What do you use to disinfect your fresh water holding tank

[Flyfishindad]

My fresh water holding tank needs some help. The water smells bad, almost sour. Does anyone know of a good disinfectant or what the ratio is of bleach to water. Or would it be easier to go heavy on the bleach, fill the tank up, and let it set for a day or two and then drain and flush. Thanks.

[UFO Pilot]

I use peroxide to clean my water tank.

[Flyfishindad]

What is the ratio you use, or do you just use it straight?

[wa8yxm]

Bleach 1/4 cup to water five gallons. How I do it:

My tank holds 80 gallons.. I put around 40 in it then add the bleach mix, then finish filling, Let it sit a bit (about the time it takes to drink one cup of coffee... Made BEFORE you added bleach) and run it through the lines, or run it through all the lines THEN drink the coffee.. Run each faucet, both hot and cold, till you SMELL the bleach or till you can taste it (just a drop please)

Then dump. refill with fresh water, again run till the lines are clear of bleach and dump

Then fill adding 1/2 to 1 cup of baking soda to the water as you did the bleach and run till you have reason to think it's made it through all the lines. and dump

Then re-rinse with fresh water, same as before

Then fill and use.

[Bill Adams]

Go with bleach and not peroxide. 1.25 oz per gallon is about 200 PPM and no more is required to properly sanitize your fresh water tank and lines. I would also suggest about 1/2 a tank but I would then drive it a bit to slosh it around, fill the lines, let it sit, drive it again, and then dump and flush it all.

[Flyfishindad]

Thanks, I will try this tomorrow.

[RickO]

All I would add is that I've read reports which indicate that letting it sit up to 4 hours might be most effective.

Good luck.

Rick