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Topic: Black tank treatment/deodorizer (Read 19 times) previous topic - next topic
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Re: Black tank treatment/deodorizer
Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 141698
Quote

What do you all use?
Eco-Save!

Steve S.
Lazy Bones & Jiggs
Steve S.
Lazy Bones & Cedar
2004 30'IB (Island Bed)
Yesterday is History, Tomorrow is a Mystery
Live for the day!
Re: Black tank treatment/deodorizer
Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 141701
We've always used a formaldehyde (sp?) free chemical.  Originally Aqua Kem's "Aquazime" but they quit making it.  Then tried Aqua Kem/s "orange stuff" which we bought at Camping World.  Both worked fine.  For last few years have been using Camco's "TST" (which is also orange) and it works equally well.  Nice part about this chemical is that you can buy it at most Walmart stores where it is much less expensive than at "RV supply" places.  Bought a 32-ounce bottle this week for under $10.  Camco claims that the bottle provides 20 treatments for a 40 gallon tank (2 oz per treatment).  We generally use 3 or 4 ounces plus a couple ounces in the gray water tank.
 If you go to the Aqua Kem chemical, be aware that they make (or did make) two formaldehyde free products; one is orange and the other is green.  We initially tried the green but switched to the orange when we were traveling and couldn't find the green.  I believe that there is a warning on the bottle that the two products do not mix & I have had two Camping World people warn me of the same thing.  I washed my tanks out thoroughly when making the switch.

Doug

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Re: Black tank treatment/deodorizer
Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 141702
What type (fragrant, dry, concentrate, etc...) and where do you buy it? Online?
Re: Black tank treatment/deodorizer
Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 141703
When we first got our rig, we started using Odorlos from Camping World.  For the past few years, we've pretty much used nothing, with no issues.  A few RV parks on septic systems are getting very picky about what goes into their systems.

Art
Art and Barbara
Settled in Atterdag Village of Solvang
2015-2022 fulltime in a 2016 Tiffin Allegro Bus 37AP
2002-2015 2002 LD MB
Art's blog
Re: Black tank treatment/deodorizer
Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 141704
Here is a recipe shared by the Escapee's group:

"toilet treatment"

1 cup fabric softener

1 cup lemon ammonia

1 cup Pine Sol, I use lemon
 1/2 box baking soda (I assume this is the regular 1 lb size box found on most grocery shelves)

Mix all above in a gallon jug and add to holding tanks. I use about a cup, I

believe, but do not measure.

WARNING...DO NOT USE BLEACH WITH THIS MIXTURE....IT IS DEADLY TO MIX BLEACH

WITH AMMONIA!

I seem to remember the reason for the addition of the fabric softener is to help keep toilet seals from drying.

Mary
   From: lifewithalazydazerv@yahoogroups.com
 [mailto:lifewithalazydazerv@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of SHRED

What do you all use?

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Re: Black tank treatment/deodorizer
Reply #7 –
Yahoo Message Number: 141705
Quote

What do you all use?
Lately I've been using nothing and odors or lack of odors seems about the same as when I used tank treatment.

Chris H
Formerly: 2002 30' IB
Re: Black tank treatment/deodorizer
Reply #8 –
Yahoo Message Number: 141706
Quote



What do you all use?
Lately I've been using nothing and odors or lack of odors seems about the same as when I used tank treatment.

Chris H
PS: A few years back I installed the original model of the RV360 rotating tank vent and it made a huge difference in interior of coach tank odor.

Chris H
Formerly: 2002 30' IB
Re: Black tank treatment/deodorizer
Reply #9 –
Yahoo Message Number: 141707
I use Potty Toddy enzyme tablets from Camping World. Works for me. Mike Sylvester a licensed RV technician, recommended them and there's 50
Re: Black tank treatment/deodorizer
Reply #10 –
Yahoo Message Number: 141709
We always used Potty Toddy Tabs, and they worked great. I cut one in a few small chunks and added it to the kitchen sink (cut up so it would fit through the strainer) to control gray tank odor. You can find  these online cheaper than at most RV stores.

