Toilet Holding Tank chemicals??

[GSP]

Just got a nice used 5th wheel. I dont know anything about what to put in the Toilet holding tank.

I was looking at he toilet stuff at Wallmart.

Bottles liquid or little dry powder bags which works beter?

Is that all you do is put a little powder bag or 8oz of liquid? Is that what makes the water blue . How much water to you put in to start?

Is that it or is there beter cheaper toilet tank chemical?

[GSP]

Just got a nice used 5th wheel. I dont know anything about what to put in the Toilet holding tank.

I was looking at he toilet stuff at Wallmart.

Bottles liquid or little dry powder bags which works beter?

Is that all you do is put a little powder bag or 8oz of liquid? Is that what makes the water blue . How much water to you put in to start?

Is that it or is there beter cheaper toilet tank chemical?

[RV Wizard]

GSP, you can click on the "find" button and type in this topic for a list of past post on this subject. We use an enzime type incredient to break down solids. Many use Ridex. Whatever, don't use the type with formaldyhides.

[GSP]

I see some labels say no formaldyhides. What is bad about formaldyhides? What is good about formaldyhides and what does it do?

What is Ridex? Does walmart sell it?

[camper1b]

You will get as many different opinions as you get replys. So, with that in mind, here's mine.....

The blue stuff usually contains formaldehyde which does a very good job of keeping the smell down. Formaldehyde, however, is extremely toxic and it works by killing everything in your tank (all the smell producing bacteria). That's why it's used as a preservative. It is, however, toxic and probably not a good thing to be dumping down septic systems, (it kills the good bacteria, too). Anyway, what to do...

I use nothing! Ridex is OK but, unless you are going to leave stuff in your tanks for weeks, it won't have time to do anything.

The best solution is to use lots of water when flushing and dumping, dump when the tank is at least half full and dump often (adding more water to get the volume if needed). You can put in a non-form. containing deoderant if you're so inclined but it's really not necessary if you do a good job of tank management.

2 other hints.....
Add a clear 45 degree elbow at the end of your sewer pipe where your hose connects. It allows you to see what's coming out.
Add a Qucikie Flush to your tank. It allows you to fluch the inside of the tank after you dump to get it good and clean.

Hope this helps.

[Captain Bud]

Good Info, camper1b, good reccommendations...

[GSP]

Well ok, Ill just get some of those powder throw in packets at walmart,same as the liguid. Says no formaldehyde, I think it said enzymes to break down solids.

I had a Lance camper for many years and never used the toilet.

I heard ridex is for inground septic tanks.

[bthomforde]

Here's a great thread on another forum about chemicals, the moderator used to own a company that made chemicals but has since retired, http://tinyurl.com/77y99

[camper1b]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by bthomforde:
Here's a great thread on another forum about chemicals, the moderator used to own a company that made chemicals but has since retired, http://tinyurl.com/77y99 </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Yep. That is a good thread. I remember reading Mike's comments for years over in rec.outdoors.rv-travel (I think he was RVChem). He was chastised there often for hawking his products on a non-commercial forum but he made some very excellent points and really got me thinking of this "natural" way of keeping holding tanks clean. (I had been using formaldehyde-based stuff). I never bought his products but I certainly would have if I were having a problem. I have found, (at least for us), that lots of water and my Quickie Flush keep everything clean and smell free.

[Camping Dutchman]

I prefer the Thetford chemicals, those bio chemicals couldn'y win the battle with my odor

[full-timer]

Never use anything but lots of water. Never have an odor problem. I use to use the chemicals and always had a problem with odors.

Joe

An Indian and a Gypsy