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Old 08-16-2018, 08:10 PM   #41
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By supplying oxygen to the holding tank you are not treating the waste but rather stopping it from smelling until you can get it pumped out. It is still hazardous waste but it just doesn’t smell. The Groco Sweetank and a similar homemade system do work. Really well.
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Old 08-16-2018, 08:41 PM   #42
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We have the Bacchus aquarium pump, Groco sweet tank and Noflex Digestor. All are about getting oxygen in the blackwater to promote aerobic bacteria? Two mechanical systems to pump air and one chemical additive to oxidize the waste? Guessing peroxide, Bronstead acid?

None of that is treating or preserving your tank contents, it's only creating the aerobic environment in the tank that prevents odor from being created. However, without knowing what chemical product you're also adding, I don't know whether it's helping or counteracting. I have no idea what Bronstead acid is or does, even after googling it and coming up with a dozen sites discussing it. To my knowledge there is no tank product that uses it.

I remember talking to a wastewater guy years ago who was headed to take a test. He was talking about air pumps and "bugs". Aerobic bacteria again?


Yes. Aerobic bacteria products used in aerobic conditions accelerate the rate at which organic material break down aerobically, helping it to generate odorless CO2 instead of toxic--and stinking--hydrogen sulfide and sulfur dioxide and also methane, which is flammable but odorless.

Are we turning the holding tank into a sewage treatment plant or just doing a different approach to preserving sewage until we can dump it?

You're neither treating--killing bacteria unless the chemical you're adding is doing so--nor preserving your tank contents. You're only creating conditions in the tank that prevent odor from being created.

So what is the blue stuff for RV tanks? Is it still formaldehyde? It's a preservative? That's going to kill bacteria to prevent hydrogen sulfide formation?

Formaldehyde, gluteraldehyde and quanternary ammonium compound are the the most commonly used active ingredient in chemical tank products. Most but not all of 'em are blue. They are not preservatives. They seek to eliminate odor by killing the anaerobic bacteria that generates it AFTER they've created it instead of PREVENTING odor from being generated by oxygenating the tank contents.

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It's available from Amazon in both kindle (you don't have to have a Kindle device, only the kindle app on your phone or tablet) and hard copy versions. See link in my signature below.

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Old 08-17-2018, 09:34 AM   #43
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For those of us new to the forum, what might "KO" be?
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Old 08-17-2018, 10:12 AM   #44
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Raritan K.O. is a bio-active (live aerobic bacteria) holding tank product. It works well in tanks that are sufficiently well vented to provide the oxygen it needs...not so well in anaerobic conditions.


Fwiw, it's part of the product line that my own company developed, that I sold to Raritan in 1999.


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Old 09-13-2018, 06:14 PM   #45
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Can't find a way to PM

Hi Peggy,
I would love a copy of your "Vacuflush 101" piece, but I can't seem to send you a PM? According to the TF website, there should be a "button" with your post that says "Email", but I can't see anything like that. I tried to check out your 'profile" and there was no link to PM you. You could send the article to "firehoser75@hotmail.com"

Thanks in advance,
Tom


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And btw... Despite Dometic/SeaLand's claim to the contrary, 1 pint of water is not nearly enough to rinse waste out of the hoses and pump. At least 90% of VacuFlush problems are a result of using too little water.

Always leave the pedal down at least 3 full seconds following urine only...always add about half a bowl of water ahead of solid waste and leave the pedal down 7-10 seconds to rinse the system behind the flush.

I've written piece I call "VacuFlush 101" that explains how the system works (an amazing number of owners think they know, but don't) and how to prevent problems. If you'll send me a PM that includes your email address (no way to attach anything to a PM), I'll send it to you (and to anyone else who'd like to have it.).



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Old 09-13-2018, 09:21 PM   #46
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The info you requested should already be in your inbox.


To send a PM, you only need to click on the poster's name below his/her photo at the upper left of his/her post. A menu will drop down that includes "send a private message..." Unfortunately, unlike its sister site cruisers.com, trawlerforum.com doesn't also include the ability to send an email instead. I REALLY wish it did, 'cuz email makes conversation sooo much easier!


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Old 07-07-2019, 07:24 PM   #47
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Can you please email the vacuflush 101? Adeck@me.com
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Old 07-13-2019, 09:37 AM   #48
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Based on experience on my boat and friends boats a smelly toilet most of the time is coming from the walls of a raw water intake hose. Thus a toilet which is flushed every day usually never smells and placing the intake hose in a mild vinegar solutuon and flushing the unit several times removes the smell.
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Old 07-13-2019, 09:46 AM   #49
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VacuFlush isn't a raw water a toilet...it uses onboard pressurized fresh water.



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Old 07-13-2019, 09:57 AM   #50
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Can you please email the vacuflush 101? Adeck@me.com

Hi Adam...I see you've just joined our merry little band..welcome aboard!


I don't know why I didn't see your post till today, but now that I have, the info you requested should be in your inbox now.



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Old 07-13-2019, 10:01 AM   #51
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Run a white wet rag down your sewage line from the head to the holding tank.
Then if you smell the rag and have a strong sewage smell on it, you hoses need to be replaced.
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Old 07-13-2019, 10:11 AM   #52
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Quote:
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Run a white wet rag down your sewage line from the head to the holding tank.
Then if you smell the rag and have a strong sewage smell on it, you hoses need to be replaced.

to clarify you meant to say the outside of the hoses.. the way you wrote it a unsuspecting newbee might read that as on the inside of the hose.. I guarantee it would have a " head" smell then


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Old 07-13-2019, 10:17 AM   #53
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I didn't think anyone could be that dumb, but you never know!
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Old 07-13-2019, 11:51 AM   #54
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Before jumping into a thread with advice, it's always a good idea to check the date of the first post to any thread and also how many replies it's already had (see the # in the right corner of the blue band at the top of the last one) and even scroll through 'em 'cuz there's usually a lot of useful info in a lot of 'em.


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Old 07-13-2019, 12:15 PM   #55
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Didn't mean to step on you toes.
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Old 07-13-2019, 12:33 PM   #56
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You didn't. Just thought it was worth mentioning I just saw that you're a relative newcomer too...glad to have you!


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Old 07-13-2019, 06:03 PM   #57
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Well, since the OP posted this August 2018- I hope he got it solved ;-)
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Old 08-09-2019, 03:58 PM   #58
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Smile vacu flush problems but no responces yet

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You didn't. Just thought it was worth mentioning I just saw that you're a relative newcomer too...glad to have you!


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Old 08-09-2019, 07:36 PM   #59
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I would try the Noflex, or some other holding tank chemical, before major surgery.
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Old 08-09-2019, 08:47 PM   #60
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I would try the Noflex, or some other holding tank chemical, before major surgery.

59 posts into this thread that originated a year ago, I have no idea whose problem your advice is intended to solve....or even if there is a newer one buried somewhere in it.


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