Black Tank Additives

[dannyl]

I have searched and searched for forums about what you guys are adding to your black tanks to help clean out the tanks.
I remember some used water softeners, others pinesol, etc.
I don't get to dump at most places I camp until I'm ready to leave, usually four to five days.
Thanks for all the help you guys have been.

[Mrs. CountryGuy]

Calgon, water softener, here is a URL

http://www.homesolutionsnews.us/calgon/

Some use PineSol, however, for this ole gal, who cannot stand the smell of that stuff, well, that says it all, eh?? Another fine personal choice item.

[racerjoe]

We use Thetford products. Never had problems so far holding for 4-5 days at a time. We also have done 3 weekends in a row,leaving trailer on site each week, and dumping when we left. We would add a little into tank when leaving, seemed to work fine.

[jretz]

We have used Happycamper for the last couple of years and have been very satisfied, no odor at all. Other products just seem to cover up odor with some other smell. www.5starhappycamper.com

[Rondo]

Jim or Carolyn- Do you order the Happy Camper direct or do you buy it at a dealer or store somewhere? Sounds like the stuff I've been looking for. It says in the ad that you can use regular household toilet tissue-- do you do this or use the special camper stuff? Sorry, hope this doesn't sound personal!

[Mrs. CountryGuy]

On the tp issue, a few of us gals were chatting about that the other day, we ended up doing the glass of water/break down test. One brand, White Cloud single ply, broke up FAST! the other brand, the Special RV kind, FLUNKED the test, all it did was blob up.

Read Icehouse's long thread on this, along with freezing temps in Alaska, it was quite the story.

[bncinwv]

I have used TST's Orange Power for years. It is on the shelf at Wal-Mart so is readily available, it is formaldehyde-free so the environmental concerns should be minimized. Keep in mind we are not full-timers so this in no way is meant to be offered as a cure-all, but is offered for information purposes only since it is what we use and we do not have issues with smells in the rig.
Bingo
On edit: and Scott's single ply

[racerjoe]

We use scotts,single ply. we get it at Sams club. Says it is safe for septic tanks also, breaks up fine. Never have used Rv type.

[exav8tr]

We use Happy Camper and Thetford 2 ply tissue, breaks up fine.

[TLightning]

We use Calgon in the black tank. As for TP...the following all pass the 'disolve in a glass' test: Scott Single Ply, Scott 1000, and Angel Soft.

[Exnavydiver]

We have been using Eco-Save for the past year and love it. We use the concentrate with the odor enhancement. Been using the same Qt for 4 months and still have a third left. Here is the link http://www.eco-save.com/products-frame.html We also use Scott extra soft mega rolls and the paper breaks up very fast and the rolls last four times as long as the Thetford junk... Dave and Betsy

[richfaa]

If you think about it the bacteria/enzyme products such as above or others are what should be used in the holding tanks, Black and Grey. This is how the home septic systems work.Rid X is designed for use in home septic systems and is slow acting,The products designed for Rv's are fast acting and work very well. Calgon or any fabric softener will help with the oder control. We have been using the enzyme stuff purchased from our local Rv store for a very long time with cheap fabric softener and dump every 3 days or so.. Don't forget the galley tank. It gets nasty down there.

[indy roadrunner]

Also don't forget the most important additive......water. And lots of it. Keeps things moving if you know what I mean.

[Glenn and Lorraine]

Scott tissue exclusively. Got a 4 pack of the RV tissue as a door prize last year and still liked the Scott a lot better.
As far as tank additives, I guess I am the exception to the rule. I use NO additives in any of the 3 tanks. Been fulltiming for over 4 1/2 years and, with the exception of when dumping, I have never had any sewer odors NEVER.
Yes, my gauges don't work but after 4 1/2 years and many dumping repetitions I know exactly when to dump. The only purpase I see for those gauges is to check the level of the freshwater tank and even that I sometimes question.

[richfaa]

Actually Glenn's post makes the most sense. We use the products listed in our above post...when we use them...which is not all the time.We are set up here in Florida for 4 months with all hookups. We keep all tank valves closed of course. There are just the two of us and we do not skimp on water in the kitchen or shower or black tank We pull the gray and galley handles every morning. We dump the black tanks every three days. We "normally" use no additives in any tank but will use the enzyme product 1 or 2 times a month in all tanks.It does help..It takes some experimentation...over time we learn what is the best way to do things.