Cruisers Forum
 


Reply
  This discussion is proudly sponsored by:
Please support our sponsors and let them know you heard about their products on Cruisers Forums. Advertise Here
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Rate Thread Display Modes
Old 07-10-2011, 09:03   #1
Registered User

Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 1
Holding Tank Odor . . . Help !

I know that everyone on this forum probably gets sick and tired of boat odor questions but if you all could send me some quick advice I promise not to wear you out. Now I have said all that here is my problem...

I have a new holding tank and lines in my houseboat. It is a 70 gallon tank and it is used a lot. I have a family of four with 2 small children so we are constantly pumping out.

I used Kronin four my first year with pretty good luck but then started to get a smell on the outside of the boat when it was flushed. One.. the Kronin is expensive when you are pumping out once a week and also I am curios if Kronin has time to do what it needs to do when I have to empty the tank once a week.

I put the sweet tank system in my dads boat about 10 years ago and it works wonders. That is what I would like to do soon. But until then I need to make sure I am using the right treatment.

I regretfully began using a product called TST. It works ok but is nothing but a mask. On one of my older boats I had used Odorlos and it worked great!

I have found someone here locally that carries odorlos and I want to start using it again.

So here is the question... Do I have to go to extremes to clean out the TST that has been in the tank before I start using Odorlos again?

Any input would be greatly appreciated!
Phogan
P.S ventalation seems to be adequate.
Phogan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-10-2011, 12:31   #2
Registered User
 
lorenzo b's Avatar

Join Date: May 2009
Location: Panama
Boat: Steel trawler 63' Eileen Farrell
Posts: 961
Re: Holding Tank Odor . . . Help !

I use swimming pool bleach in powder form, just a table spoon for a tank your size.
lorenzo b is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-10-2011, 13:18   #3
Senior Cruiser
 
GordMay's Avatar

Cruisers Forum Supporter

Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Thunder Bay, Ontario - 48-29N x 89-20W
Boat: (Cruiser Living On Dirt)
Posts: 49,139
Images: 241
Re: Holding Tank Odor . . . Help !

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, Phogan.
The following charts list MSDS listed component chemicals:
http://www.calarvc.com/pdf/RV_Holding_Tank_Products.pdf

FWIW: Living dockside, and pimping your tank weekly, especially if you also perform a rinse (and have good ventilation), shouldn’t require any chemicals (especially bleach).
Peggy Hall will offer the definitive advice.
__________________
Gord May
"If you didn't have the time or money to do it right in the first place, when will you get the time/$ to fix it?"



GordMay is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-10-2011, 15:28   #4
Registered User

Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Seattle
Boat: Krogen 58' Xiao Xiu
Posts: 276
Send a message via MSN to JayCall
Re: Holding Tank Odor . . . Help !

Never heard of "pimping" a holding tank. How much do you get for it?
JayCall is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-10-2011, 15:49   #5
Registered User

Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 2,409
Re: Holding Tank Odor . . . Help !

I added vents and started using odorus...smell gone Thanks Peggy
motion30 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-10-2011, 21:50   #6
Marine Service Provider
 
peghall's Avatar

Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 3,012
Re: Holding Tank Odor . . . Help !

You don't have to go to extremes, but I'd at least rinse out the tank before switching to Odorlos (what the heck is TST?)...it's not that hard to do: Pump out, then put about 5 gallons of clean water down the deck pumpout fitting...pump that out. Repeat 2-4 more times. That should rinse out your tank enough to make sure there's no adverse chemical reaction when you add Odorlos.

You do know that once you've installed the Sweetank aerator, you'll have to flush out the tank a couple of times a year to get rid of sludge that can clog up the system? What I've described above is just good training to do that.

Lorenzo, fwiw...chlorine is highly corrosive, also highly destructive to rubber and breaks down hose resistance to odor permeation....which makes it a VERY bad choice as a holding tank product.
__________________
© 2024 Peggie Hall
Specializing in marine sanitation since '87.
Author "The NEW Get Rid of Boat Odors"
peghall is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-10-2011, 22:08   #7
Registered User
 
webejammin's Avatar

Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Pacific NW, sailing the Columbia River, USA
Boat: Gemini 105MC 34 ft hull#753
Posts: 951
Images: 3
Re: Holding Tank Odor . . . Help !

Use Rid-X and sone kind of deodrizer. Rince twice every pump out
__________________
Wind in my hair and a nice catamaran
Phil & Elaine
webejammin is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-10-2011, 22:17   #8
Registered User
 
Shanaly's Avatar

Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Perth west australia, Indian Ocean
Boat: Samson C-Falcon 41'9" composite ketch (designed by Cece Norris)
Posts: 226
Re: Holding Tank Odor . . . Help !

i dont vent, nor use chemicals. material seems to anaerobically break down. no odor. seawater is a good rinse when needed - v rarely.
Shanaly is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-10-2011, 06:46   #9
Marine Service Provider
 
peghall's Avatar

Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 3,012
Re: Holding Tank Odor . . . Help !

An unvented bladder is ok for water and maybe for fuel, but it would not be legal in the US. USCG regs require that all WASTE holding tanks--black water and gray water--not only be vented, but vented to the outside of the boat, because methane is flammable...and also because sewage--all organic matter--generates gasses as it breaks down aerobically or anaerobically, which can pressurize a tank enough to blow out a fitting or burst a seam in an old tank.

