Chock Full o' Nuts
GA
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Joined: 02/02/2007
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We recently had experience with the dreaded "pyramid". I'm not sure just when it happened, but one day I looked down the hole and, oh crap, we've got a brown pyramid down there!And it was hard as a rock, too. We tried just about everything--breaking it up with a stick, calgon, bleach, Dawn dish soap, water, ice. Nothing was budging that stuff. It was just huge. (I know, TMI, but it was bad.) Finally, I just got some Rid-X, for septic tanks, and poured it in there. I filled the tank with two bags of ices and about 10 gallons of water, then drove home with a 1/2 full tank.
We let it just sit there for about 3 weeks. Then we took the rig out for a long weekend, after which we were "full"--time to dump. I was shocked at what came out of there. And doubly shocked when it finally ran clear--that had never happend before! I went inside and looked down the hole and glory be! I could see the bottom of the tank, pretty as a picture! Yippee!
So now we are big fans of Rid-x. I don't think we'll need it all the time and I will just use the GEO method most of the time. But I think I'll put a little Rid=x in there from time to time, just for good measure.
"Those who dwell...among the beauties and mysteries of the earth are never alone or weary of life."--Rachel Carson, environmentalist, 1956
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Poodle Power
California
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Joined: 04/26/2009
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The way I read the question I thought they wanted stuff to slide out of the toilet without sticking. Apparently I didn't read the whole question.
* This post was
edited 11/04/09 10:07am by Poodle Power *
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carp65
Sioux Falls, SD
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Joined: 08/26/2004
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We use the GEO method--after dumping put some water with "cheap" laundry
soap and Calgon--about a cup of each. Has worked for us for 5 years!
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wny_pat
Western NYS
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Poodle Power wrote:The way I read the question I thought they wanted stuff to slide out of the toilet without sticking. Apparently I didn't read the whole question. That is what I thought too.
And someone recommending Pam was ingenius I thought. Wax would help too.
Oh, one other thing. Jeanine, it is not a septic system. It is a holding tank, and that is all it is.
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GuyM
IA
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Joined: 05/07/2009
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What I do.
I make sure there are 4-5 gallons of water in the black tank to start. Each solid flush, about a bowl full of water. Each liquid flush, just enough to rinse clean. I only stay at a site for about 4-5 days and this does not fill the tank. I do not dump at the camp site, I drive home with the tank at about 3/4 full. When I get home I dump at a dump station in town. After the dump I put in a couple gallons water and dump again. A check down the hole shows a clean black bottom of the tank. I then put in 4-5 gallons water and am ready for the next trip. This seems to be working for me.
Guy
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SRT
Head of the Lakes, MN
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Joined: 02/18/2001
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We use the Calgon (water softner), Dawn liquid dish soap (NON-bacterial), and 2-3 gallons of water after dumping. Driving to the next camp will swish the mixture around the tank pretty good. Takes a few times before the sensors will read more accurately.
SRT
2000 32' HR Vacationer with Banks
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K3WE
Missouri
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wny_pat wrote:...it is not a septic system. It is a holding tank, and that is all it is.
I have this thing about strong, absolute statements...that's all it is is a holding tank?
It may not be that simple. For starters, I have heard that wireless internet in campgrounds is shaky at best, and consequently, I would worry that bacteria in the holding tanks are unable to read your comments on this discussion board and might do some activities similar to what they do in septic tanks.
It's water, so it's at least somewhat anaerobic, it's p##p, so it's party time for bacteria, and a slug of the special Rid-X bugs and I'd bet that a fair bit of the wondorous break-down mechanisms are going to happen....even though it's only a holding tank.
* This post was
edited 11/11/09 02:40pm by K3WE *
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fisher60
Plant City, Florida
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I also use Rid-X periodically. When I get home I fill about 1/3 with water and add 1 cup of Rid-X. Every week or so I check the level and add water if necessary. Tank doesn't build up solids and sensors seem to work well.
'01 Dutchman Express 28A, Master Tow, '06 Tuscon, '05 Honda VTX 1300
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inpath
Ontario
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The important thing is to NOT leave the valve open. Folks think that since you are hooked up, just leave the valves open. What happens is the liquid runs off and the solids pile up and become hard. Then you have a real problem as you lose holding tank capacity. The only solution then is to use a wand and slowly blast the mass away.
Keep the gray water valve closed also. That way, when you dump your black, you have a source of gray water to flush out your sewer line. Another trick I use is to raise some slack in the sewer hose up to above the height of the black tank's water outlet. Then with both valves open, I can slosh gray water in and out of the black water tank. Close the gray, and drain the black again. When the black water looks just gray, you can close the black tank valve and finish draining your gray.
Definitely, have some water in your toilet before using. Makes flushing a easy and eliminates virtually all stick ons in the toilet.
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ddjxsn
Fresno
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Haven't tried this but was told to drop a bag of ice through toilet which scrubs the tank and melts away while you drive
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Posted:
11/23/09 08:55pm
