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12-13-2017, 01:12 PM
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#1
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Guru
City: Aventura FL
Vessel Name: Kinja
Vessel Model: American Tug 34 #116 2008
Join Date: Oct 2017
Posts: 10,595
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Sanitary tank
Do folks use the 'blue stuff' in the sanitary tank to keep things in suspension?
Does it really work?
Which toilet paper?
To answer my own questions, Yes, I add the blue stuff after each time my tank is pumped "dry" or pump to sea.
I use the toilet paper from West Marine.
Now, I hope for more answers and ideally some comments.
Thank you.
__________________
Two days out the hospital after a week in the hospital because of a significant heart attack.
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12-13-2017, 03:01 PM
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#2
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TF Site Team
City: California Delta
Vessel Name: FlyWright
Vessel Model: 1977 Marshall Californian 34 LRC
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 13,728
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Yes, I use the blue stuff and rely on simple Scott single ply paper purchased at any grocery store nearby. A Jabsco engineer recommended this TP to me and I agree with his findings...it's the same as the expensive West Marine or other brands labelled for RV or marine use.
I doubt the blue stuff does much for keeping particles in suspension but it keeps the odors at bay until the next pumpout. YMMV
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12-13-2017, 03:22 PM
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#3
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Guru
City: La Conner Wa.
Vessel Name: Sea Fever
Vessel Model: Defever 49 RPH
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 877
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Research a product called Noflex. Single or 2 ply paper as long as the ply's are not glued together.
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12-13-2017, 03:26 PM
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#4
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TF Site Team
City: Westerly, RI
Vessel Name: N/A
Vessel Model: 1999 Mainship 350 Trawler
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 4,154
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I use Sealand (Dometic) brand 2-ply Marine/Rv toilet paper. I don't care what Chandler I purchase it from. 1 ply vs two ply....I'm going to use the same amount. 2 ply means I need to peel less of the roll to the get the same amount of 'foldage/wadage' density. More accuratly I roll of twice as much per foot of material rolled off. I honestly think it works out to the same amount of material in the long run.
(I re-read above and I'm clarifying...1 foot of 2ply vs 2 feet of 1 ply is the same amount of TP).
I use the Sealand (Dometic) MAx Control Advanced Holding tank deoderizer. It is reported to breakdown waste, keep tanks and lines clean, and reduce odors. Again, I don't care which chandler I purchase from.
Take a wad of household toilet paper and dunk it into a bucket of water. See how long it takes to disintegrate.
Now do the same with Marine/RV TP. Which dissolves faster?
I use whatever breaks down the fastest in my marine plumbing. I've had very good luck with the Sealand products.
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12-13-2017, 03:29 PM
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#5
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Guru
City: North Carolina for now
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 6,348
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IMO after living aboard several years, just buy the septic safe Scott's stuff from Sam's, Costco, wherever. That's all the "marine" paper is from what I could determine by briefly having both on board. We had Vacuflush toilets, so freshwater flush
Never saw the need for treating the tank, just made sure it was well vented. I suppose YMMV if saltwater flush.
__________________
George
"There's the Right Way, the Wrong Way, and what some guy says he's gotten away with"
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12-13-2017, 03:30 PM
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#6
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Guru
City: Aventura FL
Vessel Name: Kinja
Vessel Model: American Tug 34 #116 2008
Join Date: Oct 2017
Posts: 10,595
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Russell Clifton
Research a product called Noflex. Single or 2 ply paper as long as the ply's are not glued together.
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Good think Gillette doesn't make the TP or we would suffer through the philosophy, like their products, the more blades the better. They would produce 3 or 4 ply TP. SMIRK
I have never found single ply at Publix
__________________
Two days out the hospital after a week in the hospital because of a significant heart attack.
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12-13-2017, 03:31 PM
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#7
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Guru
City: Gig Harbor
Vessel Name: Kinship
Vessel Model: North Pacific 43
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 9,046
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Noflex is great. If you have plenty of O2 in the tank then you can use Raritan KO. I also find that Odorlos is very good.
I am currently using Noflex and it has worked the best in my inadequately vented tank. I strongly suggest rinsing your tank a couple times after each pump out.
I am using a quilted two-ply TP by Cottonelle (sp?). I did a test of it in a jar of water. After 20 minutes of soaking, giving the jar a quick shake resulted in nothing but milky looking water.
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12-13-2017, 03:50 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
City: Albany, N.Y.
Vessel Name: Tranquility
Vessel Model: Trojan F32
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 116
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I have been using Noflex for a number of years and I use 2 ply Berkley Jensen TP from BJ's or Scotts from the grocery store. Pretty much any 2 ply will be fine.
A good test with TP is put a few sheets in a glass of water and shake it up, if it falls apart really fast it is good to use on a boat or RV.
I have never had a clogged up line and after starting with Noflex have no odors.
Marine TP is a waste of money.
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12-13-2017, 05:01 PM
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#9
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Guru
City: Sydney
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 1,646
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We have used blue stuff green stuff Noflex expensive and hard to get here in Ozz and for the last 8 months we use that cheap concentrated fabric softener that's in a plastic tube about 200ml which you mix with 2 liters of water .It has been very good so far It coat about $1 and use one a week
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12-13-2017, 05:44 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
City: Washington
Join Date: Nov 2017
Posts: 468
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I use Odorlos to control odors. It's available at marine stores and RV stores or on-line.
