Best Holding Tank treatment.

Go.....

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007S0LDME/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1  this stuff works extremely well.

No question, Thedford's AquaKem Original is the best.  Yes, it contains formaldehyde which IS biodegradable.  Yes, it works, zero odor.

Don

No question, Thedford's AquaKem Original is the best.  Yes, it contains formaldehyde which IS biodegradable.  Yes, it works, zero odor.

Don

I also use Thetford's chemical containing formaldehyde and have been for many, many years.  BUT...I learned something from your comment.  I use Campa Chem in the powdered packets and buy from WalMart.  I did a little research and here is a reply from Thetford when someone asked about the difference in the two.  I was under the impression that Campa Chem was the only Thetford product using formaldehyde. 


"Hello,
Aqua Kem and Campa Chem are almost identical products that use almost the same formula. The Campa Chem is a more economic version of Aqua Kem and is often used in smaller products such as our Porta Potti's. Aqua Kem is a more concentrated version that is often used in RV's which have much larger holding tanks since our Aqua Kem starts working within 30 minutes. Both can be used on smaller units or in RV's however so when purchasing, it will really come down to which ever one you would like to use.

If you have additional questions, please contact us.
"

I figger that Thetford employees chemists and should know what is good and what is not good for the environment.

I'm on several RV related blogs, including Facebook, and the RV toilet seems to be the most popular subject.  On one Facebook page, I found what I thought to be some really weird ideas about what to put in the black tank.  So, I posted that I worked at a mortuary and put embalming fluid in my black water tank.  I received a couple of posts warning me of the dangers.  I thought my comment was so ridiculous that readers would see through the sarcasm, but no. 

From what I read, Happy Camper seems to be the most popular RV chemical and receives rave reviews.  For me, I will stick with Thetford.

Cheers
Barry T

During the RVing season, I simply backwash the gray water into the black tank prior to dumping.

I use the $1.69 method done once a year at the end of our RVing season.

- put one quart of bleach in each tank
- fill each tank with warm water
- open both gate valves, run the sanicon a little and cap off, then top off each tank with more warm water
- let sit for 1.5-2 hours
- drain everything
- repeat with warm water, allow to sit another 1-2 hours (to remove all bleach residue)

The tanks, tank sensors, waste gates, pipes, and sanicon system are all clean and fresh, like new.

I go the extra step and include the toilet, sinks, and shower pan, bleaching them clean at the end of the season.

It sounds like a lot of fuss, but it really is not.  I have been doing this for 14 years.  So far so good.

If We’re only going out for a short trip . 2-3 weeks I don’t use anything but water and like Ron some bleach after. Long trips lasting 3-16 weeks I use valterra pure power blue . 2 ounces is all that’s called for. Several full timers who work at campgrounds turned me on to it. Is it perfect; I’m sure it’s not, nothing is. My friends use heavy paper like charmin and using this no longer have the issues they did just using water. So I guess it works to whatever degree.

No formaldehyde so septic tanks aren’t affected. I hadn’t previously given that much consideration until campground workers pointed out most have septic systems.

I highly recommend trying RV Digest-It:
https://uniquecampingmarine.com/products/rv-digest-it-holding-tank-treatment

Many RV shops sell it, or find it on Amazon       
 https://www.amazon.com/Unique-Digest-Holding-Treatment-Treatments/dp/B07564FPHL

It does not smell, nor do the holding tanks. Even breaks down real TP! And will clean neglected tanks.
No formaldehyde or other nasty chemicals.

Just a thought.  I wonder if tilapia can survive in the black water tank?

Cheers
Barry T

Just a thought.  I wonder if tilapia can survive in the black water tank?

Cheers
Barry T

    Well then... Cheers and al that.. 

“Just a thought.  I wonder if tilapia can survive in the black water tank?“

Nah, the macerator does a lousy job of scaling and forget filleting all together!

I’ve read a lot of great reviews on happy camper. Product availability isn’t the best from what I’ve found or should say could never find in RV stores etc.. Theres  another that boaters use that’s highly recommended but my mind has decided to expel gas rather than the name of it.

I use Happy Camper and find it works well.  I have had not problem ordering it on Amazon.  It's been a while since I have had to order some.  Perhaps between COVID and the ship being stuck in the Suez canal these has been some issue trying to find it.

Ron - how do you backwash grey into black? 

Who uses fancy RV TP or just something like angel soft?

Ron - how do you backwash grey into black?

This is good practice regardless of which tank is which, but my gray tank is the smaller of the two, so it fills up before we run out of on-board fresh water.  To buy more time until dumping, I back-wash the gray water into the black tank as follows.

1) Open gray tank valve and wait 5 to 10 seconds.
2) Open black tank valve, wait another 5 to 10 seconds.
3) Close both valves.

The abundance of gray waste water levels-out between the two tanks.  Doing it in the specified order floods the black gray valve with pressurized gray waste water so when I open it, the gray rushes into the black tank.

If I opened the black tank valve first, the black waste water with it's solids would flood the sanicon and also up to the gray tank valve which is poor practice.

The gray tank water is primarily soapy water from washing dishes and people.  That extra soapy waste water in the black tank helps wash it out at the dump station.  It also helps to clean the black tank valve.