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Old 06-06-2012, 10:53 AM   #1
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Great tip !

Since I see a lot of people saying they are new to RVing just thought I'd mention the we used the Calgon Water Softner trick (sorry forget the proper name) in our holding tank since we got our 5th wheel and it's worked great. DB was pretty skeptical and it even impressed him. Not sure where the info is but worth searching for it.
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Old 06-06-2012, 11:09 AM   #2
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Originally Posted by jmswms
Since I see a lot of people saying they are new to RVing just thought I'd mention the we used the Calgon Water Softner trick (sorry forget the proper name) in our holding tank since we got our 5th wheel and it's worked great. DB was pretty skeptical and it even impressed him. Not sure where the info is but worth searching for it.
Capfull of calgon water softener crystals and a cup of laundry detergent dissolved in hot water.
Add to black tank with 2 additional gallons before travelling!
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Old 06-06-2012, 12:10 PM   #3
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Originally Posted by f1100turbo View Post
Capfull of calgon water softener crystals and a cup of laundry detergent dissolved in hot water.
Add to black tank with 2 additional gallons before travelling!

And this is supposed to do what to the black water tank?
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Old 06-06-2012, 12:16 PM   #4
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keeps it much much cleaner with less tank flush .

The water softner keeps the solids and or tp from collecting on bottom,sides and probes !
laundry detergent helps with oils and aids in helping keep the tank clean while traveling .
slooshing of solution coats interior tank walls !
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Old 06-06-2012, 12:17 PM   #5
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And this is supposed to do what to the black water tank?
It will help break up the solids in the black tank and keep things from sticking to the sides, probes etc. Makes for a much cleaner flush/empty.
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Old 06-06-2012, 12:24 PM   #6
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And I thought I would have to get a turbo stick and put it into the tank from above.
My wife will love this tip because 2 weekends ago after coming out of storage (not my wife - the trailer...) she took the cap off to attach the hose to the drain.
I guess the release lever was pulled and just before she took the cap off she asked if there would be any problems.
I said no and she uncapped a big mess.

Rubber gloves have now been purchased! and I have moved up in the world to sole provider of the tank hook up.
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Old 06-06-2012, 12:26 PM   #7
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Does anyone know if this method interferes with the natural enzyme type of black tank additive?
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Old 06-06-2012, 12:35 PM   #8
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Does anyone know if this method interferes with the natural enzyme type of black tank additive?

not sure since I believe that there is little to no action being had inside the tank anyway .
for the 3 or 4 days its there "average" the poo prolly barely hits bottom before you next dump. well for those who do 2 in there unit .
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Old 06-06-2012, 12:44 PM   #9
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I wish someone would invent a lock mechanism for the tank covers so kids or adults walking by the trailer cannot just unscrew the cap and pull the pin, thereby dumpng any of the remaining slop.

Rather use my own flush than a blue and yellow rocket which has set in the sun and baked for 3 weeks while 200 people have come and gone using it while travelling between point A and Z.

Military Field ops has sort of spoiled me in that way. And I don't bag anything and carry it out either. If a bear can poop in the woods why can't I?

But I'm not bitter
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Old 06-06-2012, 12:49 PM   #10
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Originally Posted by MilCop4523
I wish someone would invent a lock mechanism for the tank covers so kids or adults walking by the trailer cannot just unscrew the cap and pull the pin, thereby dumpng any of the remaining slop.

Rather use my own flush than a blue and yellow rocket which has set in the sun and baked for 3 weeks while 200 people have come and gone using it while travelling between point A and Z.

Military Field ops has sort of spoiled me in that way. And I don't bag anything and carry it out either. If a bear can poop in the woods why can't I?

But I'm not bitter
Bear poo has various berries in it making it OK! :ROFLBLACK:
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Old 06-06-2012, 12:50 PM   #11
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Bear poo has various berries in it making it OK! :ROFLBLACK:
and it doesn't stick to rabbits fur.
HEY idea!!!!! stick a piece of rabbits fur into the black tank...
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Old 06-06-2012, 01:35 PM   #12
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The actual name for the process of putting Calgon in the tank is the GEO method.
Link: https://sites.google.com/site/cbruni/
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Old 06-06-2012, 01:57 PM   #13
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Capfull of calgon water softener crystals and a cup of laundry detergent dissolved in hot water.
Add to black tank with 2 additional gallons before travelling!
A cup of laundry detergent? That seems like a LOT!

Or is that a cup of water/detergent mixed?
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Old 06-06-2012, 01:58 PM   #14
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Originally Posted by fordmantpw

A cup of laundry detergent? That seems like a LOT!

Or is that a cup of water/detergent mixed?
I cup of laundry detergent!

Read the method link above.
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Old 06-06-2012, 02:01 PM   #15
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Originally Posted by MilCop4523 View Post
I wish someone would invent a lock mechanism for the tank covers so kids or adults walking by the trailer cannot just unscrew the cap and pull the pin, thereby dumpng any of the remaining slop.

Rather use my own flush than a blue and yellow rocket which has set in the sun and baked for 3 weeks while 200 people have come and gone using it while travelling between point A and Z.

Military Field ops has sort of spoiled me in that way. And I don't bag anything and carry it out either. If a bear can poop in the woods why can't I?

But I'm not bitter
I really have never heard of anyone having this issue. I'm pretty sure the campgrounds we stay in don't have a gang of marauding teens/adults pulling on dump valves.
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Old 06-06-2012, 04:34 PM   #16
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can you use the liguid calgon? And if so how much? And do you still need to mix with hot water. Thanks
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Old 06-06-2012, 05:24 PM   #17
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haha I eat berries!
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Old 06-06-2012, 06:58 PM   #18
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can you use the liguid calgon? And if so how much? And do you still need to mix with hot water. Thanks
Depends where you live. Up here in the Toronto area I have never seen the liquid version, only the powdered one.

I buy the cheapest laundry detergent on sale and add one cup in diluted in warm water, and a cup of Calgon, also diluted in warm water, it works - plain and simple.

No bad smell, well except the time I had the Fantastic Fan on and I flushed - I think that's the day I lost all my hair

Let's not forget this a HOLDING tank not a SEPTIC tank we have.
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Old 06-06-2012, 07:16 PM   #19
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I really have never heard of anyone having this issue. I'm pretty sure the campgrounds we stay in don't have a gang of marauding teens/adults pulling on dump valves.
Trud, I think its more for your own kids doing it. I know plenty of kids that like to just play with things without asking (my son included, hasn't done it....yet) that would be playing and think "hmm what is this?" and pull the handle a few times. I was already working on a fix for just this issue, lol.

EDIT: Read Here for some of these exact stories http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...aps-20216.html
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Old 06-06-2012, 08:11 PM   #20
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Originally Posted by miatared
Depends where you live. Up here in the Toronto area I have never seen the liquid version, only the powdered one.

I buy the cheapest laundry detergent on sale and add one cup in diluted in warm water, and a cup of Calgon, also diluted in warm water, it works - plain and simple.

No bad smell, well except the time I had the Fantastic Fan on and I flushed - I think that's the day I lost all my hair

Let's not forget this a HOLDING tank not a SEPTIC tank we have.
What store in Toronto do you find the Calgon in? Since reading a similar topic a few weeks ago, I've been casually keeping an eye out for it when I am shopping here in Ottawa. So far, I have not come across it in any of the grocery stores I frequent.

Dave.
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