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13-05-2015, 05:55
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#1
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Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: new jersey
Boat: beneteau OC 352
Posts: 180
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KEEPING CLEAN WATER TANKS
Good morning all. I was just wondering what everyone was doing to keep their water tanks from getting funky. I hear some guys are putting a little bleach or chlorine tablets in there to keep the mold from growing.. Thank you in advance.
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13-05-2015, 06:10
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#2
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Miami Florida
Boat: Ellis Flybridge 28
Posts: 4,057
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Re: KEEPING CLEAN WATER TANKS
I use a product called Puriclean every couple of years to clean my whole fresh water system. The same company makes water purification tablets Aqua Clean Tabs. If I remember to use them the tank stays clean.
Puriclean - MFG#UPCSTD - 14 oz. Tub
http://www.cleantabs.co.uk/aquacleantabs.htm
The active ingredient is Sodium Dichloroisocyanurate which a lot of municipal water systems use instead of chlorine.
__________________
Retired from Hopkins-Carter Marine Supplies
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13-05-2015, 06:11
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#3
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Maryland, USA
Boat: 58' Sedan Bridge
Posts: 5,418
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Re: KEEPING CLEAN WATER TANKS
There's a long thread on the topic... including the treatment recipes. Search for threads with input from Peggy Hall and Thinwater
The gist is filter it going in, treat it as necessary, and use it often.
-Chris
__________________
Chesapeake Bay, USA.
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13-05-2015, 14:02
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#4
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Moderator
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Solent, England
Boat: Moody 31
Posts: 18,398
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Re: KEEPING CLEAN WATER TANKS
Quote:
Originally Posted by HopCar
I use a product called Puriclean every couple of years to clean my whole fresh water system. The same company makes water purification tablets Aqua Clean Tabs. If I remember to use them the tank stays clean.
Puriclean - MFG#UPCSTD - 14 oz. Tub
http://www.cleantabs.co.uk/aquacleantabs.htm
The active ingredient is Sodium Dichloroisocyanurate which a lot of municipal water systems use instead of chlorine.
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Me too, annually. Tried thick bleach one year, just ended up with the gloop sitting in the bottom of the tank and not mixing properly so use the powder now dissolved in boiling water. The cost of a tub is only a couple of £££ so not worth quibbling over.
Pete
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13-05-2015, 14:12
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#5
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Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Bristol, UK
Boat: Alajuela 38
Posts: 33
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Re: KEEPING CLEAN WATER TANKS
We've had great results with sterilising tablets designed for babies bottles. Used them for years in my narrowboat which had integral painted steel tanks and now our stainless and fibreglass sailboat tanks. Available everywhere and very cheap,
Sent from my VF685 using Cruisers Sailing Forum mobile app
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13-05-2015, 16:46
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#6
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Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Noank, Ct. USA
Boat: Cape Dory 31
Posts: 3,161
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Re: KEEPING CLEAN WATER TANKS
A drop of bleach for every five gallons works for me. Unsure of the water source, double the bleach.
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13-05-2015, 17:07
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#7
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running down a dream
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Florida
Boat: cape dory 30 MKII
Posts: 3,106
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Re: KEEPING CLEAN WATER TANKS
i never had to put anything in my 60 gallon ss water tank for over a year living aboard full time. never had a bit of mold or any other problem. i did not drink it on a regular basis but did use it for coffee. so when you say funky does that mean a bad taste? i like the idea of filtering it before putting it into the tank and use the water often.
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some of the best times of my life were spent on a boat. it just took a long time to realize it.
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13-05-2015, 17:23
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#8
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2008
Location: daytona beach florida
Boat: csy 37
Posts: 2,976
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Re: KEEPING CLEAN WATER TANKS
Best is to have access to the interior of the water tanks. We have two 60 gallon tanks, conveniently built into the main cabin settees, with large access hatches on top. Once a year I empty them, clean them thoroughly with a brush and bleach water, then thoroughly flush with a garden hose and run through the whole water system.
On a regular basis I add a bit of chlorine to the water tanks when in use. On the output side, just past the fresh water pump, I have an inline water filter. It's $20 or less at walmart or recreational vehicle stores, has hose adapters for 3/4" hose on each end, and can be changed out in minutes.
Just be sure to read the instructions. You have to run fresh water through it after installation to flush out any loose charcoal. It comes out black and then quickly clears up.
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13-05-2015, 18:38
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#9
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Writing Full-Time Since 2014
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Deale, MD
Boat: PDQ Altair, 32/34
Posts: 9,559
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Re: KEEPING CLEAN WATER TANKS
Quote:
Originally Posted by HopCar
I use a product called Puriclean every couple of years to clean my whole fresh water system. The same company makes water purification tablets Aqua Clean Tabs. If I remember to use them the tank stays clean.
