Black tank treatment info

[rrffjj]

Last week I was reading thru some posts on the need for blackwater tank treatments and saw some posts on alternative treatments. One in particular that caught my eye was using water softener in the black tank to help reduce build up/residue on the sides of the tank. The only water softener I can find in stores is the salt you add to a home based softener, not a liquid to mix with water. Now, try as I may, I can't find those posts. (not sure if they were now or old posts).

If anyone knows of such a treatment, please respond and elaborate on the "water softener" as to type, where to purchase, etc.

Thanks much....

[bdpreece]

Search on Calgon

[Vegasdan]

You can use liquid calgon not powder and Dawn liquid dish soap. Some say it works.

[Izzyblueye]

I use a little Dawn after the dump with about 10-15 gal of water. The sloshing around cleans mine up just great. I have a while poly black water tank and one can see down the toilet tube and see if she is clean.

[RickO]

You can also search on "Geo Method". It might go into more detail for you.

[Hitchhiker]

There has been several recent threads on this subject, here's links to a few:

• California proposes ban on holding tank chemicals

• Money down the drain?? Holding tank chemicals

• The Geo Method / Black and Gray Water Holding Tank Maintenance

[Jimmy F]

I like to add a gallon of hot water with 2 cups of water softener like Calgon dissolved into it. The water softener makes the sides of the tank slippery and the solid waste lets go from the sides of the tanks easier. The first time I added water softener to the tanks the water coming from the black tank was actually black (not brown) and the gray tank’s water was also black (not brownish). That told me that the water softener had actually helped release what had been stuck to the interior of the tanks. I've also found that because it keeps my tanks cleaner [and the Calgon has a perfume scent] I can generally get away without adding toilet chemical.

Jimmy

[DAN L]

Quote:

Originally Posted by rrffjj Last week I was reading thru some posts on the need for blackwater tank treatments and saw some posts on alternative treatments. One in particular that caught my eye was using water softener in the black tank to help reduce build up/residue on the sides of the tank. The only water softener I can find in stores is the salt you add to a home based softener, not a liquid to mix with water. Now, try as I may, I can't find those posts. (not sure if they were now or old posts). If anyone knows of such a treatment, please respond and elaborate on the "water softener" as to type, where to purchase, etc. Thanks much....

i add 1 capful of calgon liquid water softener from wally world every time i dump my black tank.
after dumping and flushing my black tank, i add 2 cups of bleach to my gray tank and dump it.
this kinda sanitizes my stinky slinky.

[Iron Man]

I found the water softner on the isle with the clothes detergent and fabric softner. It works like others have described.

[rrffjj]

Thanks much for all the replies. Exactly the info I needed. Sure sounds like the water softener and Dawn detergent is worth a try. Now I just need to find some liquid Calgon. Wally World here doesn't carry it so will have to check other stores.
Thanks again, tons of info here.

If you try to fail and succeed, which have you done?

[wa8yxm]

NO the salt is for re-charging a resin based home water softener.. It's not softener itself (in fact it's hardener)

Calgon is found in the soap, bleach and such isle in your store

NOTE: Black treatments are greatly overrated.. I have some biological stuff I'm using up and won't replace.. I only use it when I "Boondock" or Dry camp. (Electricity only)

I have about one week's worth left

To clean the tank at end of season back when I had an end of season, and on occasions now, I dump and flush, add 1/2 cup each Calgon and Dawn dishwashing liquid, six gallons of water, and drive 50-100 miles minimum, then dump and flush again. Works well.

During the season if I get tired of the sensors always showing 2/3 full I use a home made version of the Valterra Master Blaster tank rinsing wand

I'm told an RV-Twister works well too.

The others are ..... Junk

[RickO]

Since we spend a lot of time in the desert, a water softener is a standard part of our set up. Does this mean that I shouldn't have a need for Calgon or.....?