Community Forums

G Man · 01-03-2015, 03:48 PM

Hello All!
We are new to RV ing, and am wondering if anyone has had any experience with UNIQUE Natural Products, their RV DIGEST IT Holding Tank Treatment? They claim in digests all brands of toilet paper, cleans sensors, made in the USA, is inexpensive, unclogs tanks overnight, contains no Formaldehyde, destroys odors causing pollutants, and liquefies solids in the holding tank.
We are environmentally aware, or at least try to be, and if this product is good, then we would use it.
Does anyone have any direct experience with this? If not, what is the most environmentally friendly way to take care of our holding tanks?
Thanks all for all your help!
G Man

dons2346 · 01-03-2015, 03:57 PM

Water, and lots of it. You don't need any fancy chemicals, just water

GaryKD · 01-03-2015, 04:30 PM

Hi G Man,
Thetford has this Search - thetford holding tank chemical - Camping World
Look for the ECO Smart brand. Comes in packets and different size liquid bottles. The liquid works as advertised.

EMD_Driver · 01-03-2015, 04:31 PM

When we bought our previous fifth wheel, none of the tank sensors were working. A friend suggested 5 Star Happy Camper and gave us a sample. I tried it and couldn't believe how much "Stuff" had been in the holding tanks. The day before, I had flushed the tanks, to the best of my ability and the water was coming out of both the black and gray tanks clear. After the treatment, lots of gunk came out of both tanks. It also had my tank sensors working.

Within two treatments, I also had no more offensive odors coming from the toilet.

Since this, as well as the RV Digest it are chemical-free, They eliminate odors. They don't mask them.

As dons2346 stated above, lots of water is needed. Even if you decided to use a holding tank treatment.

I priced both of the above products and found that the RV Digest it was $42.95 a gallon. That will give you 32-4oz treatments. The 5 Star Happy Camper is $39.00 for 64oz of powder. That gives you twice the amount of treatments, for less money. The Happy Camper is also a powder, that comes with a 1oz scoop. To me, it is much easier to store and use..

Hope this helps you out...

MSHappyCampers · 01-03-2015, 05:00 PM

We highly recommend Happy Camper tank treatment (no connection). We've been using it for 12 years and wouldn't use anything else!

Cat320 · 01-03-2015, 05:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dons2346

Water, and lots of it. You don't need any fancy chemicals, just water

Agree. Chemicals are great money makers for the manufacturers and are not needed.

lanerd · 01-03-2015, 06:03 PM

Pretty close to the same answers you got on rv.net. As I mentioned over there, tank chemicals are really not needed as water will do just fine. I believe Old Biscuit mentioned to do a short flush with pee and fill the toilet (at least half way) with water before flushing poop. Once you get ready to dump the black tank, using the tank rinse feature, add more water to the tank (at least 2/3rds full) prior to dumping.

Black tank additives are just $$ in the mfg'ers pocket. Try just using water first and see how it works out for you.

Good luck

Ron

Gary RVRoamer · 01-04-2015, 08:08 AM

That product is hardly "unique" either. There are numerous enzyme based aids for tissue and waste reduction available, some specifically for RVs and others for septic systems and sewer lines. If you feel you must have something (I don't), use one of the inexpensive generic enzyme products. Or some plain old yeast.

TeJay · 01-04-2015, 08:28 AM

We've had 3 TT's and now on the third MH and have never had any issue with any of them until last month. We have a dump at the house where we park so we always leave the last CG with a mixture of a 1/2 cup liquid detergent, some calgon water softener and a few gallons of water. That sloshes around to rid the tanks of stuck stuff. We may take 2-3 days to get home so it is in there for a time.

That has worked for us until last month. After a few days at the CG I noticed that the pot was somewhat backing up. For two days I tried adding a lot of water then flushing but nothing worked. Then I checked the TP that the DW thought was good to go in the tanks and it wasn't. You all know the TP test. Put a few sheets of TP in a glass of water, shake vigorously for 15 seconds. If it is dissolved it's OK to use in the pot. This stuff didn't dissolve after shaking for 5 minutes. After 2-3 days of using the pot it had accumulated at the bottom of the pot drop and it took a long hard ride home to get it to break down.

I really don't know if the enzyme stuff will break up bad TP. I'm inclined to keep using what we've done. It makes sense and is not expensive. Detergent makes water wetter and the softener makes everything very slippery.

TeJay

hal1phx · 01-04-2015, 09:35 AM

We've only used the "blue stuff" that was provided by the PO in the black tank ... and only when closed up traveling .... but have noticed some oder coming up through the washer drain pipe at times .... could use some recommendations for that ....
we're hooked up most of the time and do a flush of the system(s) once a month or so.
Both sensors (black & gray) seem to be working .... however the fresh is not .... suggestions here are also welcome ....

lanerd · 01-04-2015, 10:58 AM

Hal, you might want to put some soap down your sink drains along with some water and drive around (might as well do the black tank while you're at it). This will "wash" out the inside of your gray tank. Also, put some water in the washer and put it on spin cycle for a minute or two. This will fill the washer drain/p-trap with water.

NY Camper 86 · 01-05-2015, 08:26 AM

After asking on here a few months ago I tried Happy Camper. Was the best choice I have made! (Thanks to all who suggested it). Haven't tried it out in the summer yet but over all great product. I wouldn't switch back to anything else.

CoCoDave · 01-05-2015, 08:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MSHappyCampers

We highly recommend Happy Camper tank treatment (no connection). We've been using it for 12 years and wouldn't use anything else!

Joe,

Is this the stuff?

Thanks,

dsbear · 01-05-2015, 09:01 AM

We started using Happy Camper over the summer after a smell wouldn't leave. I used the black tank cleaner first and was amazed at what came out of my "clean" black tank. Since we started using Happy Camper at MSHappycamper's suggestion in both tanks no orders at all. I will never switch.