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11-20-2014, 01:48 PM
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#1
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4 Rivet Member
Longport
, New Jersey
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 307
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Black tank advice please help!
I just put the airstream away at the boatyard. it's all winterized and ready to rest for the season.
I don't know why I did it, but I shined a flashlight down the toilet valve into the black tank. I can see that there is material there, let's just say it's stuff that you hope would flush down the tube.
What do I do with this? I have no place to dump it if I filled it up again with the toilet chemicals plus we are dealing with freezing temperatures on and off.
I'm not sure why it did not dissolve while we were using it?
Sorry know this is so nasty, but not sure what to do any advice would be appreciated.
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11-20-2014, 01:55 PM
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#2
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Rivet Master
2003 22' International CCD
Kiln
, Mississippi
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 2,779
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Leave it for the winter - no place to dump and winterized makes it tough. When ready to use then add lots of a septic tank additive like RIDEX to the tank with water. Maybe drive to your next camping trip with that in there to slosh it around. Let your tank get full while camping and then flush as normal - it will all go away on its own.
IF NOT - then once you can hook up to dump and have time then use a hose that you no longer like too much and do a continuous flush and fill with periods of high pressure washing with the hose. GET RID OF THE HOSE - it will never look the same even clean in your eyes again.
Good news - not a big issue. Bad news - you looked at it.
The why it did not dissolve question is a problem lots of people have - you need to use enough water and it needs to sit and have time to work its magic. Don't flush the black tank too often.
__________________
Michael & Tina with Layla and Preston BZ The family has grown. 2003 22' INTERNATIONAL CCD
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11-20-2014, 01:59 PM
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#3
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4 Rivet Member
Longport
, New Jersey
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 307
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Quote:
Originally Posted by clancy_boy
Good news - not a big issue. Bad news - you looked at it.
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I'm still laughing... Thanks so much for the reply. At least it's something I don't have to stress about.
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11-20-2014, 02:28 PM
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#4
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Rivet Master
2007 22' International CCD
Corona
, California
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 9,180
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Don't forget the wrist strap on the flashlight either 😄
Sent from my pocket Internet using Airstream Forums
__________________
Rich, KE4GNK/AE, Overkill Engineering Dept.
'The Silver HamShack' ('07 International 22FB CCD 75th Anniversary)
Multiple Yaesu Ham Radios inside and many antennae sprouting from roof, ProPride hitch, Prodigy P2 controller.
2012 shortbed CrewMax 4x4 Toyota Tacoma TV with more antennae on it.
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11-20-2014, 02:31 PM
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#5
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Rivet Master
2024 23' Flying Cloud
San Antonio
, Texas
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 501
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You can also pour a quart bottle of RV Digest It, add water, and do the drive around. My dealer really recommends this product.
Sent from my iPhone using Airstream Forums
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11-20-2014, 02:32 PM
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#6
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Rivet Master
2014 30' FB FC Bunk
Hoover
, Alabama
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 3,530
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I cannot simply look down into mine...so ignorance is bliss ....
__________________
“The atoms of our bodies are traceable to stars that manufactured them...We are not figuratively, but literally stardust.”
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11-20-2014, 02:34 PM
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#7
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Rivet Master
2014 25' Flying Cloud
Cuddebackville
, New York
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 4,333
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I'd just pour some RV anti-freeze in there so that any water down round the gate vale doesn't freeze and cause any problems.
As a group, we are far too concerned with making the black tank pristine all the time. In pretty short order it will be ugly again.
__________________
2014 25' Flying Cloud Rear Twin
2019 Ford Expedition Platinum
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11-20-2014, 03:29 PM
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#8
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Rivet Master
1991 34' Excella
Princeton
, New Jersey
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 7,070
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There is no reason to do anything now. My guess is you hooked up in a campground and left te black water valve open while camping. Doing this results in what is indearingly called in Rving circles as mounding.
Next year don't open the black water valve until you are ready to leave the campground. You could help things along on the first trip by putting 3 o4 gallons of water in the tank before leaving home. That will loosen things up.
Any chemicals or other additives you put in the black tank is a waste of money. What is in thee is what it is and you are not going to change that.
__________________
WBCCI 12156 AIR 3144 WACHUNG TAC NJ6
2004 Excursion 4x4
1991 34 ft. Excella +220,000 miles, new laminated flooring, new upholstery, new 3200 lbs axles
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11-20-2014, 03:50 PM
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#9
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Moderator
1968 17' Caravel
Battle Ground
, Washington
Join Date: Dec 2002
Posts: 12,253
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You should fill out your profile info so we know if we're talking about a new Airstream or an old one.
Either way, all that advice is the same. We also encountered a 'brown mountain' issue. It was in the summer, so I just added water and RidX, and at the next camping trip a month or so later, all the evil stuff flushed right out. We have also done the ice cube trick - water and a bag of ice cubes in the tank, drive to next campground, dump, and away it goes. We actually noticed the brown mountain because we lost capacity, the tank seemed to fill up too fast. It was nice to get that back, because the vintage black tanks aren't all that big to begin with!
