Used ‘08 26.5 MB - solids (looks like black tank debris) coming out of grey tank when I dump! What’s going on?
Used ‘08 26.5 MB - solids (looks like black tank debris) coming out of grey tank when I dump! What’s going on?
If it had been sitting for a long time, it could be dried up detritus from the bottom of your tank which was loosened up by water. Perhaps filling the tank and adding tank cleaner would help. Tell us some background to help solve the mystery.
Chris
A lot more information is needed to offer suggestions, but my first thought is that you've mixed up the valve locations and are actually dumping the black tank and not the grey?
Thank you! Been using and dumping monthly. Yesterday first time to fill (maybe half full) with water to clean.
Thank you, Grey valve closest to cab, black valve closest to back of RV, right? Manual not too clear! Going on previous owner’s directions. Solids coming out of both valves :o
Joan, I did that the first time I dumped, but I'm going to assume that kmk is actually dealing with the grey tank.
On my MB, there is no connection between the black and the grey tanks. I use a clear Camco Flush elbow when dumping, so I can see the contents coming out. The initial full flow from the grey tank is translucent milky slightly grey water. As the flow slows so the elbow is perhaps half full, I often see what looks like flakes, perhaps an inch across, of a dark grey or black material. They appear to be paper thin. I assume they are thin layers of mold from the tank walls, but have neither collected any for examination , nor have I worried about it.
Ken F on the road
"Grey valve closest to cab, black valve closest to back of RV, right?"
That doesn't sound right to me, but I no longer have my midbath. Can anyone confirm?
"Grey valve closest to cab, black valve closest to back of RV, right?"
That doesn't sound right to me, but I no longer have my midbath. Can anyone confirm?
I'm pretty sure that on our '02 MB that the black tank was in front of the axle and the grey tank was behind.
Art
I'm pretty sure that on our '02 MB that the black tank was in front of the axle and the grey tank was behind.
That’s correct, says our 2009 MB. And my nose knows the difference.
Used ‘08 26.5 MB - solids (looks like black tank debris) coming out of grey tank when I dump! What’s going on?
Thank you all for your input! User error most certainly the likely reason :)
On the '08 MB, the black tank is closer to the cab, and the grey tank is further back. Also, the grey tank valve cover usually has a fitting that allows a garden type hose to be connected to it.
Ken F on the road
Just speculating, but it sounds like the previous owner may not have been diligent about maintaining the waste tanks, and that both the black and the grey tanks on the new-to-you LD could use a thorough flushing to avoid problems down the line.
YMMV, as always.
Just speculating, but it sounds like the previous owner may not have been diligent about maintaining the waste tanks, and that both the black and the grey tanks on the new-to-you LD could use a thorough flushing to avoid problems down the line..
My standby method for dealing with holding tanks with solidified deposits is to dump and rinse each tank and then refill with fresh water, adding packet of septic tank enzyme treatment to each tank. Let it sit for a week or longer during warm or hot weather.
The enzymes will 'eat' away at the deposits and turn the solids into slurry that can be flushed out.
his should be done while it's is still warm, cold weather will slow or stop the enzymes from doing their job.
I do this every summer, this year during our record heat a few weeks ago. The tanks cleaned out nicely. This way, we keep full tank capacity, our holding tanks can hold a full fresh water tank plus another ten gallons or so.
It was not like that years ago before starting with the annual enzyme cleaning. The first time the tanks were cleaned this way produced a thick slurry when they were finally dumped, after sitting two weeks. I was shocked to see so much debris to come out of what I thought were fairly clean tanks.
Installing tank flushers can slow down the process of the tanks developing thick coatings.
Larry
Here's a product I've used effectively! It is highly recommended by the folks at SeeLevel systems. A week long soak should remove most of the crud you don't want! ::)
Amazon.com: Happy Campers Organic RV Holding Tank Treatment - 18 treatments:... (https://www.amazon.com/Happy-Campers-Organic-Holding-Treatment/dp/B005XEFADU/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwzbv7BRDIARIsAM-A6-2X4WoELkGF2j6doVCRoFo4eGoWLXodJHx1GVYPCj7-uMPXsHJS37kaAqACEALw_wcB&hvadid=418749041015&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9031996&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=16409214881707802550&hvtargid=kwd-346448318360&hydadcr=16510_9856438&keywords=happy+camper+rv+tank+cleaner&qid=1601148240&sr=8-3&tag=googhydr-20)
Curious about the Happy Camper product. I hadn't heard of it. Does this take the place of the Camco bottles of blue/purple liquid that you pour down the toilet and add a gallon of water? That is what we have always used but I am interested in this Happy Camper product.
"...blue/purple liquid that you pour down the toilet..."
The 'blue' stuff has a formaldehyde base, the same chemical used by morticians to 'preserve' their clients. I doubt if you want to preserve your stuff! Many campgrounds will not allow you to dump your tanks if they know that's what you use. It kills all of the good enzymes in their septic system.
I long ago began to use Eco-Save, an enzyme product that eats up any organic 'stuff' and turns it into a brown liquid.
Happy Camper on the other hand is to be used to do a thorough cleaning of a tank that has been neglected and formed a coating of gunk on the inside walls of the tank. Happy 'stuff' be gone! ??? ::)
I have been using the following product and found that it works well:
TanksTechRx Treatment (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00JFUJBTW/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1)
Holding tanks are storage tanks, not sewage processing plants. That takes a lot longer than a few days and a lot more equipment.
We use a product that keeps the smell down but doesn't contain formaldehyde. so as not to damage the septic systems many campgrounds use. This has worked fine for 25 years of LD ownership.
Larry
A decade or more ago, a guy who blogged as Phread wrote something like "Add water to tank, poop"
Phread and I depend on the million or so bacteria in the body for decomposition.
We normally dump every 4 to 6 days so no worries
I would guess most order comes from not adding enough water in the tank after you dump.