Black Tank what now?
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Topic: Black Tank what now?
Posted By: harrypodder
Subject: Black Tank what now?
Date Posted: 20 Aug 2018 at 7:04am
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So you are done camping and headed home. I have dumped my black tank at the campground and flushed it also. There is no water in my tank now and I arrive at home. Do I add some water and chemicals before leaving on my next trip in a month or leave the tank dry and add the chemicals at the start of the next outing?
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Replies:
Posted By: Pete Brayton
Date Posted: 20 Aug 2018 at 7:16am
I think the conventional wisdom is to put in a couple of gallons of water and some of the toilet chemical. That's what I do.
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2021 Rpod 196
2013 Ford 150 V8
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Posted By: mcarter
Date Posted: 20 Aug 2018 at 7:22am
+1 - I do not leave it empty. Plus the 2 gals and chemical will slosh around on next travel and help keep contents loose.
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Mike Carter
2015 178
" I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability."
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Posted By: Olddawgsrule
Date Posted: 20 Aug 2018 at 7:23am
I do the same. A fellow camper told me about adding some water and dish soap after dumping. The trip home washes the tank for you. Thought that was a pretty cool idea!
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https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJduGeZNFgtptH67leItRFQ - Byways no Highways
2017 Tacoma
http://tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=55&t=72408 - Truck Camper Build
2004 F150 My Overlander
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Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 20 Aug 2018 at 7:56am
Always keep a gallon or two in there, just to prevent any residue from drying up and becoming a problem later.
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Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 20 Aug 2018 at 9:28am
If you are using a biological treatment such as TankTech's Rx or RV Digest-It, then you do need to add so it can continue to work to liquefy any remaining solids.
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StephenH
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,...
http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods
Former RPod 179
Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS
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Posted By: mjlrpod
Date Posted: 20 Aug 2018 at 9:41am
I read, or heard somewhere along the line, that after dumping, add a new dose of chemical, or whatever you use, a gallon or two of water, and then put in a couple 5 pound bags of ice right down the toilet. As mentioned, the drive home provides the movement for the ice and water to scrub the tank, and automatically leaves liquid in the tank once it all melts. No matter which of these you choose to do, the worst one is leaving it dry.
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2017.5 Rp-172
2020 R-pod 195
2015 Frontier sv 4.0L 6cyl
I'll be rpodding
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Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 20 Aug 2018 at 1:32pm
Forget about the ice. There is a YouTube video that shows that ice is about useless in "scrubbing" the tank. Agreed though that leaving it dry is not a good idea.
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StephenH
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,...
http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods
Former RPod 179
Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS
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Posted By: Olddawgsrule
Date Posted: 20 Aug 2018 at 2:00pm
Originally posted by mjlrpod
I read, or heard somewhere along the line, that after dumping, add a new dose of chemical, or whatever you use, a gallon or two of water, and then put in a couple 5 pound bags of ice right down the toilet. As mentioned, the drive home provides the movement for the ice and water to scrub the tank, and automatically leaves liquid in the tank once it all melts. No matter which of these you choose to do, the worst one is leaving it dry. |
Not sure what the ice adds to the cleaning.. With that earthquake of towing, and some water/cleaner (of choice), I'm sure that's plenty going on..
Besides, Ice when traveling is a commodity! Wifey would blow a gasket if she saw me pour Ice in the tank.. LOL
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https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJduGeZNFgtptH67leItRFQ - Byways no Highways
2017 Tacoma
http://tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=55&t=72408 - Truck Camper Build
2004 F150 My Overlander
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Posted By: mcarter
Date Posted: 20 Aug 2018 at 3:14pm
Long time ago there was a You Tube video of using ice in tank. Basically showed it did nothing and you have ice cubes banging against sensors. All for not leaving it dry and helps to have something in tank going to and coming back from camp, but no ice cubes.
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Mike Carter
2015 178
" I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability."
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Posted By: mjlrpod
Date Posted: 20 Aug 2018 at 5:10pm
Perhaps i've been wasting my time and money. If i'm throwing 6 bucks worth of ice in for nothing, I'd rather save the 6 bucks. The concept sounded believable.
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2017.5 Rp-172
2020 R-pod 195
2015 Frontier sv 4.0L 6cyl
I'll be rpodding
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Posted By: mcarter
Date Posted: 20 Aug 2018 at 5:14pm
I think you got a plan. I'd put ice in cooler.
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Mike Carter
2015 178
" I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability."
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Posted By: PilotPodder
Date Posted: 20 Aug 2018 at 5:40pm
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When I'm done at the dump station, I pull away and stop and add 4-5 gallons and a scoop of Happy Camper and it has worked very well. No odors on the next trip and things seem to flow well at the next dump.
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Portage, MI — 2017 RPod 179 - sold / 2017 Toyota Tundra — https://johnmarucci.com/r-pod-video-list/ - My RPod YouTube Videos
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Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 20 Aug 2018 at 6:23pm
Originally posted by mjlrpod
Perhaps i've been wasting my time and money. If i'm throwing 6 bucks worth of ice in for nothing, I'd rather save the 6 bucks. The concept sounded believable. |
Look up "Fit RV" on youtube.. great channel, and he has a great video about cleaning tanks, complete with transparent tank and home made poo substitute...
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Posted By: harrypodder
Date Posted: 20 Aug 2018 at 7:49pm
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John, when you go on your next trip do you add additional chemicals or go with your previous Happy Camper after the dump station from your last outing?
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Posted By: PilotPodder
Date Posted: 20 Aug 2018 at 8:50pm
harrypodder, I just go on the prior treatment and haven't had any issues. I think it works because you are leaving the treatment and a good bit of water in a while and it really breaks things down. Take a look at the Happy Camper reviews on Amazon, I think this is pretty much consensus. Thanks, PP
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Portage, MI — 2017 RPod 179 - sold / 2017 Toyota Tundra — https://johnmarucci.com/r-pod-video-list/ - My RPod YouTube Videos
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Posted By: mjlrpod
Date Posted: 21 Aug 2018 at 10:24am
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So just for the sake of being clear. Is putting treatment into the black tank before going camping better to promote biologicals, to break stuff down, or is it to kill everything, keep it from smelling, and trying to get it clean. I see so many different ways people say they treat their B/T. From the usual store bought, to apple cider vinegar, to the geo method. I thought we want to promote good bacteria that breaks things down, solids and T.P., controls odor, and makes things easier to dump. I feel some of these methods would make things worse and kill the bacteria. Or am I confusing a septic system and a black tank.
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2017.5 Rp-172
2020 R-pod 195
2015 Frontier sv 4.0L 6cyl
I'll be rpodding
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Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 21 Aug 2018 at 12:39pm
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Remember that the contents of the black tank have to go somewhere, whether into a septic tank or public sewer system. Products containing formaldehyde or other products that kill the bacteria and cover the smell with perfumes eventually wind up in these systems and disrupt them. Biological treatments reduce the smell by breaking down the wastes. A properly working black (and gray) tank will contain the odor and vent them through the roof.
Two things: If you notice an odor, check the sink and shower drain traps to make sure they are not dry. I find that I have to add a little water to the shower drain every few days if we are not using the shower. Second is to not run the vent fan when you flush the toilet as it will create a vacuum and draw stinky vapors up as the tank will be the path of least resistance to fill the vacuum created by the fan. If windows are open and if the fan is on low, this might not be an issue. However, if the fan is on high, the closed door creates enough of a block to air that the fan will pull from the tank through the flush valve when the toilet is flushed.
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StephenH
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,...
http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods
Former RPod 179
Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS
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