Community Forums

Cat320 · 06-20-2022, 12:01 PM

Just water for us too. Sometimes I'll add some Calgon bath oil beads to make the sides of the tank more slippery.

twogypsies · 06-20-2022, 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by inthepines

When I haul the camper with any kind of load the smell seeps into the camper with mine. I figured it was normal. Sitting still there isn't ever a smell.

Do you have ceiling vents open? Windows? There's toilet vent on your roof. That's where the smell can be sucked in. Also, the toilet seal needs to be tight.

TexasJack · 06-20-2022, 01:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wolfe10

Yup, you are NOT going to make the gray or black tank "smell good".

If the smell gets into the RV, find out WHY and fix it!

THIS!!
In copious quantity. Poo is water soluble.
Also can and should be used in traps under sinks, especially during storage. with antifreeze when required.

LMHS · 06-20-2022, 02:21 PM

In the 40+ years of using RV and Portable toilets, I have only used water (you need twice as much water for poop as you do pee, sorry but it's true) and occasionally, I use a cheap store brand automatic dishwasher detergent down the black and grey tanks. But if you want to use a chemical, try the Camco TST Orange scented stuff. I buy it and dribble a little into the little outside trash can we use for the bags of dog poop (always pick up and often no place to toss a bag of smelly dog poop until we hit a campground or find roadside dumpster station). It helps to keep the smell down and the flies away.

dizcom · 06-20-2022, 02:31 PM

Any of them. They’re all about the same. Dump when you need to. Eat more fiber. You’ll use less paper and have fewer problems.

ArtJoyce · 06-20-2022, 02:36 PM

We do happy camper. Now when I had the Thetford recirculating toilet in one of our campers. I would only use the Thetford original, all others would stink around day 3.

So I think the best for smell is the Thetford's original.

Ray,IN · 06-20-2022, 03:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gunnerboy

Wondering what everyone has the best luck with for the holding tanks?
We liked the Aqua chem but it seems they changed the formula and now not so good ��

H20, straight, no dilution, you can't use too much but as long as all solids are covered there seldom is unpleasant odors; least-ways that has worked for us since 1995.

momdoc · 06-20-2022, 06:04 PM

We have been using Happy Camper for 4 years and never have had a problem with it. Yes it is expensive but worth it. AND use lots of water when you flush.

TXiceman · 06-20-2022, 06:07 PM

We have settled on Odorlos and mucha aqua to work for us.

Ken

f365gt4 · 06-21-2022, 03:25 PM

Never had a problem in 20 yrs, just use the campgrounds restroom

dbircky · 06-21-2022, 05:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by f365gt4

Never had a problem in 20 yrs, just use the campgrounds restroom

That’s difficult when heading to the campground. Can’t hold it that long…

Simple Green. Scientifically measure two or three glugs into both gray and black tanks and a few gallons of water before heading out. It’s a bio safe degreaser. Don’t empty either tank until they are over 3/4 full.

NRR · 06-21-2022, 06:41 PM

Only lots of water, some dish soap and some Calgon if available.

¾ of a tank rolling down the road for a day. Then emptying it works for me since 2014.

You can pass on all but the water if needed.

TechWriter · 06-21-2022, 06:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by puttin

Water, water, and more water...

Not always possible or practical.

We stay at a lot of state park campgrounds which don't have sewer hookups, so you dump when you leave.

Many times there are a bunch of people waiting in line to dump their tanks. In these cases if you tried flushing your black tank, you would get a lot of un-happy campers.

Quote:

Originally Posted by momdoc

We have been using Happy Camper for 4 years and never have had a problem with it. Yes it is expensive but worth it.

Use regular bleach. It works, it's cheap.

beerdude · 06-21-2022, 07:45 PM

Not a full timer here. RV sits in fully enclosed garage when not on the road. And I tell you what, you find out real quick what does and doesn't work in a holding tank when at this home base right here, despite whether or not you emptied and flushed at the last campground.

All the standard "flavored" packs? Nope.

Aggressive enzyme additives? Avoid! Amplifies and accelerates vented odors. Lesson learned that a holding tank and septic tank are not one in the same.

Landed with Happy Campers here. RV garage has zero odors now. YMMV.

Aside from my scenario, I wholly agree with others who state that simply water is sufficient. If you are smelling odors inside the RV, that is no doubt a whole different troubleshooting effort as noted in a previous post.