Black and Gray Water Holding Tank Maintenance

[Hokiehall]

We have been following this method the last several trips out. I have capability at home now to dump the black tanks into the city sewer system so before we left the beach this time, we put in water softener, detergent and several gallons of water and drove home, letting it swish around in the tank for 320 miles. Once home, I filled the black tank to capacity and then dumped it. It was amazingly clear water coming out. I refilled the tank for one more rinse and now it is as clean as the day it came off the assembly line.

[08flagvlite]

I've been using Calgon for over a year now, and I still don't even own a tank rinser, nor have I ever dragged a hose in to the bathroom to rinse out the tank. We never get any foul odors, and I add the Calgon to an enmpty tank, then add my favorite deodorizer- almost any will do, then about a gallon of water, and drive to the campsite of choice. This allows the solution to slosh around in the tank, and coat the area before use. Works great for us! Randy

[kidcamp01]

I have never used the powered calgon. I'm trying this ASAP. My bathroom in the summer on hot days doesn't smell to good. Hopefully this will help!!

Thanks

[MtnGuy]

Originally Posted by kidcamp01

I have never used the powered calgon. I'm trying this ASAP. My bathroom in the summer on hot days doesn't smell to good. Hopefully this will help!!

Thanks

If you use powdered Calgon, I believe I would mix it with water 1st to make sure it fully dissolves. I like the liquid Calgon that you can find in places like Walmart.

[OSCBRADLEY]

Sounds good, I'm using the blue tablets right now but the Calgon method sounds good. How much Calgon do you put in the tank?

[08flagvlite]

I use the liquid stuff from Wal Mart, and I only put in one capful in my black tank. I haven't even needed any of the blue deodorizers anymore, and still don't own a tank rinser! Randy

[OSCBRADLEY]

Sounds good.....so what do you think of this plan....I dont really have a local place to dump after camping so I have to use the campground dump station. In order to obtain some good agitation would I fill the black water tank with fresh water (say 1/4 full) before leaving home, then add calgon and drive to destination and not dump until tanks were full?

[08flagvlite]

That should work great, but you are using 1/4 of the tank up before you really need to! Just put one or two gallons of water in, then the Calgon, and if you have to carry the black tank full till you get almost home, as I often have to do as well, you may want to add some of the blue deodorizing treatment, because traveling on a full black tank can get a little smelly, depending on HOW full. Hope this helps!! Randy

[OSCBRADLEY]

Thats just it, I have nowhere to dump once I get home so I thought that adding it prior to departing on a trip and then dumping once I leave the park might work.

[MtnGuy]

Originally Posted by OSCBRADLEY

Thats just it, I have nowhere to dump once I get home so I thought that adding it prior to departing on a trip and then dumping once I leave the park might work.

If you are concerned about filling the black tank before dumping it, just flush that puppy until it fills up. That is what I do before leaving my campsite. Most of the time, I am dry camping so it helps me to lower the level in my fresh water tank, also. I flush it until the 1/3 light goes off on my fresh water tank, or until the 2/3 comes on my black water tank. I don't empty my fresh water tank completely, just in case I need to do a pit stop on the way home. Oops, then I have more waste in there......it is a never ending circle.

[northstarfire0693]

I think I am going to try the Calgon stuff and see if it helps. I do have some build up in the tank from the trip I just got back from 2 days ago. So it looks like I will be doing a little flushing..... I just hope it all comes out.... first time I have had this problem

[ilovecamping]

We had some odor from the black tank and the chem we used didn't work. I read somewhere about using the Calgon water softner and detergent and we did that and added some water. We let it sit until we went camping and dumped when we got there and added both again to the tank. We no longer had the odor and we believe it works much better than the chems. We are believers.

[Iggy]

If you don't have a black water cleaner sprayer built in and have toilet paper and other possible solid waste that just won't breakup and go out try this.

Before you leave the camps site or from home dump a few bags of ice cubes down the toilet. Hopefully it isn't 110 degrees out but the idea is to have the trailer move down the road and the ice as long as it is a solid will hit the sides and bottom of the tank and breakup anything that may be solid or even stuck on the sensors.

I used this when my sensors were covered with paper and wahtever.
It worked for me.

Just another solution if you have cooler temps and ready to drive down the road. Oh yes you should dump the stuff after your drive down the road .

[Boondoggle]

I want to add the following step to black tank maintenance and use; once you empty the black tank, be sure to flush some water (about a toilet bowl full) into the tank along with the laundry soap and softner before using. It will help keep the solids from sticking to the bottom of the tank. (been there experienced that) I use all of the methods described in this thread, and have been very happy since doing so.

[tommyanderson]

Having trouble finding calgone powder water softner, i have been to wallmart, target, walgreens and chain food stores such as foodlion and safeway. were shall i look

[MotocrossCamper]

We just bought a bunch of boxes at Kmart. It's the only place we have been able to find it.

[rthrbelsewhere]

I thought I saw someone had some for sale in the Classifications section - http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...lgon-9109.html

[kalik282]

Here's the link to the Powdered Calgon @ Kmart. Click the "Check Other Stores" for a location near you.

Clothing, Toys, Electronics, Jewelry, Jaclyn Smith - Kmart.com

[Willybgh]

I was able to find it in Walmart in Ontario.

Chris

[westyguy]

Interesting exchange. Is Calgon different or would any water softener work. Also, why not use the liquid form and avoid the issue of dissolving?