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Black Water

Yahoo Message Number: 69318
I have used both Chemical Agent and Enzyme additive to the Black Water System to control odor. Does anyone have a validated experience as to which is the best system?

Inspire 2005---- 51406

Re: Black Water

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 69319
I use only water and the toilet paper on sale, and have no odors from the tank. Just me in the coach, so take possible reduced volume of material into consideration.
The first few weeks I did have some tank odor, and think it was because the "culture" in the tank had not matured. I did use some Rid-X, and that may have helped, but have not for more than a year.

I have one of those venturi wind vane things on the vent pipe.

Jack Nichols, 2003 Intrigue, 11527

Re: Black Water

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 69324
Lee and Jack, I use just water and Toilet Paper too.
I am not with Jack or Lee though. I am with my wife. Jack says it is "just me in the coach" but Lee claims he "is with Jack 100%" ...Confusing.

Dallas, 2004 Intrigue, 11688

Re: Black Water

Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 69330
;*). Are you sure you are not from my little, gossipy home town? My ex would make such leaps of thought, and I would find myself in trouble again - note the "ex".
Lee and I agree on a lot, and I find that comforting, or disturbing, depending on the subject. ;*) Jack, 2003 Intrigue 11527

Dallas Evans dallas_evans@...> wrote:

Re: Black Water

Reply #8 –
Yahoo Message Number: 69332
Are your sure it's the black tank that smells? It is a very good chance the problem is the grey tank. They usually smell worse.
I doubt RidX would control odors. I don't want to get into the controversial subject of additives in holding tanks so please don't reprimand me. It is just my opinion.

Jim E

Re: Black Water

Reply #9 –
Yahoo Message Number: 69334
Jim, I agree with you on the significant gray tank smell. I also know that Rid-X is environmentally safe, so no concern there.

Lee

Re: Black Water

Reply #10 –
Yahoo Message Number: 69335
You realize you have a Marine toilet with a p-trap., as do I, and that makes all the difference. We use an Enzyme based product that came with the coach. "Eco-save". I also use the product with the grey water tank. As we have a macerator in our toilet solid waste has never been a problem. But using the Eco-save makes dumping a much more pleasant experience.
TWI 2004 Intrigue 11731

Re: Black Water

Reply #11 –
Yahoo Message Number: 69338
Dallas Your tongue is clearly stuck to the inside of your cheek !! I would throw another curve at the "only water and toilet paper " crowd. It really depends on how . and often , you flush the tank. Another important item to remember is, that if the temperatures are on the cooler side, that is less effective. The warmer it is , the faster the solids break down ! I use mostly an enzyme , but there are different types of enzymes. Some are temperature dependent and others are not. The ones that you mix with warm water to get going, eat up the contents of the tank , and when that runs out , attack themselves and shortly thereafter, you have none left, so you have to a more a bit later. I use a product, not available commercially in the US ( I am from Canada ) . It is a small company that made a product for the airline industry, that works very well, but reasonably expensive . 1 Oz does about 40 Gallons of waste, so I dump about and oz and a half in the tank after a dump and have no smell. He uses something that is called a "quat ". Don't know technically more than that. It Eats the side walls clean , as well. Every now and then I put an OZ in the gray tank with a quarter tank , so it can flush around and clean the side walls.. That's my shitty story and I am sticking to it !

Ron Baran 09 Magna 630

Re: Black Water

Reply #12 –
Yahoo Message Number: 69339
I don't want to start any battles, but , having boated for about 15 years with about 3 different , somewhat larger boats, marine toilets have moderators built in to them. The holding tank is not underneath the toilet, so the waste ( after maceration, is pumped to somewhere quite often far away and maybe even uphill in an Aft cabin boat. Since the line is full, you get no smell back. The flush's are with water and so there is a dilution factor. There are the vacuum systems similar to airplanes, as well, and I am not referring to those. I have not personally seen a marine toilet in an RV. They do not have traps but operate , as above. Some Prevosts and Newells have the vacuum system.

