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11-29-2015, 04:45 AM
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#1
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2 Rivet Member
1992 34' Limited
Snead
, Alabama
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 88
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What is the best chemical to clean a holding tank?
Normal holding tank from the sinks & shower is building up material. My AS does not move any so it's very hard for just water to clean the tank. What is the best chemical to treat this tank & the solids build up to flush & remove them???? Thanks so much.
__________________
Frank Burgett, Owner
Burgit Hill Herefords
Registered White Face Hereford Cattle
1099 Dailey Road, Snead, Al 35952
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11-29-2015, 04:51 AM
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#2
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Rivet Master
2007 30' Classic
Oswego
, Illinois
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 13,669
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I am a believer in the bacteria digestive ones. Ridix for rvs is what I use.
__________________
-Rich-
"If the women don't find you handsome, they should at least find you handy." - Red Green
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11-29-2015, 05:31 AM
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#3
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Rivet Master
Currently Looking...
Mantua
, Ohio
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 7,062
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The gray tank in my trailer had build up to the point it wouldn't drain fast. I filled it with twenty so gallons of water several times, each time letting it flow out. That worked. I also use a toilet plunger in the tub to help the cause. Mine had lime rock debris in it. Tilting the trailer the right direction helped the velocity of the draining. I used a clear hose adapter so I could see what was coming out. I use the same chemicals that I use in the black tank.
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11-29-2015, 06:16 AM
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#4
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2 Rivet Member
2006 30' Safari
Divide
, Colorado
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 35
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We have used "Unique Digest-it" with good success. Got it at True Value Hardware, also available online.
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11-29-2015, 08:15 AM
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#5
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Rivet Master
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 2,190
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It's not the best time of year for tank cleaning
I would try a long soak first.
Flush
Then an Enzyme soak ( Ridex is cheap )
Flush
Then Vinegar and baking soda soak.
Flush
Repeat as needed.
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11-29-2015, 03:04 PM
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#6
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4 Rivet Member
2015 25' Flying Cloud
GILBERT
, Arizona
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 377
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First throw away all those RV chemical.
First make sure your tank empty and then put a 20lb of ice in your Head and take a lone drive and then flush out.
Next, use 16oz Pinesol mix with 1/2 cup of Calgon in Hot water (1 gal.) and you will never have any smell problems or build up in your tank. Pinesol is a natural break down of waste.
We have several Airstream buddy's that show us this.
__________________
David & Nancy Ames
WBCCI # 9403 -- AIR # 95597
2015 FC 25' RB
2013 Chevy Tahoe LTZ
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11-29-2015, 04:05 PM
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#7
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Rivet Master
1998 30' Excella 1000
Livingston
, Texas
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 546
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Have you looked lately at what's in Pine-Sol:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pine-Sol
If you want to get away from chemicals, maybe the enzyme/natural bacteria products are the way to go.
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11-29-2015, 04:06 PM
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#8
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Rivet Master
1979 31' Sovereign
Northeastern
, Kentucky
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 627
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I use mine routinely while it's stationary as well, and recently purchased a sewer solution for discharge and flushing both. Works pretty well. I've also experimented with a variety of treatments (pure power, campa chem, geo method) and am currently trying Happy Campers. My experience so far is that treatments work better when the trailer is moved around due to the agitating motion. This of course isn't occurring in your case.
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11-29-2015, 04:08 PM
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#9
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Rivet Master
Currently Looking...
Mantua
, Ohio
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 7,062
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dames7
First throw away all those RV chemical.
First make sure your tank empty and then put a 20lb of ice in your Head and take a lone drive and then flush out.
Next, use 16oz Pinesol mix with 1/2 cup of Calgon in Hot water (1 gal.) and you will never have any smell problems or build up in your tank. Pinesol is a natural break down of waste.
We have several Airstream buddy's that show us this.
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The op was talking about the gray tank, not the black tank.
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11-29-2015, 04:20 PM
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#10
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Rivet Master
Tavares
, Florida
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 1,052
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I tried a number of them, lately I'm using Happy Camper (one of the enzyme / bacteria eating ones).
I use it in both black and gray tanks.
__________________
“Character is doing the right thing when nobody’s looking. There are too many people who think that the only thing that’s right is to get by, and the only thing that’s wrong is to get caught.” - J.C. Watts Jr.
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11-30-2015, 02:17 AM
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#11
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2 Rivet Member
1992 34' Limited
Snead
, Alabama
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 88
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I'm trying everything without much success, hot water, fill tank, let sit then flush. I just bought RidX, fill tank let sit, then flush it out. It's just been slowly building up over the years????? Control panel shows in the orange. I wish I knew what would work to dissolve this build up? No way to move AS, fixed. Is normal RidX & RidX for RV's the same thing? Thanks for any other suggestions.