Puriclean - MFG#UPCSTD - 14 oz. Tub
http://www.cleantabs.co.uk/aquacleantabs.htm
The active ingredient is Sodium Dichloroisocyanurate which a lot of municipal water systems use instead of chlorine.
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Spoiler alert. Practical Sailor is publishing a 4-part series on drinking water treatment this Summer, and the 3rd installment will concern chemicals and other tank maintenance matters. Puriclean is heading for high marks, as it provides a much better regulated chlorine residual and is less corrosive than bleach products. Good stuff.
Two other things you need to do, since pouring chemicals in the tank will not make it clean, any more than bleach alone will clean dishes:
* Use a pre-filter to keep out the junk. While municipal water is generally very good, the pipes and hoses in marinas are often terrible. Your own hose, since it is stagnant most of the time, probably has a healthy growth inside.
* Clean and DRY your tank each winter. It's really easy and saves a lot of work in the spring. You wouldn't put dishes away dirty, but many folks do just that with water tanks.
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13-05-2015, 18:45
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#10
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Writing Full-Time Since 2014
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Deale, MD
Boat: PDQ Altair, 32/34
Posts: 9,559
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Re: KEEPING CLEAN WATER TANKS
Quote:
Originally Posted by gonesail
i never had to put anything in my 60 gallon ss water tank for over a year living aboard full time. never had a bit of mold or any other problem. i did not drink it on a regular basis but did use it for coffee. so when you say funky does that mean a bad taste? i like the idea of filtering it before putting it into the tank and use the water often.
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A live-aboard is NOT a fair comparison. Of course the water is fresh--you are flowing chlorine treated water through the tank, which will keep the growth down. Stagnation is the problem.
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13-05-2015, 19:02
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#11
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Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Cowichan Bay, BC (Maple Bay Marina)
Posts: 9,703
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Re: KEEPING CLEAN WATER TANKS
Quote:
Originally Posted by ranger42c
There's a long thread on the topic... including the treatment recipes. Search for threads with input from Peggy Hall and Thinwater
The gist is filter it going in, treat it as necessary, and use it often.
-Chris
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Here it is:
Fresh Water System Recommissioning 101 - Peggie Hall's "Cocktail" hot water "rotten egg" odor
__________________
Stu Jackson
Catalina 34 #224 (1986) C34IA Secretary
Cowichan Bay, BC, SR/FK, M25, Rocna 10 (22#) (NZ model)
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13-05-2015, 20:18
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#12
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: St. Petersburg, FL
Boat: Morgan Moorings 50
Posts: 1,895
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Re: KEEPING CLEAN WATER TANKS
I'm with Jim Walsh. I always add bleach to my tanks. I have two tanks roughly 100g each... I add only about 2 ounces of pure liquid bleach to the tanks when filling completely.
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13-05-2015, 20:29
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#13
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Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: On board
Boat: Van de Stadt 50'
Posts: 1,405
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Re: KEEPING CLEAN WATER TANKS
We have one 400 gallon (1500 L) We cleaned it out 17 years ago. No watermaker, fill from town docks, fuel docks, and now we collect rain and every 2 months or so go to a river and fill up when its not rainy season.
We use Clorox at 375ml per tankful, or whenever we taste anything strange.
So far so good.
Rain is not as clean as you would expect, there is some dust in it.
The Ships Captains Medical Guide and the WHO online, give the right dose.
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14-05-2015, 04:46
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#14
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Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: new jersey
Boat: beneteau OC 352
Posts: 180
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Re: KEEPING CLEAN WATER TANKS
[QUOTE=gonesail;1824398 so when you say funky does that mean a bad taste? [/QUOTE]
Every year I make a point to open up and wipe out the inside of my 2 tanks with Clorox clean up and then I'll hose out and flush out before filling them up for use. Usually there is some black mold/ mildew growth on the sides and top. Like most people I try to only cook and bath with the water and drink bottled water. I spoke with a couple guys and they put 2 -3 tbl spoons of household bleach in the tank when filling up.
I thought I'd take another informal, thoroughly unscientific survey. As expected you guys have some great ideas/methods.
Thanks
Jay
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14-05-2015, 05:29
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#15
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Writing Full-Time Since 2014
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Deale, MD
Boat: PDQ Altair, 32/34
Posts: 9,559
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Re: KEEPING CLEAN WATER TANKS
The WHO and ANSI (Peggie's) guidelines are for dirty tanks and very questionable water and are NOT for everyday use. For everyday use the correct way to dose chlorine is to get some test tapes (~ $12 for 25) at the pool or pet store and aim for ~ 1ppm residual after a few hours. No more than that.
As for using the water only for bathing and drinking bottled, with proper treatment and the addition of a tap filter (NSF 53, not just some lame Brita type), the water can be as fresh and safe as bottled water. It's up to you.
And prefilter the water, guys. The bugs are feeding on the trash you are filling with. Rain water too.
A DIY Water Filter - Practical Sailor Print Edition Article
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