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Bruce Henderson (Oonrahnjay) (208.34.240.80)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, September 18, 2004 - 5:21 pm: | |
In one of the threads below, it was mentioned that your black tank should be reasonably full so that the solid waste will be flushed out when you open the cleanout. Would it be worthwhile to plumb your grey tank so that you can drain your grey water through the black tank to help clean it out through the cleanout? I would think that it would be best to arrange the grey drain so that you could drain direct to the outside or through the black tank -- not ONLY the black tank. Any experience on this?
Thanks, Bruce Henderson, Wallace NC
(Please note: I did not use the word "dump" a single time in this post, OK????) |
TWO DOGS (65.177.145.178)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, September 18, 2004 - 5:33 pm: | |
yeah...after you dump black tank,if it's plumbed correctly you can douche your black tank with your gray water......(words don't bother me)
"IF" you are traveling..the road vibratins turns everything into a syrup consistancy & it dumps better than it does if you are hooked-up& stationary...there just isn't any correct way to talk about shit |
madbrit (67.136.125.195)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, September 18, 2004 - 8:10 pm: | |
Dan Rather of CBS news was seated next to little Tommy on the plane when Rather turned to the boy and said, "Let's talk, I've heard that flights go quicker if you strike up a conversation with your fellow passengers.
Little Tommy, who had just opened his book, closed it slowly, and said to Rather, "What would you like to discuss?"
"Oh, I don't know" said Rather, "How about politics? Should we keep Bush as president or elect Kerry?"
"OK" said Little Tommy, "That could be an interesting topic but let me ask you a question first.
A horse, a cow and a deer all eat grass. The same stuff. Yet a deer excretes little pellets, while a cow turns out flat pattys, and a horse excretes clumps of dried grass. Why do you think that is?"
"Jeez" said Rather, "I have no idea."
"Well then" said Little Tommy, How is it you feel qualified to discuss who should run this country when you don't know shit?" |
TWO DOGS (65.177.144.241)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, September 18, 2004 - 8:50 pm: | |
A STUDY ON ATTITUDE
they took two little boys,gave them each a shovel & shoved them into adjoinng rooms...half full of horse shit
came back an hour later...asked the first little boy how things were.......
he said:...it stinks in here & I'm bored & I want OUT ! ! !
asked the second little boy, ,who was whistleing & singing & just shoveling away....how are things
things ARE GREAT
with all this horse shit....there is BOUND to be a pony in here somewhere |
Jim Stacy (209.247.222.98)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, September 18, 2004 - 9:01 pm: | |
I have two 95 gal, long holding tanks mounted crosswise of the bay. They are connected on each end by a "Y" ending in a standard Vanterra bayonet hose connection with cap. Each outlet of each tank has a dump valve preceeding the "Y". This uses 4 slide valves with another pair optional on the end of the "Y". I find in actual use this last pair are not necessary if you have good caps.
This allows dumping the gray through the black tank to flush it. It also allows dumping from either side. Either tank can be dumped seperately from either side and the gray can be equalized with the black in an emergency. This is something I have never had to do, but it would be better than an overflow.
After 6 years of use the black tank is as clean as the gray. FWIW
Jim Stacy |
Tom Caffrey (Pvcces) (65.74.66.104)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, September 19, 2004 - 12:35 am: | |
Bruce, ours is set up that way, and it's pretty easy to use. We never seem to have any buildup problems.
I read a comment about what belongs in the balck tank. It went something along the lines of "If it hasn't been eaten, it doesn't belong in the tank.
Moderate amounts of approved toilet paper & water excepted."
We think it's a pretty good rule. It's easy to poison a tank if a person doesn't think about it. But we do use a septic tank starter in each tank and let the tanks get pretty full before dumping them.
Phred Phrannie has a real good write up on the web about tank management. It's a real eye opener about how to go wrong and how to avoid it.
For what it's worth.
Tom Caffrey PD4106-2576
Suncatcher |
John that newguy (199.232.244.218)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, September 19, 2004 - 9:07 am: | |
Bruce.. Since you initially referred to something I posted, please
allow me to add to that comment here:
One of the most popular arguments regarding "black water" holding tanks,
is the misconceived notion that it should be treated like some sort of a
septic tank. What really should be kept in mind, is that there's absolutely
no reason to get the waste totally "digested" by chemical or biological means
prior to an effort to deploy it from the tank. You don't have a "leach field"
that you're concerned with emptying it into, so what the fuss? The discharge
opening of your tank is a lot bigger than whatever you may have dumped
into it; beer cans and soda cans can fit through the opening. As long as
you do not allow the waste to enter an empty tank and build, it will not
collect into a mass on the bottom.
What is important, is the amount of liquid there is in the tank to help
float the "solid" waste and to help eject the waste from the tank.
Those that suggest leaving the grey water tank open at a campground,
forget that the waste from both sinks and shower also go down the drain.
The grey water tank valve should be kept closed until at least 1/2 full,
to insure complete draining of hair, soap, paper and food products that
would otherwise collect in the bottom of that tank.
You may read, that years back it was common for campers to eject
the grey water at roadside, and the reason for the separate grey water
tank and black water tank. I would think that anyone now, would realize
that dumping any water - black, grey or fresh, anyplace other than an
approved waste receptacle, will result in a passerby either reporting you,
or reflecting the "disgusting practice of RVrs" to anyone that will listen.
That's the one thing that can cause more legislated restrictions to all
camping and RVing. It's tough to explain what that water was.
There's no real need to have two waste tanks. In fact, it would be
favorable to have only one large tank to accommodate all waste water.
The toilet waste will be ejected more completely with all the extra water
in the tank collected from the sinks and tub helping it along.
