A few comments...first to dHays
It appears you've read my books (at least one of 'em anyway)!
The procedure for back flushing the vent is easy when there is no vent in the line. While you are pumping out the holding tank, air is rushing into the tank via the vent line to replace the volume of liquids that you are evacuating. If you direct a stream of water from the hose over the opening to the vent while you are doing this, water will be sucked back down the vent line.
Or you can do it the easy way: replace the "vent" thru-hull with an open bulkhead thru-hull that you can stick a hose nozzle against to backflush the vent line every time you wash the boat. Any insect that finds its way in will just take a water slide ride into the tank.
Boat builders use the same vent thru-hulls for all tanks--fuel, water, and waste. They're actually designed with spark arresters for use on fuel tanks, and have tiny openings to keep sea water out of the fuel or water. But the very things that make 'em suitable for water and fuel make 'em the wrong choice for waste tank vents because the tiny openings don't allow the exchange of air needed to keep the tank aerobic. An open thru-hull may let sea water in, but a little water won't matter in sewage.
Next to
96kpmjmm
We are having no problems with our system. As for removing tank watch cover it is very easy, 2 seconds.
There should be a rubber o-ring on the cap, which is necessary to seal it. Repeatly removing the cap can damage it. I suggest you replace it.
It a vaccum flush system fresh water.
That explains why you're reluctant to flush TP. Too little water going through a VacuFlush will let solids and TP build up in the pump, creating a clog. Peddle should stay down at least 3 full seconds after urination, 7-10 seconds after solids and/or TP...It's also advisable to flush a full bowl of clean water through once a day if you're a liveaboard, at the end of each weekend if you're not
. If you follow that regimen, you'll have no trouble flushing TP.
I am using sealand tank deodorant.
That's why you need a filter in the vent line. Replacing your vent thru-hull as I described in my comments above to DHays and use a tank product called Odorlos
Odorlos according to directions (which is the hard part for most people) and you won't need a filter. Odorlos is a non-toxic product that works WITH nature instead of trying to kill it...the active ingredient is nitrates, which promote oxygen release from the waste in the tank, helping to keep aerobic. YOu can find it WM, but it's more widely available at RV supply stores for a LOT lower price!
As for other preventive things that i do. We always pump out or dump at a 1/2 or 3/4 of a tank. Soak and brush off probes on tank watch every season
Replace the TankWatch senders with the Profile
Profile Tank Monitors sender that goes on the outside of the tank and you'll never have to do that again. It will work with the existing TankWatch wiring. We just had a long thread on tank level indicators that should answer most of your questions about doing this.
And when pumping out, turn off water and have wife step on toilet peddle so IF vent is clogged the tank would still get air.
Let your wife take a break 'cuz there's no way the pumpout can pull air through 4 duckbill valves, the vacuum tank and the backflow preventer in the pedestal assembly.
As for putting ice in the tank this is a copy and paste from peggy.
And if TankWatch senders were too fragile to withstand being bumped by a little ice, they couldn't survive some solid waste.