel Soft because the wife likes those 2. Please don't waste money on RV tp. Just use what you normally use at home