We've used standard toilet tissue for years, and the only chemicals
we added were those to eliminate odor. When the toilet is flushed,
the ball valve opens to the entire tank. During that moment, the odors
will rise. That's life; that's camping. The sink and tub have traps and
protect you from the gases of the tank and the smell.
And like any home plumbing, you should insure that you have the
necessary venting at each drain location. If you do not, or if one is not
working properly, the draining of water may draw the water inside
a trap into the tank, leaving you with no protection from the waste
gases.
It was always my opinion, that more attention should be made to an
alarm system to notify and alert the user that the waste tank is 80% full.
Having one that would prevent more water from being dispensed,
would be ideal. Anything that would help the user know the best time
to empty the tank, would be of great value, since the most common
problem with the waste system, is having it leak or clog. Leaks may
not always be prevented, but with proper use, clogs would never exist. |
FAST FRED (4.245.230.42)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, September 19, 2004 - 9:51 am: | |
"You don't have a "leach field"
True enough ,
but the place you dump the tank may very well have a leach field.
Hence the caution to NEVER use poisons to "controll" odors.
Unfortunatly there are so many new RV folks that were sold poison , rather than told how the system works that many states are closing their road side dumping stations .
The poison destroys the septic systen it emptied into , and it gets expensive , pumping and restarting a system.
FAST FRED |
John that newguy (199.232.244.218)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, September 19, 2004 - 10:17 am: | |
Yupper! "Biodegradable and environment friendly" on the label
and we're ready to roll!
Most of the campsite operators are pushing for legislation to eliminate
any "freebees" to campers. That includes dump stations at rest areas.
There is little we can do about their lobbying and no amount of
"biological, environment friendly" solution is going to work against
that lobbying.
The notion that some added chemical is going to pollute the system
is more of a lobbying spin, than of reality. Hell, we use all sorts of
deodorants and chemicals in our home for both toilet and general
cleaning without problem. If there is any problem, it would be in
the tank. And that's resolved by having it emptied more often.
It's to my understanding, that it's an over full septic tank that allows
the solids to get into the leach field that causes the problem, not
any chemical draining into the leach field. The leach field is for the
absorption of the liquids; the tank is to separate the solids from
the liquid.
In an RV, all we have to worry about with "our system", is emptying
the tank completely. |
Earl-8-Ky (207.162.163.20)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, September 19, 2004 - 11:12 am: | |
I put a hose fitting in my black water tank,so that when I dump I can hook up a water hose and flush the black water tank. I carry a hose that is only used for that purpose. I hook it up and let the water run a little before I dump and let it run while dumping. This has allways kept my black water tank clean. Works for me. |
Rodger in WA (64.70.24.67)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, September 19, 2004 - 11:19 am: | |
I'm with John TNG on this one, having owned several sailboats and a bus with single holding tanks. Never a problem with solids accumulating in the tank. The bus tank has been in use for about 11 years now. I seldom use tank treatments and have never had odor problems with a one tank system.
But after buying my first motorhome, a 4 year old sticks and staples rig, I found that the black tank filled very quickly. Dumping water into the toilet with a 5 gal bucket, I discovered the, supposed, 50 gal. black tank held only about 20 gal. The tank was over half filled with solids. Luckily I'd had the dealer give me a 30 day warranty, because removing the tank and replacing it was an expensive project. |
Marc Bourget (209.142.38.81)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, September 20, 2004 - 9:05 am: | |
Earl,
Do you have a vacuum break on the black tank flush fitting?
I think the health codes in many jurisdictions would require such!
Onward and Upward
Marc Bourget |
Johnny (4.174.91.48)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, September 20, 2004 - 9:57 am: | |
"I put a hose fitting in my black water tank,so that when I dump I can hook up a water hose and flush the black water tank. I carry a hose that is only used for that purpose. I hook it up and let the water run a little before I dump and let it run while dumping. This has allways kept my black water tank clean. Works for me."
I plan to do the same thing. The "drain-through" would be difficult for me because my black & gray tanks will be on the same level. |
John that newguy (199.232.244.32)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, September 20, 2004 - 10:09 am: | |
Johnny...
That "vacuum break" device Marc mentioned can be also called an
anti-syphon device. They're requiring them in many areas now, to avoid
contamination of water due to the possible back wash and siphoning
action of devices used to draw fresh water from the supply.
Even though it wouldn't appear that any contamination could possibly
travel back through the hose, it apparently has in some cases. The
anti-syphon device is intended to eliminate that possibility. |
Johnny (4.174.91.48)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, September 20, 2004 - 10:21 am: | |
If you mean my clean-out hose, I don't see how, since it will be pressurized when connected, & the tank will not (drain open).
I'd guess a simple check valve would work, yes? |
John that newguy (199.232.244.32)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, September 20, 2004 - 10:56 am: | |
Yeah, probably. Maybe Marc knows the difference between the
names of these things? I do know that they're required here in Flor-a-duh,
and I had thought that it was due to the flooding at times, but was
corrected rather bluntly by a camp owner.
They seem to feel that the anti-syphon, anti-vacuum (or check valve?)
somehow manages to keep bacteria out of the main supply.
I have trouble believing that, or that contamination can travel
in that manner. I'm more cynical and with a belief that the sale
of those things and the fines levied if one isn't there, is
the real reason they require them.
In any event, it wouldn't hurt to have one installed. My tank-flush
adapter came with one. It failed the second time I used it, and
I had to quickly shut the trap to avoid more of a spill out of the
opening that anti-syphon device screwed into.
Ya' just gotta' love the RV stuff they make.
With Luck.... Best wishes |
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