Black tank

[Dblkco]

Can you tell me the best additive yo use for black tank thanks Karl

[chuckster57]

What are you trying to do? Keep the odor down? Sensors not working any more? A little more information would help.

[Dblkco]

Just looking for a good brand for odor and keep black tank clean thanks

[Dblkco]

We are seasonal campers bought trailer and lot my E-250 van isn’t rated to tow our 2014 Sprinter 316 BIK when we get new tow vehicle we will be on the road we don’t dump until tank is almost full sometimes we have to wait a week. Thanks

[chuckster57]

Lots of members use the “geo method”. You can keep it clean with lots of water and complete rinsing. There are lots of different products and how they are packaged. I suggest you find the brand that you like. I use TST citrus.

[sourdough]

I don't know that anything keeps the black tank "clean", especially the sensors - I don't ever look at them.

Lots of things folks use in the black tank and I've tried most I figure. I've gotten down to Thetford CampaChem after every dump. When running a week or more in 100 degree heat Dawn etc. just don't cut it for odor mitigation.

Keep black tanks clean? Lots of water and....lots of water. Dump. I run the rinser, fill for 5-8 minutes and dump...twice. Don't use a lot of paper. Run lots of water before using the tank. Never had a problem.

[Dblkco]

I just ordered some TST citrus I’ll flush with lots of water a couple times and start from scratch thanks again. Karl

[Slapshoot]

We find that regular use of Happy Camper does the trick in our black and grey tanks

[Bill-2020]

I use the THetford packets. Keeps the smell down and sensors clean.

Years ago we were told fill the bowl 3/4 of the way with water first, then flush. We discovered that wasn't enough water. We flush a second bowl of water with each trip to the can.

As SourDough said, lots of water. I typically dump at 3/4 full or less and then rinse, dump, and rinse some more.

[Dblkco]

Thanks everyone!! Happy camping

[travelin texans]

And don't spend too much time or money on products to clean the sensors, it's a waste of both.

[Customer1]

We use plenty of Dihydrogen monoxide.

[tech740]

We use plenty of Dihydrogen monoxide.

:lol: nice

[sonofcy]

Can you tell me the best additive yo use for black tank thanks Karl

None. I clean with repeated rinsing. Any bacterial treatment will not be in the tank long enough to do anything. I use nothing and even flush with the MaxxFann running and get no odour. BTW my nose is very sensitive. As to the sensors, I added SeeLevel so no longer an issue. Sometimes I will add Dawn after a dump and add some water so it sloshes up the sides going down the road but nothing else.

[dmorgan64]

After I empty the blank tank, I add some calgon water softener and a squirt of dawn dish detergent. This eliminates the smell and helps to keep the sensors working.

Good Luck!
AB3BO

[pitman44]

We use the geo method. A cup of Borax and a cup of Dawn dish soap in 2 gallons of hot water after a tank dump and a tank flush or two.

[Outbacker47]

Can you tell me the best additive yo use for black tank thanks Karl
We use TankTechs RX. It works great and you don't have to flush the tank after you dump it. We are fulltimers and we haven't flushed the tank in almost three years with no issues.

[travelin texans]

We use TankTechs RX. It works great and you don't have to flush the tank after you dump it. We are fulltimers and we haven't flushed the tank in almost three years with no issues.

Just wondering?? How do you know you don't need to rinse the tank?

[oldmanbill]

I am a livein and put no paper in the tank, and add one cup of Dawn after each dump about one month use and pump through a 3/4 hose to the septic system. Works for me, no solids at dump, do pump some grey water to clean the hose. Been doing it for 2 1/2 years on this one and several years on the last one. Only one tip, do not add a cup to an empty tank, settles in the drain and real tough to start pumping and it never mixes just gets real thick, I wait for several gallons before adding Dawn.

[rodgebone]

the best additive is a bit of extra water with every flush. having said that i put Happy Camper or Piranha down mine every 2 months and let it sit for a few days before flushing thoroughly but to be honest i dont see the benefit of chemicals except to break things down over a longer holding period of time as preventative maintenance or to deal with odors (which ive never encountered). the key is extra water and thorough flushing every time you dump. but thats just me

[WDPatterson]

When we first got our fifth wheel, I wondered what that great smell was. Turns out it was Thetford's black tank treatment.