So legal or not in your neck of the woods, an unvented tank is not recommended for waste holding. You really should rinse it out pretty thoroughly 2-3 x year to flush all the sludge out of it too.
__________________
© 2024 Peggie Hall
Specializing in marine sanitation since '87.
Author "The NEW Get Rid of Boat Odors"
peghall is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-10-2011, 08:01   #10
Registered User

Join Date: Jun 2006
Boat: CT54
Posts: 358
Images: 3
Re: Holding Tank Odor . . . Help !

A holding tank filter like this one is the only thing we have found that "really" works for tank odor.

Amazon.com: SeaLand Holding Tank Vent Filter with Bracket (5/8-Inch): Sports & Outdoors
jackiepitts is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-10-2011, 09:05   #11
cruiser

Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Tampa Bay area
Boat: Hunter 31'
Posts: 5,731
Re: Holding Tank Odor . . . Help !

Quote:
Originally Posted by Phogan View Post
I know that everyone on this forum probably gets sick and tired of boat odor questions but if you all could send me some quick advice I promise not to wear you out. Now I have said all that here is my problem...

I have a new holding tank and lines in my houseboat. It is a 70 gallon tank and it is used a lot. I have a family of four with 2 small children so we are constantly pumping out.

I used Kronin four my first year with pretty good luck but then started to get a smell on the outside of the boat when it was flushed. One.. the Kronin is expensive when you are pumping out once a week and also I am curios if Kronin has time to do what it needs to do when I have to empty the tank once a week.

I put the sweet tank system in my dads boat about 10 years ago and it works wonders. That is what I would like to do soon. But until then I need to make sure I am using the right treatment.

I regretfully began using a product called TST. It works ok but is nothing but a mask. On one of my older boats I had used Odorlos and it worked great!

I have found someone here locally that carries odorlos and I want to start using it again.

So here is the question... Do I have to go to extremes to clean out the TST that has been in the tank before I start using Odorlos again?

Any input would be greatly appreciated!
Phogan
P.S ventalation seems to be adequate.

i'm certainly not an expert, but my whole boat smelled like an over-used kittly litter box. i mentioned this to the dock master and he told me to

1) use Odorlos

and

2) flush with fresh water.

It's only one person, not four, but sometimes I've missed my weekly pumpout -- happened this week -- and there's no odor.
Rakuflames is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-10-2011, 09:23   #12
Registered User
 
lorenzo b's Avatar

Join Date: May 2009
Location: Panama
Boat: Steel trawler 63' Eileen Farrell
Posts: 961
Re: Holding Tank Odor . . . Help !

Do you always keep a cup or so of water in the toilet to form a positive vapor barrier?
lorenzo b is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-10-2011, 10:28   #13
Registered User
 
jr_spyder's Avatar

Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Boston area
Boat: Little Harbor 46 (1988)
Posts: 326
Re: Holding Tank Odor . . . Help !

That's a good question. The thing that always baffles me about tank odors is that the system is closed loop, as it is meant to be, with only a vent outside the hull, why do I get odors inside, and specifically in the lockers near the holding tanks?

I just bought a 23 year old sailboat and I'm just learning about her systems, and odors. She has an original integral holding tank forward, for the fwd head, and a bladder for the aft head which seems quite new. I don't know why there is this separate bladder. I'm just stating to deal with smells as I use the boat/heads more. So I'm happy to see this thread and learn all I can.

JR
jr_spyder is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-10-2011, 18:42   #14
Registered User
 
Roy M's Avatar

Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Southwestern Yacht Club, San Diego, CA
Boat: Searunner 40 trimaran, WILDERNESS
Posts: 3,175
Images: 4
Re: Holding Tank Odor . . . Help !

Peggy Hall is a treasure. A number of years ago I read her description of how to create an aerobic digestion holding tank. I built one and used her recommended product, K.O. It solved my holding tank issues completely. This is a completely different approach to holding tanks, so heed her advice.
Roy M is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-10-2011, 18:57   #15
Registered User
 
ShaunJ's Avatar

Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Md, USA
Posts: 433
Re: Holding Tank Odor . . . Help !

My vent has clogged twice this season and the smell is pretty bad when that happens.
I will take Peggy's advice and stop using bleach, the owner of my marina told me that since I pump out every week bleach is the best to use. As the other products take time to work and a week is not long enough. I have been using it for the whole season I don't think it works very well at all.
__________________
ShaunJ
I get knocked down...But get up again...
You're never going to keep me down....


ShaunJ is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
holding tank, odor

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread:

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
What Size Holding Tank? (Merged) GypsyHawk Plumbing Systems and Fixtures 62 09-11-2013 12:25
Holding Tank Retrofit Question islandfellow Plumbing Systems and Fixtures 3 06-10-2011 06:39
Proper Support for Holding Tank Installation Duke 48 Construction, Maintenance & Refit 5 17-08-2011 16:14
Head Odors Sailagain Plumbing Systems and Fixtures 19 15-07-2011 10:06
bulkhead mounted holding tank RHoodJr Plumbing Systems and Fixtures 9 25-06-2011 11:05

Advertise Here


All times are GMT -7. The time now is 12:08.


Google+
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Social Knowledge Networks
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.

ShowCase vBulletin Plugins by Drive Thru Online, Inc.