Also, I was advised to always put a gallon or two back in after dumping, to prevent build up from happening again. Don't forget to put the RV Antifreeze in your black tank if you leave water in it!
Ah, the joys of being 'hands on' with your septic system!
__________________
Stephanie
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11-20-2014, 03:52 PM
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#10
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Rivet Master
1994 34' Excella
Warren
, Manitoba
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 1,244
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Next spring put a couple of gallons of water and an ice cream pail full of ice cubes down the toilet and take the trailer for a ten mile stop and go drive. End drive at a sewer dump and dump the tank. Helpfull if you have a half tank in the grey tank to flush the line. Works for me every time!!
__________________
ACI #7394
2012 GMC 2500 HD Duramax Denali
1994 Excella 34'
1987 Limited 34', 1976 31', 1976 Argosy 22' Gone to new homes
Hensley Hitch
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11-20-2014, 03:59 PM
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#11
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4 Rivet Member
Longport
, New Jersey
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 307
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Black tank advice please help!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Stefrobrts
the brown mountain
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Stop! You guys are killing me! Ahahahahhah!!!!!
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11-20-2014, 05:04 PM
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#12
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Moderator
1968 17' Caravel
Battle Ground
, Washington
Join Date: Dec 2002
Posts: 12,253
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It helps if you can laugh at it! Some of our best times around the campfire have involved one-upping each other with black tank stories!
__________________
Stephanie
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11-20-2014, 05:06 PM
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#13
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Rivet Master
1991 34' Excella
Princeton
, New Jersey
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 7,070
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I got some that can't be posted here
Sent from my iPhone using Airstream Forums
__________________
WBCCI 12156 AIR 3144 WACHUNG TAC NJ6
2004 Excursion 4x4
1991 34 ft. Excella +220,000 miles, new laminated flooring, new upholstery, new 3200 lbs axles
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11-20-2014, 10:11 PM
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#14
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Rivet Master
1999 34' Excella
Currently Looking...
Hillsboro
, Texas
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 6,406
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I have a washout device which attaches to a hose. You stick it inside the black tank thru the toilet flush valve... turn on the water and 'spin' the device so that it sprays all around.
Perhaps this will allow you to 'direct' a blast at the pile...oh.. close the toilet valve as much as possible .... to reduce 'blow back'... DAMHIK...
__________________
Peace and Blessings..
Channing
WBCCI# 30676
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11-20-2014, 10:56 PM
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#15
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Rivet Puller
2003 28' Safari S/O
Atlanta Burbs
, Georgia
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 2,002
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Educational Behaviors
Quote:
Originally Posted by cwf
Oh... close the toilet valve as much as possible .... to reduce 'blow back'... DAMHIK...
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No worries, you won't make that mistake twice!
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11-21-2014, 11:33 AM
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#16
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Rivet Master
2013 30' Classic
Greenwood
, Mississippi
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 12,111
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cwf
I have a washout device which attaches to a hose. You stick it inside the black tank thru the toilet flush valve... turn on the water and 'spin' the device so that it sprays all around.
Perhaps this will allow you to 'direct' a blast at the pile...oh.. close the toilet valve as much as possible .... to reduce 'blow back'... DAMHIK...
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I had one of those with the other trailer. It look like a wand with a pressure nozzle on the business end. Seems like I bought it at Walmart. Now I use the built-in black tank flush.
__________________
2013 Classic 30 Limited
2007 Silver Toyota Tundra Crew Max Limited 5.7 iForce
2006 Vivid Black Harley-Davidson Road King Classic
1999 Black Nissan Pathfinder LE
TAC #MS-10
WBCCI #1811, Region 6, Unit 56
Airforums #70955
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11-21-2014, 12:50 PM
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#17
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4 Rivet Member
1972 27' Overlander
Penokee
, Kansas
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 339
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Our Overlander when we first got it the holding tank was about full and had been that way for a long time and frozen when we first got our trailer.. I went ahead and pulled it home that way thinking too myself,, what a jerk..
I worried for weeks about it but once the weather warmed up nothing was broken..
I think if it was mine,, I would go ahead and pour a gallon of RV antifreeze in the holding tank just to make sure nothing freezes hard.. Don't forget to reach your arm inside and get it all mixed up.. ( just kidding,,)
Sodbust
__________________
2012 Ram 1500 Tradesman Hemi, 4x4, 6 speed
20mpg empty, 14 mpg with 27' Overlander.
Today is the first day of the rest of your life!
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11-21-2014, 06:21 PM
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#18
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Rivet Master
2013 31' Classic
billings
, Montana
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 3,570
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I ain't going to look in mine!!!
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11-22-2014, 06:18 AM
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#19
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Rivet Master
2013 31' Classic
billings
, Montana
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 3,570
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Maybe you could trade the AS for a newer one....
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11-22-2014, 08:06 AM
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#20
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Rivet Master
1974 Argosy 26
Morrill
, Nebraska
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 6,014
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So far we have never had the "mounding" problem. And the BW tank looks clean on inspection.
I always try to dump the tanks upon arrival. That way everything has been stirred up from the days travel.
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