Community Forums

bofisher · 05-15-2018, 09:28 PM

For full timing, how do you guys handle the black tank? When I have stayed long term, I have always kept the blank tank closed and dumped every few days. I'm curious what others have done / do. Anyone leave the black tank valve open all the time? Anything other cool process I cannot think of?

Charlie and Martha · 05-15-2018, 09:32 PM

I do the same as you but flush the tank each time I dump the tank. Never ever leave the black tank open or you will be the recipient of the dreaded "Poop Pyramid."

Clomok · 05-15-2018, 09:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bofisher

For full timing, how do you guys handle the black tank? When I have stayed long term, I have always kept the blank tank closed and dumped every few days. I'm curious what others have done / do. Anyone leave the black tank valve open all the time? Anything other cool process I cannot think of?

Keep it closed and dump it every couple days

powerboatr · 05-15-2018, 09:37 PM

yep keep it closed and dump as required.

Old-Biscuit · 05-15-2018, 10:07 PM

Ever looked down into a vault toilet/outhouse....great big huge mound of POOP and TP plied up in the middle and ALL the liquid has run to the sides/bottom

Leave your Black Tank dump valve open and you will soon be able to look down into your black tank via the toilet and see the same

Same with grey/galley tanks.
Sloughed body/skin cells, body oils, grease/oils from cooking, food debris etc go down sink/shower drains and accumulate in bottom of tank if dump valve left open

They are waste tanks........and drain under gravity
Liquid is heavy plus high volume when full gives it that WHOOSH affect when you open dump valves

Like a fast flowing river......it can carry boulders away
A slow trickle in creek can't even move a pebble

Left those tanks get FULL then ----WHOOSH!

And after dumping......add couple gallons of water back into the waste tanks so bottoms stay wet....stuff doesn't dry out and then stink

bofisher · 05-15-2018, 10:08 PM

Awesome. I'll continue to work it that way. Thanks for the replies.

sdennislee · 05-15-2018, 10:14 PM

From another post where I answered pretty much the same question

If you mean just leave them open all the time while connected thats a terrible idea. The liquids in the black tank will continually drain leaving the solids behind creating the infamous mound of poo. This mound will Harden and solidify at which point the first thought you'll have is "it would be easier to buy and RV than deal with this mess".

The liquids in the black tank are necessary to keep the solids from drying out and to carry the solids out of the tank when you dump. Let the black tank get to 2/3 full or better before dumping. This ensures sufficient liquid volume to flow the solids.

Gray tank open all the time not an issue. Just close it in time before dumping the black to allow it to accumulate some water for flushing the sewer hose. I normally close it the night before and get a couple showers worth of water in the tank."

mrgrayaz · 05-15-2018, 10:47 PM

Keep the black closed and dump it every ....3....weeks?

Its nice having big tanks.....

wingnut60 · 05-15-2018, 11:16 PM

We are making it about 10-12 days before having to go to a dump site...
Closed for black, open for grey.

bddadles · 05-16-2018, 06:47 AM

We keep the black closed and dump once a week (Saturday job). The greys stay open.

Brad

grindstone01 · 05-16-2018, 07:00 AM

I take the opposite approach and leave both the gray/black tank valves open when we have FHU's, which is about 10 months of the year. We have been doing this for 6 years now and have no bad effects to report, (except one less scheduled dumping hassle to deal with). I do take some precautions like not putting toilet paper in the tank and putting 5 gallons of soapy water in the black tank on travel days to slosh around for tank cleaning.
Some people post that it can't be done without bad results, but it works for us!!

sdennislee · 05-16-2018, 10:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by grindstone01

I take the opposite approach and leave both the gray/black tank valves open when we have FHU's, which is about 10 months of the year. We have been doing this for 6 years now and have no bad effects to report, (except one less scheduled dumping hassle to deal with). I do take some precautions like not putting toilet paper in the tank and putting 5 gallons of soapy water in the black tank on travel days to slosh around for tank cleaning.
Some people post that it can't be done without bad results, but it works for us!!

Where does the used toilet paper go???????????

Fl2GaScotts · 05-16-2018, 03:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sdennislee

Where does the used toilet paper go???????????

I want to know, but then I really don't. Reminds me of reading a post couple years ago on another forum. Full-time/extended travel couple; no #2 allowed, bath house only for that, no TP allowed, wife would place in trash bag and take out every morning so husband didn't have to deal with a "mess"