Sonsie
Re: Black tank treatment/deodorizer
Reply #11 –
Yahoo Message Number: 141710
Quote
What type (fragrant, dry, concentrate, etc...) and where do you buy it? Online?
I buy my Regular Formula by the case from the distributor in Santa Rosa, CA. A case will last me two to three years. I can't see any difference between the Regular and the Fragrance and I've tried them both.

http://www.eco-save.com/

Quote
Steve S.
Lazy Bones & Jiggs
Steve S.
Lazy Bones & Cedar
2004 30'IB (Island Bed)
Yesterday is History, Tomorrow is a Mystery
Live for the day!
Re: Black tank treatment/deodorizer
Reply #12 –
Yahoo Message Number: 141713
Nothing. As others have said, as long as the tank vent is working properly, I find there's just no need for chemicals, enzymes or whatever.
 If you do feel the need to use a tank treatment, read the label very carefully! There are many products on the market that boast "FORMALDEHYDE FREE!" on the front... but on the back, in tiny print, you'll see "Contains paraformaldehyde"--or other even more toxic chemicals.
 Odorlos, Camco's TST orange-flavored stuff, and Potty Toddy tabs are nontoxic. But as I said, I don't find that any of these treatments make a difference.

Andy Baird http://www.andybaird.com/travels/
Andy Baird
2021 Ford Ranger towing 2019 Airstream 19CB
Previously: 1985 LD Twin/King "Gertie"; 2003 LD Midbath "Skylark"
Re: Black tank treatment/deodorizer
Reply #13 –
Yahoo Message Number: 141721
I have used the regular blue Thetford stuff from Wally for a long time but someone gave me a package of Porta Pak. The format is a little more convenient but for me - it smells fantastic. It's like a ray of sunshine when dumping the tanks. Who wouldn't want to make this disgusting aspect of RV ownership more tolerable? I can't imagine someone not using any chemical but this is easy and keeps away the horrible smells.
 While most people on here are experienced, in my experience with most "foul smell" inside the motorhome, 99% of the time it is due to a lack of water in the P-traps of the plumbing preventing blocking the gray water odors, not black. I have never had the slightest issue of black tank odor when using a proper chemical.

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Re: Black tank treatment/deodorizer
Reply #14 –
Yahoo Message Number: 141735
wrote: Here is a recipe shared by the Escapee's group:

"toilet treatment"

1 cup fabric softener

1 cup lemon ammonia

1 cup Pine Sol, I use lemon
 1/2 box baking soda (I assume this is the regular 1 lb size box found on most grocery shelves)
 Mix all above in a gallon jug and add to holding tanks. I use about a cup, I believe, but do not measure.>
 WARNING...DO NOT USE BLEACH WITH THIS MIXTURE....IT IS DEADLY TO MIX BLEACH WITH AMMONIA!
 I seem to remember the reason for the addition of the fabric softener is to help keep toilet seals from drying.
--- Black/grey tank *homebrew concoctions* abound; how people think that some potion is going to be effective, let alone even come up with the ingredient combo in the first place, is beyond me! In this particular "recipe", Pine Sol is sure not going to do anything good for the rubber toilet seals, and the rest of the stuff is, frankly, useless.
 If one has to use anything at all - and most seasoned RVers use nothing but plenty of WATER with each flush - use a bacteria/enzyme product anf follow the manufacturer's instructions; Pure Power, Eco-Save, Roebic, and Dijest-It are choices.  Dump the tanks when about 3/4 full, flush both tanks *well*, and go down the road.

As ever (and how!), YMMV!

Joan
2003 TK has a new home
Re: Black tank treatment/deodorizer
Reply #15 –
Yahoo Message Number: 141745
"If one has to use anything at all... use a bacteria/enzyme product [such as] Pure Power, Eco-Save, Roebic, and Dijest-It"

Quote
As ever (and how!), YMMV!

Joan
Joan and all...
 I've used Eco-Save for years, in my LD and SOB. Since I prefer to not have any lumps in my puree I find that the effluent that goes down the tube is nothing but liquid. No cake, no build-up, no problems! :-)

Steve S.
Lazy Bones & Jiggs
Steve S.
Lazy Bones & Cedar
2004 30'IB (Island Bed)
Yesterday is History, Tomorrow is a Mystery
Live for the day!
Re: Black tank treatment/deodorizer
Reply #16 –
Yahoo Message Number: 141956
We use Happy Camper, but "Always Fresh" (www.alwaysfresh.com) also works very well.  We used Always Fresh for several years, then tried Happy Camper partly because we got a really good price on a tub, and partly because the place we bought the Always Fresh closed, and we couldn't find a local source.  Couldn't smell any difference between the two.  We didn't even do the recommended dra