We first used the TST Orange fragranced treatment. It did not work nearly as well, but the "orange" gets to you after a while.

So, we went back to using the Thetford Aqua-KEM Powder Fresh Toss-Ins RV Holding Tank Treatment - Toilet Deodorizer/Waste Digester/Detergent

My wife and I are full-time campers in our fifth wheel, until our house is finished. We've been at this for over two years. I can honestly tell you it's the best stuff I have ever used.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000BM65AQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awdb_t1_WDM.EbHGK0BR3

The powder fresh scent is by far the best.

It completely dissolves the toilet paper, (we use the Scott toilet paper for RVs) and liquefies everything to the point that it is Flowing like water when you drain your black tank.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Scott-
Rapid-Dissolving-Toilet-Paper-8-Toliet-Paper-Rolls-Bath-Tissue-for-RV-Boats/892674221

[Kzneft]

This stuff. Hated the throw-in tablets, and I tell you, once your black tank starts to stink it will drive you out of your RV, especially in summer. This stuff works great.

[Dblkco]

I’m getting some of that tomorrow thanks!!!

[oldmanbill]

With all full respect I have to say this, if you are having sewage smell in your trailer, you may have to use chemicals temporarily but you need to find the problem with your system and fix the cause. All sewage stinks, your system is designed to keep the smell out of your trailer, your system is broken!

[notanlines]

All the replies aside, what old man Bill said sums it up. If you can smell ANY tank inside, including the orange, your system is broken.
On edit: We are talking inside the RV, NOT inside the tank. The inside of the tank will smell I dont care what you do!

[sourdough]

Guys, guys....from a guy that was held upside down inside of a homemade cesspool as a child, I can assure you, promise you that crap stored in a tank "stinks"- no matter whether in the outside cesspool cistern or in the tank of your RV. If there are any doubts, please take a dump, flush the toilet then immediately put your head in the toilet with the valve open...IF you don't smell some "stuff" either your nose is "gone" or you have one heck of an RV (which doesn't exist in my experience). :D

[rodgebone]

With all full respect I have to say this, if you are having sewage smell in your trailer, you may have to use chemicals temporarily but you need to find the problem with your system and fix the cause. All sewage stinks, your system is designed to keep the smell out of your trailer, your system is broken!

perfectly said. maybe the seal on the valve is worn - does the bowl hold water?

[JRTJH]

The only time we smell "stuff" inside the trailer is when we forget to turn off the bathroom exhaust fan and flush. Otherwise, no odor inside. Now, if the black tank is "full or close to full" if you're downwind of the tank roof vent, you might get a whiff of what's being vented out the vent stack. Otherwise, no odor except when at the dump station or when pulling the valves to dump the tanks. If your "inside odor is always there, either change your diet or carefully inspect your trailer plumbing, something isn't like it's supposed to be.....

As for "sensibilities of the nose"... If you've ever walked into a busy restroom and not "endured the guy in the last stall as you quickly do #1 while holding your breath" then you've never stopped at a rest area on any interstate... In many places in Michigan, those rest areas along secondary roads are actually "vault toilets" (outhouses with a tank under them that gets pumped out when full) so if you're traveling in this area, plan a "full nasal assault at every pit stop"....

[flybouy]

The other possibility for interior odor is how you flush the toilet. If you have the bathroom fan running and stand there with the toilet flapper open while letting the water slowly flush the contents down then that will add to the odorous experience.

Unlike the toilet in your house you do not have a gallon and a half of water at the ready to flush the toilet. There also is not a toilet "trap" to keep the waste gases from coming back into the toilet.

When ready to flush, turn off the fan, push the flush handle or foot pedal about 1/2 the way down to add water to the bowl and when a "sufficient" amount of water has been added press the flush device the rest of the way to quickly flush the contents. This will result in a minimal amount of time that the toilet flapper will be opened.

If you have "constant" odors from the tank inside the trailer then something is wrong.

[wiredgeorge]

We leave a water in the bowl perhaps 8-10", fan on, flush and then refill with 8-10" of water. The black tank has a vent on the camper top. If it is obstructed, venting won't happen and you get stink. We bought one of those wonder chem powders and my wife uses it now and again for reasons I haven't been able to discern but she likely has a more sensitive nose than I do....