__________________
Frank Burgett, Owner
Burgit Hill Herefords
Registered White Face Hereford Cattle
1099 Dailey Road, Snead, Al 35952
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11-30-2015, 02:32 AM
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#12
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2 Rivet Member
1992 34' Limited
Snead
, Alabama
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 88
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I'm trying some hair clog remover, it has lye in it. Has any one used that? I have a tankless hot water heated so I can fill it with real hot water. ?????
__________________
Frank Burgett, Owner
Burgit Hill Herefords
Registered White Face Hereford Cattle
1099 Dailey Road, Snead, Al 35952
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11-30-2015, 05:48 AM
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#13
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Rivet Master
2007 30' Classic
Oswego
, Illinois
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 13,669
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Quote:
Originally Posted by frankfarmer
I'm trying everything without much success, hot water, fill tank, let sit then flush. I just bought RidX, fill tank let sit, then flush it out. It's just been slowly building up over the years????? Control panel shows in the orange. I wish I knew what would work to dissolve this build up? No way to move AS, fixed. Is normal RidX & RidX for RV's the same thing? Thanks for any other suggestions.
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No, normal Ridex is granular and has some grit in it. Ridex for RVs is a liquid and won't damage the seals with grit. I am not sure how long you are letting it sit before flushing, but a healthy "good" bacteria colony, established by Ridex, could take weeks, depending upon temperature. Hotter is faster, winter is slower.
__________________
-Rich-
"If the women don't find you handsome, they should at least find you handy." - Red Green
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11-30-2015, 07:35 AM
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#14
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Rivet Master
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 2,190
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another idea that I have not tried
I use ridex for my house septic tank too. The plumber acted like…..well it's not gonna hurt anything.
Another plumber said that HE uses Bakers Yeast, and said if you use that you will never have a problem. That's for a preemptive strike. I don't know how it will work for a build up. But worth a shot ??????
Anyway, Bakers Yeast is a tiny bit more involved. You can just throw it in the tank. But I read that if you put the bakers yeast in a container with warm water, and wait a while before you pour it down the drain, that it works better and quicker.
They said that you can use both Ridex and Bakers Yeast
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11-30-2015, 07:46 AM
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#15
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4 Rivet Member
2015 25' Flying Cloud
GILBERT
, Arizona
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 377
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I have use this in my Boat for years and never had the problems that come with chemicals cleaners and is healthy for the system.
Best way to loosen anything in a tank is the ICE trick.
__________________
David & Nancy Ames
WBCCI # 9403 -- AIR # 95597
2015 FC 25' RB
2013 Chevy Tahoe LTZ
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11-30-2015, 08:33 AM
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#16
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Rivet Master
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 2,190
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The OP is dealing with a grey tank.
Quote:
Originally Posted by dames7
I have use this in my Boat for years and never had the problems that come with chemicals cleaners and is healthy for the system.
Best way to loosen anything in a tank is the ICE trick.
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P-traps would make it difficult if not impossible to use the ice trick.
The ice trick doesn't work as well as enzymes when it comes to nooks a crannies and buildup around valves.
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11-30-2015, 08:58 AM
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#17
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Rivet Master
Currently Looking...
Mantua
, Ohio
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 7,062
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Can't put ice cubes into a gray tank.
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12-01-2015, 07:41 AM
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#18
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2 Rivet Member
1992 29' Excella
1972 27' Overlander
Wakefield
, Rhode Island
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 63
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Quote:
Originally Posted by frankfarmer
Control panel shows in the orange.
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Are the tanks still draining slowly or not at all? If it's just the tank indicator light(s) that you're going by, perhaps you have a tank sensor issue. You might try doing a Google search on "airforums holding tank sensors." The following thread might be of particular interest: http://www.airforums.com/forums/f444...ues-95885.html
Good luck.
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12-02-2015, 06:59 AM
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#19
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2 Rivet Member
1992 34' Limited
Snead
, Alabama
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 88
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The tanks drain fast & quick when I open the valves. My indicator light shows in the yellow???? Maybe they are OK? Thanks for suggestion. I'm using RIDX every day after a shower, letting it soak the tank, surely that will help.
__________________
Frank Burgett, Owner
Burgit Hill Herefords
Registered White Face Hereford Cattle
1099 Dailey Road, Snead, Al 35952
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12-02-2015, 07:39 AM
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#20
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Rivet Master
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 2,190
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Your grey tank empties well.
How do you know that there is build up?
Does the shower drain quick enough? Sinks drain quick enough ?
Are you just seeing the build up when you look down the drains?
Maybe you have a fur ball in the P trap.
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