Cleaning Black tank

[JimC]

Ok guys and gals,

I don't believe I have seen this one posted. I have a black tank that is semitransparent, but after leaving some slurry in there too long it has stained the insides of the tank and I would like to clean it so I can see the level again.

NOW, I am not contemplating physically cleaning the inside, but rather using some laundry soap or something of that nature then taking a ride down the road.
Has any one done this?
Am I asking for trouble?
Should I just leave it alone?

Thanks
Jim

[kyle4501]

You might try ice cubes - lots of em - along with a low suds detergent. I'd try Tide powder, it got the pooh out of diapers.

Lately, the temps have been high enough around here that it would only take a short trip to melt the ice 

[prevost82]

I agree with Kyle on the ice cubes but instead of Tide use Calgon water softener then take it for a ride with lots of corners.
Ron

[gus]

Jim,

I'm going to disagree with the rest here. My theory is that cleaning the tank kills the microbes that eat the solid waste and that this causes most emptying problems.

I never drain my plastic translucent tank completely for this reason and it stays pretty clean, I never have any problem seeing the level. The microbes seem to keep the waste pretty clean so I presume that is the reason it never gets stained.

I only have one tank so I think that is another reason it doesn't get stained black.

[kyle4501]

Gus, you are right to bring up this aspect of the holding tank health. We probably should mention the use of anti-bacterial soaps will upset the bacterial balance too.

But, I don't think he wants clean the tank after every use, he just wants to eliminate the stain so he can tell the level in the tank visually. 

If he cleans the tank then he is starting the microbe process all over, this is no different than installing a new tank - just easier & cheaper 

[JimC]

Kyle is right, I am only looking to clean it this one time because I left about 6-8 inches of waste in the tank since the last time out and it has discolored the plastic quite a bit. I really don't HAVE to do it for any reason other than it bothers me.
I don't expect the staining to be gone forever, just to be able to see through the plastic to see the level and not the crud stuck to the sides of the tank.
Thanks
JIM

[JohnEd]

Jim,

The old Winnebago had a translucent tank under the toilet.  When it was empty you could see a lot of daylight through the hole when you flushed right after dumping.  One time I didn't see the daylight after dumping and I realized the bottom of the tank was coated with stuff.  Not that I cared a lot but I noted it.  Next time I was getting underway i dumped in a can of the ever popular "RED DEVIL LYE".  Next time I dumped (two weeks down the road) I noticed that the light was on again in the tank.  I don't think you can hurt that stuff and it isn't a septic tank so bacteria isn't an issue.  Good vents eliminate the odor from entering when you flush.  Isn't your toilet a straight drop into the tank?  You should be able to see when it is full and I never used a flashlight as the contents became visable when it got near the top and I only opened the drain into the sewer when it was chosk full or before I got underway.

Don't take this sh**t all to seriously, Bunkie.

John

[Cary and Don]

When we got our bus, the black tank had something akin to fossils in the bottom.  I got one of those cheap whirly cleaner things that go on the end of a hose and stuck it down the toilet.  It did an amazing good job. We don't put anything in our tanks and they never smell.  Good vents and good bacteria I guess.

Cary GMC4107

[JackConrad]

i dumped in a can of the ever popular "RED DEVIL LYE". 

Would this not have an adverse effect on the septic system where it was dumped? 
   
We made a "tank cleaner from a 4' length of 1/2" CPVC that we had laying around. I put a cap on one end and drilled 4  1/8" holes in the side of the cap 90* apart and a couple holes in the end of the cap. On the other end I put a on/off valve and a hose fitting. To use, I attach a hose, open toilet with my foot, insert wand, and open valve. By moving wand up & down, it cleans the sides of the tank and the holes in the bottom of the wand cleans the bottom of the tank.  Jack

[gus]

A septic tank is exactly what the tank is if you will let the microbes do their work.

My theory is that if you just leave it alone and don't completely drain it for a while it will clean itself. Sure won't cost anything to try.

It also helps to drain a lot of water into it so is sloshes around more and helps break up the solids. The microbes actually do their best work when the bus is parked.

The drainoff from a properly working septic tank is absolutely odorless and almost crystal clear. I was amazed when I found this out at my home septic tank.

[JohnEd]

Jack,

Draino and a host of other products, not just clog disolvers, have lye in them as a principle agent.  Lye is neutralized by grease and acids that are normally found in sewage.  Plumbers lye is straight lye and it comes in 50 pound boxes and it is used by the "TON" in restraunts to keep things flowing. Careful not to buy too much as it is also an ingredient in the manufacture of meth.  You don't want to talk to them no matter how innocent you are.  Hope we're still friends, Jack. LOL

I would be extra careful what I put in a septic tank.  I mean real carefull.  If you stop that thing from "cooking" you get aterrible situation.  You are right about sewage not smelling.  It is odor free (or sorta) only if it get enuff air/ox. passing thru.  I have walked on the catwalk over massive sewage tanks in a treatment plant and there was no offensive odor.  I was told that if the aireation system is turned off there will be calls from many blocks around.

I agree with the advice of "just let it alone and don't let it stay dry.  I have put mine away for a year with it half full on purpose and it was half full when I put her back on nthe road and she drained a few weeks later without and misstep.

Hope this helps.

John

[gus]

All those chemicals you buy at RV, plumbing supply and hdw stores kill the microbes, just the opposite of what you want to happen. Then after all those little helpers are dead you have to add yeast or waste to start a new crop!!

If all that RV store stuff worked you wouldn't see so many different kinds of them-none of them work. They make for good sales for RV stores along with all the wands and wash out nozzles of all kinds.

This market is about like the one for so many products for sealing rubber roofs on MHs, none of them work for very long or there wouldn't be so many of them.

[kyle4501]

Gus,
I see we share the same opinion here 

I've often wondered why some buy the same thing over & over. Do they really expect it to work differently this time? 

I read a letter to the editor in the Family Motorcoach Assoc Magazine from the pres of thetford (I think that's right) & they justified the effectiveness of their tank chemicals NOT with field studies or lab results, but by the fact people wanted them - All that did was tell me their marketing campaign works & since there was no test data, I'm forced to assume they have nothing to back up the marketing hype.

My black tank has no offensive odors, just a musty, earthy odor.

The grey sometimes smells like the kids shampoo 

[JackConrad]

Draino and a host of other products, not just clog disolvers, have lye in them as a principle agent.  Lye is neutralized by grease and acids that are normally found in sewage.  Plumbers lye is straight lye and it comes in 50 pound boxes and it is used by the "TON" in restraunts to keep things flowing. Careful not to buy too much as it is also an ingredient in the manufacture of meth.  You don't want to talk to them no matter how innocent you are.  Hope we're still friends, Jack. LOL

Thanks for the information. Never too old to learn something new   Still frinds.  Jack

[Dallas]

Interestingly,
Lye is made from hardwood ashes and water... nothing else.

It is found in most of the bar soaps that are in use in the world today. If you see safonated

Also known as Caustic Soda (NaOH) or Sodium Hydroxide.

It's easy to make by leaching soft water through ashes. The more you leach it, the stronger it will get.

I had a van with wooden shelves in it once that had a bottle of "Suave" shampoo on it that spilled. I didn't notice the spill for about 3 days, but by that time the shampoo had eaten a hole in the plywood shelf.

Lye is also used in making glass and some bottled water.

Just some worthless trivia