[Northofu1]

Adding piranha might come back to bite you on the as s.
Sorry, Jim is napping right now.

[flybouy]

We leave a water in the bowl perhaps 8-10", fan on, flush and then refill with 8-10" of water. The black tank has a vent on the camper top. If it is obstructed, venting won't happen and you get stink. We bought one of those wonder chem powders and my wife uses it now and again for reasons I haven't been able to discern but she likely has a more sensitive nose than I do....

8-10" of water? And Houston said "We have splashdown!".:lol:

[notanlines]

Adding piranha might come back to bite you on the as s.
Sorry, Jim is napping right now.

I can see that this thread is headed for the executioner if we don't change our ways!:eek:
And to insure that we are headed even further downstream without a 'scooper'
I will tell you I'm headed for my second Yuengling Lager and hoping for an invite to somebody's grill and campfire tonight.:D

[Papa Smurf 54]

I have been using the trbowlin.com bio geo method for about a year on all my waste holding tanks for a little over a year, and wow, how well it works for tank and sensor systems cleaning. Using Dawn original dish soap, Zep CiITRUS DEGREASER & CLEANER, and 20 MULE TEAM Borax DETERGENT BOOSTER, my tanks have never been cleaner, and also order free as they now are using the BIO GEO METHOD. I just saw another YouTube video from him, and he is offering a free printable instruction manual/sheets copy. I have not used any other cleaning/order preventative method since T R BOWLIN'S BIO GEO METHOD, and it is less costly, and better for your systems, and the environment. Hope this helps.

[jimborokz]

We use plenty of Dihydrogen monoxide.

Someone took a petition to a college campus listing Dihydrogen monoxide to ban it's use to protect the environment. Students eagerly signed it.

[notanlines]

On edit: looks like I have been taken....not the first time! Better to take it down!

[JRTJH]

Dihydrogen Monoxide

When you break it down:

Di (2) hydrogen Mono (1) oxide (oxygen)

That means, 2 hydrogen molecules and 1 oxygen molecule

Same as H2O

The internet is "filled with parody websites" (think waste material from a male bovine).... Yet another reason not to believe everything you read on the internet, like using Dr Tichner's to sanitize your water system or using windshield washer fluid to replace RV antifreeze....

[Ckdrumm]

I have used many products over the past couple of years. Most recently someone recommended the HAPPY CAMPERS holding tank treatment. Worked the best. Saw results after the first treatment, odors completely gone and sensors working like a charm. Absolutely no complaints from me.

[jimborokz]

Jim, I don't believe I had actually ever heard of Dihydrogen Monoxide. When I went to our friend Google, this site popped right up. I'm still not sure what this stuff is, but they make some pretty wild claims about its uses and how common and dangerous it is.
https://www.dhmo.org/facts.html

And I just discovered my children are feeding this stuff to our Grandchildren!!!
:lol::lol::lol:

[dutchmensport]

Considering you are stationary and not mobile at the moment, you might try a toilet wand (if you don't have a tank flusher) and rinse the black tank out real well. Just attach to a garden hose, shove it down the toilet, flip the lever and let the water fly in the tank. Wiggle the wand around as much as the hole in your toilet will let you. This will pulverize anything hanging around (literally).

After a good toilet wand flush, just follow up by adding some Dawn dishwashing liquid. Or, when you do dishes, keep the dish water in a sink pan and dump it down the toilet. The dishwashing soap will help wash the tank. If you add dishwashing liquid every time your tank will be cleaner.

[chunker]

To help keep the black and grey tanks less stinky we have used a good dish washer liquid such as Cascade etc. Not the packets but the liquid which we dilute in a bowl first and add to the tanks. In addition to degreasers it has wetting agents to help in the rinsing. Sort of accidentally discovered it when partial dry camping at the Winnebago factory and we had to conserve waste tank space. We washed dishes in a tub and poured into the toilet. When I did get to a dump station it seemed to help the flushing. Just our experiences.

[owenandkathy]

I have a 2017 Keystone Hideout. Hooked up hose to the trailer and open Black tank and no water flowed into the black tank. The valve under the sink shows direction of water, but do not know what direction it should go. Can anyone help? Not sure if the picture i attached worked right.


