Congratulations! I remember going from a PUP with no tanks to our first camper with tanks. Totally changed the way we camped for the better, but dealing with the tanks was the trade-off.
There is a TON of information about dumping and maintaining tanks on the internet and forums like this, so you will get a lot of good answers. Here are some bullet points:
1) ALWAYS wear gloves when emptying the tanks. I keep a box of disposables in the camper. And a container of Lysol Wipes to clean my hands afterward.
2) Make sure your tanks are at least 1/2 - 2/3 full before leaving your campsite to facilitate dumping. Add water from faucets and using the foot pedal on your toilet, if necessary, to bring up the water lines in both tanks.
3) I use a plastic tote with lid for my dump supplies. I store it under the camper at the site. In it there is:
a. A CLEAR plastic elbow connector attached to my sewer hose so I can literally see when the tanks are emptied.
b. A water hose to hook up to the black tank rinser. Mine is orange so it is NEVER confused with the potable water hose!
c. Geo-method supplies.
4) Always dump your black tank first. Run your tank rinser.
5) Then dump your grey water tank.
6) Rinse your hose with the sprayer at the dump site.
7) Return your supplies to the bin/tote.
8) Add some water to your black tank - I fill 2 gallon jugs and dump them with my detergent and softener right after I empty my tanks so it sloshes around while I drive home and never have a dry black tank.
9) Take off your gloves, wash your hands or use sanitizing wipes or liquid.
Your gray tank will pretty much take care of itself since it always has soapy water in it from use. Black water tank - a different story. You need to maintain them. There are a lot of differing opinions on the best product and/or process. You can use organic compounds to break down the solids, you can use the geo-method (soaps/detergent and softener) or a combination of methods, including some who,
, put their used toilet paper in a closed container and never flush it, since really, that is what causes the problems in a poorly or inappropriately maintained black tank. Do some research on "maintaining the RV black water tank" and decide for yourself what is right for you
. In the end - no pun intended
- it is TOTALLY WORTH IT to deal with the tanks to have the benefit of using them!!