Favorite Black Water and Grey Water Chemicals?

[jlongman]

I am very new to the RV life. Just bought our Coachmen Apex 189 FBS last month. We got a couple of sample water treatments which we used this year but come spring when we really hit the road I want to take advantage of everyone's experience. What are your favorite water treatments? I see concentrated, enzyme, non-formaldehyde. Should I put something in the grey water tank as well as the black water tank? So many choices and so many ads saying 'we're the best' what do you recommend?

[Ovair]

Welcome to the RV life! I had always used the chemicals of which you speak and was only disappointed a couple of times. However, very recently, through this forum, I learned of something called the Geo Method. It doesn't use the typical chemicals. Instead, it uses the things you routinely use to wash your laundry. It seems to provide excellent results and I have switched to it. Look at this link for the Geo Method The Geo Method

[Nitrofish]

Very interesting. Thanks for the info. The geo method makes sense and is not costly.

[bikendan]

i've had great luck with Odorlos. they are harder to find, now, though. not sure why.

[trudinator]

We used chemicals for our first couple of trips and then I found info on this site for the Geo Method. We switched and haven't looked back. Our friends use the drop in packets and they are having issues with odor. They'll be switching to the Geo Method next season, I believe. Keeps our tanks odor free. And you don't really need any chemicals to break down the paper. Put some toilet paper in a glass of water....you'll see what I mean.

[campnqueen]

My favorite WAS Odorlos. But can;t seem to find it anywhere anymore! So now we use RV Trine.. seems to work pretty well and not that expensive. Did use TST once and HATED it! it actually CLUMPED in the holding tank! who knew?
So my votes gose to 1) Odorlos 2) RV Trine and NOT TST!

[caper]

We also use the Geo method. Tank seems to empty better then with RV chemicals. Plus last summer we had no odor from the tank.

[Timex]

Whatever method you try, please don't dump your grey water on the ground at campgrounds. If you do, don't dare say that you do. There are some on this forum who will get angry and turn green!

Hope that I haven't started (you know what) again!

[campnqueen]

Originally Posted by Timex

Whatever method you try, please don't dump your grey water on the ground at campgrounds. If you do, don't dare say that you do. There are some on this forum who will get angry and turn green!

Hope that I haven't started (you know what) again!

HEAVEN NO! In some place you can be fined!

[campdohbrew]

Originally Posted by Ovair

Welcome to the RV life! I had always used the chemicals of which you speak and was only disappointed a couple of times. However, very recently, through this forum, I learned of something called the Geo Method. It doesn't use the typical chemicals. Instead, it uses the things you routinely use to wash your laundry. It seems to provide excellent results and I have switched to it. Look at this link for the Geo Method The Geo Method

Thanks for providing the link to the Geo Method. I have come across the term “The Geo Method” for years in other forums. However, the term was always used in conjunction with the use of ice in the tanks to unstick the tanks’ level indicator probes which led me to believe the Geo Method was simply adding ice to unstick the probes. This is the first time which I have ever seen the true definition and use, as intended by its inventor. Heck, as it turns out the use of ice is not part of the inventor’s method. I am going to give the Geo Method a try – perfect timing – with the new trailer.

Again, thanks for providing the link!

[trapperjfd]

I found the Geo Method interesting and like the water softener idea very well. I have been using PURE POWER for several years and have been very pleased. It is an enzyme product with low odor. No heavy dyes like a lot of products out there.

[sherdep]

My Father uses Odorlos as well but like stated above - very hard to find
The last time I had seen my father buy it was at Giant Recreational World's part's store.

I use the TST Orange in the black tank and nothing in the grey tank
No odor in either tank during camping - I have tried some of the other's and have gotten bad formaldahide smells which makes it misreable.

I do have a tornado installed in the Black tank so that might be a good reason why I do not get the clumping.
One thing I do about an hour before I know I am going to dump is fill the grey and black tank about 3/4 full to make sure anything that is stuck on the bottom is loosened

I noticed a post that campnqueen - used it and it clumps up in the tank - I never noticed it but I really never paid that close attention to it other then to make sure the tank is emptied and I can't see anything when I open the toilet shoot.

[House97]

Funny story about ice... I had recently purchased a used TT, had taken it out once locally on a weekend jaunt, and was about to go for a week long camp out in central Virginia, about 300 miles away when I learned about the geo method, and had read about using ice to agitate and knock "stuff" off the sides of the tank.
I did the geo stuff, and before leaving for this first ever long trip, dumped a bag of ice down my toilet, and had my friend do the same.
Due to weather issues, we didn't get out of town until much later than expected, and we ended up not getting to our destination until about 2:00 am. Neither of us wanted to be "that guy" that wakes the entire campground up in the middle of the night, so we decided to camp out in the local Wal-Mart parking lot until morning.
I can attest that dumping ice in the tank is HIGHLY effective in loosening poo that has hardened to the tank walls. HIGHLY!!
It was the stinkiest night of my life, and I thought my DW might kill me right then and there.

[House97]

I should say though, that other than that one event, the geo method has worked great. Lots of flushing is the key IMO.

[weiman1983]

Welcome to the rv life! I have tried a few different chemicals and the best has been one called Liquiback. We use it in both our tanks. It's an enzyme chemical and it's also biodegradeble. The only downside is that you can only get it from industrial cleaners or chemical distributors.

[trudinator]

Originally Posted by House97

I should say though, that other than that one event, the geo method has worked great. Lots of flushing is the key IMO.

And the best part about it is that the Calgon and laundry soap are readily available everywhere; no trips to your dealer to find special chemicals, etc. best decision we ever made. Our tanks are pristine.

[jmswms]

The Geo method sounds great but wondering how the Calgon /laundry soap affects a septic tank?

[Emptypockets]

The only thing I will use is RV-Digest It

[trudinator]

Originally Posted by jmswms

The Geo method sounds great but wondering how the Calgon /laundry soap affects a septic tank?

Laundry soap goes into septic tanks with no problems when doing laundry, so why would the soap and calgon be any different in this instance?

[Herk7769]

Originally Posted by Emptypockets

The only thing I will use is RV-Digest It

I use RV Digest it at end of season camping to get rid of any stubborn sludge that resists the Geo Method I normally use.

Love that stuff, though.