What is the best chemical to clean a holding tank?

[frankfarmer]

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.

[dznf0g]

I am a believer in the bacteria digestive ones. Ridix for rvs is what I use.

[xrvr]

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.

[gwydir]

We have used "Unique Digest-it" with good success. Got it at True Value Hardware, also available online.

[mandolindave]

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.

[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.

[Siegmann]

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.

[KYAirstream]

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.

[xrvr]

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.

The op was talking about the gray tank, not the black tank.

[Rich Jenkins]

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.

[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.

[frankfarmer]

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. ?????

[dznf0g]

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.

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.

[mandolindave]

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

[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.

[mandolindave]

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.

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.

[xrvr]

Can't put ice cubes into a gray tank.

[msimon]

Originally Posted by frankfarmer

Control panel shows in the orange.

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.

[frankfarmer]

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.

[mandolindave]

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.