Holy Crap - P**p Pyramids

[Wandering Sagebrush]

An interesting article on methods to keep black tanks clean.

[Mike and Carol]

We add some Calgon and a detergent pod after dumping.  Unless we’re at a dump station with a line, we rinse the black tank until clear.  When we get back from a trip we add Happy Camper and a gallon or two of water into both the gray and black tanks.  I don’t like the smell of Pine-sol, not sure I like that recommendation.  Mike

[Cameron]

ugh. so glad i have the composting toilet.

[John E Davies]

A bag of ice dropped in the tank on the last trip home works, or at least it worked in 1988 when I last owned a trailer with a conventional crapper.

John Davies

Spokane WA

[SeaDawg]

@Cameron, I have both. 

"Composting" in the barn, and traditional in the Ollie.

Perfectly happy, 16 seasons in, with the traditional dump system in  our Ollie. 

Not very happy with the composter/dry toilet, in the barn.

Pick your poison, imo. No poop pyramids in decades of ownership. 

Plenty of liquids in. Rinse within reason. Some campground dump stations are vault, vs septic. 

[CRM]

I use one of these to backflush the tanks and then use the Pine-Sol and Calgon solution mentioned in the article after each use. No issues so far and never have any funky odors.

[MAX Burner]

40 minutes ago, CRM said:

I use one of these to backflush the tanks

Same here - The Flush King works great.  We get no odors after flushing clear - takes 3 to 4 fills.  

[John E Davies]

On an Ollie, back flushing inwards (forward) from the rear main outlet connection risks pushing our enemies E. coli up into the grey tank. Not a good result. Not recommended. Don’t do it, there is a very good reason Oliver put the black flush fitting up at the tank itself. On an SOB RV with completely separated dump valves it will work safely.

If you have a NH toilet, you can rinse out the big pipes easily with a garden hose nozzle by directing the stream forward a few times. That will act to rinse the back sides of the grey and black dump valves, where crud will accumulate unseen and untreated. I wouldn’t try this with a regular toilet. Yech.

John Davies

Spokane WA

 

[MAX Burner]

2 hours ago, John E Davies said:

On an Ollie, back flushing inwards (forward) from the rear main outlet connection risks pushing our enemies E. coli up into the grey tank. Not a good result. Not recommended. Don’t do it,

Definitely correct.  Should have been more accurate in the previous discussion - my bad.  We use the OTT-provided black tank flush to fill the tank 3 or 4 times until viewed clear effluent is observed in the plexiglas port.  We don't use the back flush hose adapter on the unit for exactly what JD is describing above...  We use the device when dumping at home because of the long run from the trailer to the dump head - just makes it more convenient and easy having it closer to the valves.

[CRM]

8 hours ago, John E Davies said:

On an Ollie, back flushing inwards (forward) from the rear main outlet connection risks pushing our enemies E. coli up into the grey tank. Not a good result. Not recommended. Don’t do it, there is a very good reason Oliver put the black flush fitting up at the tank itself. On an SOB RV with completely separated dump valves it will work safely.

If you have a NH toilet, you can rinse out the big pipes easily with a garden hose nozzle by directing the stream forward a few times. That will act to rinse the back sides of the grey and black dump valves, where crud will accumulate unseen and untreated. I wouldn’t try this with a regular toilet. Yech.

John Davies

Spokane WA

 

I'm more concerned with my tanks gunking up which also poses a risk for contamination building up in the tank. Even after using the built in back flushing it takes 3 fill/drains for the black tank to run clear. When I back flush I do the grey tank first, then the black, and I then mix a five gallon bucket of water with 1 1/2 cups of beach and dump some down each drain. That sits in the grey tank for a while and is dumped last. I know people who don't bother with bleach step and have had no issues. YMMV.

[SeaDawg]

39 minutes ago, CRM said:

I'm more concerned with my tanks gunking up which also poses a risk for contamination building up in the tank. Even after using the built in back flushing it takes 3 fill/drains for the black tank to run clear. When I back flush I do the grey tank first, then the black, and I then mix a five gallon bucket of water with 1 1/2 cups of beach and dump some down each drain. That sits in the grey tank for a while and is dumped last. I know people who don't bother with bleach step and have had no issues. YMMV.

Because of the relatively small size of the black tank, folks are often hesitant to add enough "liquid ".  Can't say if this is true for your use. (Ie, guys always peeing in the woods, etc.)

If a user reserves the black tank only for the black, well, they  just  may not  get enough liquid in there, with a light foot on the pedal.

we all figure it out, eventually.  There's a balance. 

Truth is for us, dump when grey is close to full, dump black first, rinse as available.  Some dump stations don't have a hose fitting for rinsing, as they're vault systems. Stick a hose through the bath window and add water if black isn't full. (You can see, if toilet valve us open. Turn off pump, so you dont drain freshwater.)

And please, dont use freshwater fill for your toilet rinse or through the window,  if there is one at the dump station.  Just restrict yourself to the nonpotable hose. 

[MAX Burner]

15 hours ago, CRM said:

I know people who don't bother with bleach step and have had no issues.

We like the bleach step, for sure and for certain....

[SeaDawg]

Bleach is for sanitizing,  only, and often corrosive to seals.

I prefer the calgon /detergent method, personally. Calgon can be hard to find. If we can't find it, I mix borax in hot water. 

[SeaDawg]

+1 on pinesol odor. Noxious, to me.

Back  in March 1, 2020, height of covid beginning,  I had a house full of guests,,flying and driving back to Minnesota. I sent hand sanitizers,,clorox wipes, lysol spray, etc.,  with everyone. 

Come March 3, nothing anti microbial available but pinesol. It does kill covid, given an extraordinary period of time, but, omg, the stench. 

ABSOLUTELY last resort,  in my little trailer. And, worthless, if it doesn't sit for an extended period of time.

 

[MAX Burner]

11 hours ago, SeaDawg said:

I mix borax in hot water. 

Great idea, thanks!