I use single ply "Scotts" brand toilet paper from any grocery store.
It's commonly called a "holding tank" not a "sanitary tank".
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12-13-2017, 08:06 PM
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#11
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Guru
City: Stuart FL
Vessel Name: Lucky Lucky
Vessel Model: Pacific Mariner 65
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 2,759
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Scott makes RV/marine tp that is available from Amazon and it's very inexpensive. Saw it once in a Walmart as well.
__________________
Howard
Lucky Lucky
Stuart, FL
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12-14-2017, 12:57 AM
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#12
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Guru
City: Seattle
Vessel Name: AZZURRA
Vessel Model: Ocean Alexander 54
Join Date: Aug 2017
Posts: 4,280
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For twenty years I used the West Marine single ply toilet paper and no chemicals on a liveaboard boat. Then we had to remove the tank for other maintenance. I pumped out then opened the inspection cap to flush the tank. It was completely empty. I use a filter vent for Oder mgmt. never had a clog issue with my vacuflush system.
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12-14-2017, 06:47 AM
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#13
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Guru
City: Annapolis
Vessel Name: Ranger
Vessel Model: 58' Sedan Bridge
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 7,068
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We used KO for about 15 years or maybe more... but more recently have switched to Noflex, mostly because "portion control" is easier, and maybe it turns out to be slightly less expensive because of that (less wastage). OTOH, we've never really had "head odor" issues, either before or after KO or Noflex, so mostly my goal with those is more about managing sludge build-up inside the holding tank.
Our preferred TP is Quilted Northern 2-ply. Charmin 2-ply if we must. No single-ply; sandpaper would be slightly more comfortable.
Believe there's another factor involved: the toilet and it's flushing mechanism. Ours is an electric Jabsco Quiet Flush freshwater unit and the macerator acts like it'll process 2x4s if asked to do so. Maybe anything that won't wrap around the axle, like cloth or something...
Anyway, the specific flushing mechanism is perhaps why some can use 2-ply papers and some shouldn't.
-Chris
__________________
Chesapeake Bay, USA
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12-14-2017, 07:15 AM
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#14
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Guru
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 22,553
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The "blue stuff" is a poison that kills enough of the bugs that the waste tank wont stink.
This is OK to dump in a municipal sewerage , but very hard of a smaller septic system , where the poison kills what is happening in the septic tank, and eventually raw waste floods the field , requiring it replacement .
The use of blue goo in boats and RV is only needed for a poorly set up waste system.
By adding ventilation , say 2 inch lines and vent fitting, the stench is gone.
On eurocharter boats $10,000 a night+ they use a tiny aquarium sized air pump fed to the tank bottom to get rid of the stench of dozens of guests.
Blue goo should only be a last resort till the system is fixed.
One reason pump out stations are hard to find is blue goo failing septic systems , which are expensive to replace.
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12-14-2017, 07:18 AM
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#15
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Guru
City: Looking
Vessel Name: --
Vessel Model: Between boats
Join Date: Aug 2017
Posts: 1,190
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Quote:
Originally Posted by FF
The "blue stuff" is a poison that kills enough of the bugs that the waste tank wont stink.
This is OK to dump in a municipal sewerage , but very hard of a smaller septic system , where the poison kills what is happening in the septic tank, and eventually raw waste floods the field , requiring it replacement .
The use of blue goo in boats and RV is only needed for a poorly set up waste system.
By adding ventilation , say 2 inch lines and vent fitting, the stench is gone.
On eurocharter boats $10,000 a night+ they use a tiny aquarium sized air pump fed to the tank bottom to get rid of the stench of dozens of guests.
Blue goo should only be a last resort till the system is fixed.
One reason pump out stations are hard to find is blue goo failing septic systems , which are expensive to replace.
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+1
Air, air, and more air (circulation).
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12-14-2017, 08:34 AM
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#16
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TF Site Team
City: Westerly, RI
Vessel Name: N/A
Vessel Model: 1999 Mainship 350 Trawler
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 4,154
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Does Peggie Hall frequent this site? I know she is active on the sister site "Cruisers Forum". I have her book "Get Rid of Boat Odors" on my Christmas list. It would be interested in hearing her take on this thread.
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12-14-2017, 08:42 AM
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#17
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Guru
City: Mississippi
Vessel Name: ADAGIO
Vessel Model: CHB Present 42 Sundeck
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 919
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Me thinks that Peggy (Head Mistress) would say fresh water flush, air, air and more air in the holding tank, plus Noflex or something similar to promote good bug growth
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12-14-2017, 08:48 AM
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#18
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Guru
City: Chicago/Montrose Harbor
Vessel Name: Sea Jay
Vessel Model: Non Trawler ;-) Ask me if it matters LOL
Join Date: Jun 2016
Posts: 512
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Shrew
Does Peggie Hall frequent this site? I know she is active on the sister site "Cruisers Forum". I have her book "Get Rid of Boat Odors" on my Christmas list. It would be interested in hearing her take on this thread.
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Peggie has “Goddess” status on this site as well.
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12-14-2017, 08:55 AM
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#19
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Senior Member
City: Alexander
Join Date: Aug 2017
Posts: 152
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Once a year, one cup joy dish detergent, fill tank half full with salt water, go for a spin in some choppy water, flush. Super clean. Used to do it to shrimp boat fuel tanks to before going inside to weld leaks. Shiny shiny.
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