Black tank sludge

[hedgehopper]

Our black tank appears to have a layer of sludge in the bottom that remains after the blank tank is emptied. Is there a good way to dissolve the sludge so that it is carried out when the tank is emptied? I don't want to get down there with a shovel. :B

[EsoxLucius]

Happy Camper Extreme Cleaner

[2oldman]

Enzyme

[DutchmenSport]

Rid-X will work but it has to have water and time. Rid-X is a yest that causes fermentation, which breaKS down solids. It will work, but takes time.

You can also get any emzine eater for household plumbing and pour it into the tank. Check any Home Depot type store to get it. It still takes water and time, and costs more than Rid-X, but will work faster.

Either way, fill your tank with water enough to cover the sludge a niche or so, add the emzines and drive the camper around so it will mix real good. Then let the camper sit a week. Then add full water and flush.

If that does not clean it, keep adding water and the emzines, keep the sludge wet. It will eventually clean it all out.

Once clean, always keep some water in the tank, except for winterizing. Then drain completely with a bit of pink stuff in the tank to keep the slide valve from drying out.

[jfkmk]

Dave H M wrote:

Ava wrote:
I use a wand with the rotating end that I found at Walmart. It flushes the tank very well on my rig.

Dang Ava, you are the first person that i ever heard mention that magic wand.

That thing will clean them up slick as a whistle. I have only used it for poop pyramids though.

I use the wand and think it works very well. I can move the wand around a bit in the tank and clean pretty much the entire tank. The camper is 4 years old now and the sensors still work perfectly!

The down side is you have to store the wand somewhere (clean it with Clorox wipes first) and you have to drag it, along with a hose, into the camper.

[John_Joey]

Fulltimer50 wrote:

hedgehopper wrote:
Our black tank appears to have a layer of sludge in the bottom that remains after the blank tank is emptied. Is there a good way to dissolve the sludge so that it is carried out when the tank is emptied? I don't want to get down there with a shovel. :B

Just wondering: What makes you think you have a sludge buildup?

X2, I was thinking the same thing.

If you're handy you can build a tool which might help. You'll have to have FHU to use it, and fairly good water pressure, but it works. Take a 4-6 foot piece of fairly flexible PEX tubing and cinch on a garden hose fitting to one end.

Hook up the hose to it, open up the black tank dump valve, slide the PEX down the toilet, turn on the water, and try to snake the PEX into the corners of the tank one by one. Work the PEX around the inside of the black tank the best you can. Should wash out whatever the issue is.

[Dave_H_M]

Ava wrote:
I use a wand with the rotating end that I found at Walmart. It flushes the tank very well on my rig.

Dang Ava, you are the first person that i ever heard mention that magic wand.

That thing will clean them up slick as a whistle. I have only used it for poop pyramids though.

[Fulltimer50]

hedgehopper wrote:
Our black tank appears to have a layer of sludge in the bottom that remains after the blank tank is emptied. Is there a good way to dissolve the sludge so that it is carried out when the tank is emptied? I don't want to get down there with a shovel. :B

Just wondering: What makes you think you have a sludge buildup?

[Old-Biscuit]

RV Digest It by Unique

It will liquefy sludge in waste tank practically overnight.

Safe to use and can be dumped in septic/sewer systems

[Ava]

I use a wand with the rotating end that I found at Walmart. It flushes the tank very well on my rig.

[AllegroD]

hedgehopper wrote:

Oasisbob wrote:
I have heard good things about RID-X. I use a built in tank flusher that keeps ny tank pretty clean. I saw a coomparison of tank flushers on Youtube.

What's a tank flusher?

In tank Flusher
THIS might help.

[hedgehopper]

Oasisbob wrote:
I have heard good things about RID-X. I use a built in tank flusher that keeps ny tank pretty clean. I saw a coomparison of tank flushers on Youtube.

What's a tank flusher?

[hedgehopper]

old guy wrote:
you can buy a additive to put into your tank. just put water in and add the stuff and it will either eat it up or liquify it so it will go out when you dump, you get it at any rv dealer who sells accessories

Do you have any brand names or links?

[Oasisbob]

I have heard good things about RID-X. I use a built in tank flusher that keeps ny tank pretty clean. I saw a coomparison of tank flushers on Youtube.

[old_guy]

you can buy a additive to put into your tank. just put water in and add the stuff and it will either eat it up or liquify it so it will go out when you dump, you get it at any rv dealer who sells accessories