Ron Baran 09 Magna 7025

Re: Black Water

Reply #13 –
Yahoo Message Number: 69340
Sorry but the fingers didn't work --Should be Macerator not moderator

Ron Baran 09 Magna 7025

Re: Black Water

Reply #14 –
Yahoo Message Number: 69342
Ron,

I was ready all your tech on toilets and that typo is well... just leave it.

thanks for a great ....LOL
AL

00 affinity

Re: Black Water

Reply #16 –
Yahoo Message Number: 69344
I'm certainly not #1 in a #2 business as we use Aquachem. Sludge builds up in the tank around the level gauge which makes it read incorrectly. Never have odors, however.

At 11:20 PM 3/15/2011, you wrote:

Quote
>

I have used both Chemical Agent and Enzyme >additive to the Black Water System to control >odor. Does anyone have a validated experience as to which is the best system? >

Inspire 2005---- 51406

Best - Scott

2006 Allure 430 #31349
(Bus-Stead Lemon)

Re: Black Water

Reply #17 –
Yahoo Message Number: 69355
We have been using Happy Camper for about two years and feel it is better than any of the other chemical treatments. One scoop each time I dump with a thorough cleaning when we disconnect prior to leaving the campground. Rod5206 #31463 '42' Allure 470

Re: Black Water

Reply #18 –
Yahoo Message Number: 69359
Myself and MsCo-Pilot put in a "squirt" of "lemon fresh joy" every time we flush... Other than that, we use no chemicals... Also, I use the tank flush system every time I dump tanks...

Have no oder problems, no tank sensor problems...

buck

k7wn, '99magna5653, Cat C10, Allison HD4060

Re: Black Water

Reply #19 –
Yahoo Message Number: 69362
Just my two cents worth.....most likely your odors are really noticed while driving. If so, it is coming from your grey tank. Think positive....positive pressure that is. Wether you either have dry traps (sink, shower or laundry) or drive down the road with a window open, you are pulling in the air from your grey tank through your drains. Even with water in the traps, just driving down the road will push enough out to allow occasional back gasing from the tank. Roof vents of certain types will have a venturi effect and may apply a positive pressure to the tank. Think positive......put air into the cabin as you travel down the road. Use at least the vent setting on your AC control to bring in outside air to provide a positive pressure while driving. Windows closed of course. Make sure your laundry trap has water in it. This method has been working for me for over ten years now.
As for the black tank, after dumping, I use a mixture of the generic EV friendly laundry detergent, bleach and water softener (Calgon). About 1/4 cup each down the toilet. Nothing hardens and my sensors stay clean allowing for an easy fresh water rinse after dumping. Also, no odor.

Just my two cents worth......

Jim Hughes

2000 Allure #30511

Re: Black Water

Reply #20 –
Yahoo Message Number: 69364
Hey Ron,

Some of us have the marine type toilet, Headhunter, does not have a p-trap and is not a direct drop like most RV toilets. The contents are forced by high pressure water to the holding tank. I have never used any chemicals in this Magna or the Prevosts I have had since there is no odor in a closed system.

Just thought I would throw out a few more toilet comments to drive Al nuts!

Tom

Trans-Specialists/Lifeline Batteries
01 Magna 5999
www.trans-specialists.net

Re: Black Water

Reply #21 –
Yahoo Message Number: 69377
Tom,

The Headhunter toilets used in most of our units have a trap built in the toilet, just like a residential toilet. That is why the water stays in it, just like your home toilet.

Mikee

Re: Black Water

Reply #22 –
Yahoo Message Number: 69411
Sounds like it would be more aptly named the "Crapshooter" rather than the Headhunter.

Rich 2002 Magna

Re: Black Water

Reply #23 –
Yahoo Message Number: 69414
Mine becomes a head plugger all to often. It's a real pain in the arm to reach in behind for the super sonic valve that forces it down.

Mike '03 Lexa

Re: Black Water

Reply #24 –
Yahoo Message Number: 73424
Some follow up. Kevin Waite and I disassembled everything reasonable around the gray tank plumbing looking for unglued joints, loose connections, nail/staple holes, etc.. We replaced the vacuum flapper valves and installed them with nylon tape. We installed a new vent cap (not the swivel one but a straight through venturi type) on the roof gray stack. All to no avail. A guy from Guaranty RV said we were going about it in the wrong way and suggested we use Happy Camper an enzyme product. I am very happy with this product as it seems to have eliminated odor problems.
However shortly after I blew the anti siphon valve for the flush hose ( a mess) and I think that it is possible the problem could have come from there.

John 2007 Inspire 52028