Thanks,

Owen Thomas
Berthoud, CO28673

[notanlines]

I have a 2017 Keystone Hideout. Hooked up hose to the trailer and open Black tank and no water flowed into the black tank. The valve under the sink shows direction of water, but do not know what direction it should go. Can anyone help? Not sure if the picture i attached worked right.


Thanks,

Owen Thomas
Berthoud, CO28673

Owen, first, welcome to the forum. Second, your back flow preventer is probably installed backward. Third, do a search above and dozens of posts will come up. And last but not least, start a new post with " Black tank flush does not work" as the header and answers will be forthcoming. I promise!

[travelin texans]

I have a 2017 Keystone Hideout. Hooked up hose to the trailer and open Black tank and no water flowed into the black tank. The valve under the sink shows direction of water, but do not know what direction it should go. Can anyone help? Not sure if the picture i attached worked right.


Thanks,

Owen Thomas
Berthoud, CO28673

If you're not getting flow with this way turn it around (takes about 2 minutes), then if no flow something else is the issue.

[owenandkathy]

Thanks for the messages. I did turn the valve around, and still no water into the tank. There was water to the valve both ways i installed. Can the valve be bad? Is there a way to know that, other then replace? Notanlines, i did try to start a new thread, but could not figure out how to do it. When i am in Keystone Tech Forums, i do not see anyway to start a new thread.

[notanlines]

Above and on the left click on "Forum." Scroll down and click on "Repairs and Maintenance." Click on "New post." You'll be home free.

[JRTJH]

Thanks for the messages. I did turn the valve around, and still no water into the tank. There was water to the valve both ways i installed. Can the valve be bad? Is there a way to know that, other then replace? Notanlines, i did try to start a new thread, but could not figure out how to do it. When i am in Keystone Tech Forums, i do not see anyway to start a new thread.

There is no way to "start a new thread" in the Keystone Tech Forums category. You can't start a thread in any of the "blue banner sub group headers". That is a "thread category header" and not a place where any threads are started. Choose any of the sub sections under that heading and you'll see the "NEW THREAD" button on the top left corner, just above the first thread title.

If you do start a new thread, please look over ALL the forum sections and start the thread in the section most applicable to the topic. It does little good for anyone if you start a thread about your black tank in the TOWING section (as an example).... Do a little "thinking about where it would fit best" and you'll likely get much better results in responses....

[HRoper]

When I dump my black tank, then flush, the trailer fills with the most noxious sewer odour. I’ve had many RVs and I never had this problem. I do use chemicals and add water but this almost unbearable. Could it be a plugged vent? Any help please.

[sonofcy]

When I dump my black tank, then flush, the trailer fills with the most noxious sewer odour. I’ve had many RVs and I never had this problem. I do use chemicals and add water but this almost unbearable. Could it be a plugged vent? Any help please.

I hear this a lot. I never get a whiff. I never use chemicals or anything, reason is the stuff isn't in there long enough for most things to work. I even have the bathroom MaxxFan running in exhaust mode and when I flush still no smell. I do know my vent is open as I had a reason to check it with a hose from the roof.

[HRoper]

It’s the worst when tank is first emptied but gets progressively better. Haven’t had this trailer very long, don’t know what the previous owners used.

[HRoper]

What is the best way to check for a blocked vent?

[flybouy]

If the vent was blocked it wouldn't drain properly. It would "chug-a-lug" as air would have to enter thru the drain hose. Think of taking a gallon jug and turning it upside down to pour out the contents.

[sonofcy]

What is the best way to check for a blocked vent?

Go up on the roof with a water hose. Turn it on slow and let it run while someone down below watches the clear elbow to see if water is coming out. If you don't have a clear elbow just wait a few minutes and if the water doesn't come up the vent it is open. BTW, the ONLY place I get a smell is on the roof from the vents!

[HRoper]

So... if the vent is ok, any other suggestions as to what would create such a smell inside the RV?

[sonofcy]

So... if the vent is ok, any other suggestions as to what would create such a smell inside the RV?

If you do NOT have real P traps, then maybe the Hepvo valve needs replacement. Also, it doesn't hurt to put a trap in the sewer hose. I do that by letting the hose go to the ground right off the pipe, and then it goes up to the hose holder. This way there is always water in the hose so campground sewer gas cannot get back up the hose. Of course, black is closed, and grey may or may not be open when camping.