Holding tank vent(s)
- Thread starter erice
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Vic...why can't KO be used with the Raritan concentrate? Does the concentrate have the enzymes to stop odor in the holding tank? There is very little info on the Raritan concentrate bottle.
quote:
Originally posted by mixman
CP will coexist with KO. RC will not. I've had this discussion with Vic before
I meant he might comment on whether bacteria and enzymes are the same thing... or not. (I think not.)
I hadn't heard of RC before... not paying enough attention, I guess
-Chris
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** Vic...why can't KO be used with the Raritan concentrate? Does the concentrate have the enzymes to stop odor in the holding tank? **
As was mentioned earlier, Raritan "Concentrate" (also called "RC") has disinfecting properties along with its deodorant properties. KO is a live bacteria in a liquid broth. The disinfectant in the RC kills the bacteria in the KO, rendering it useless.
CP contains enzymes that work in conjunction with the bacteria in the KO to overall improve the situation you're trying to create. (Enzymes are biological molecules that catalyze -- i.e., increase, the rates of chemical reactions.
RC (Raritan Concentrate) is a stand alone product that shouldn't be used together with either KO or CP.
As was mentioned earlier, Raritan "Concentrate" (also called "RC") has disinfecting properties along with its deodorant properties. KO is a live bacteria in a liquid broth. The disinfectant in the RC kills the bacteria in the KO, rendering it useless.
CP contains enzymes that work in conjunction with the bacteria in the KO to overall improve the situation you're trying to create. (Enzymes are biological molecules that catalyze -- i.e., increase, the rates of chemical reactions.
RC (Raritan Concentrate) is a stand alone product that shouldn't be used together with either KO or CP.
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after reading these im a bit confussed. I have a freshwater flush head in my boat. Do I need enzymes, or just RC to make sure I don't get any stink. I just changed the vent fileter and I don't have any smell.
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Your vent filter is absorbing the smell. If you checked your tank directly it would probably knock you over. With a vent filter blocking any air circulation in the tank, you can't use enzymes like KO as the enzymes need O2 in order to live. You've got a choice of continuing to use the vent filter and hope the nasty smells don't permeate your tank walls, or you can remove the filter, enlarge the vent (or add an aquarium pump) and start using treatments such as KO, Odorlos, or Camco's version. I suppose you can add that nasty stuff that supposedly kills everything, but that's not my first choice. A healthy holding tank is a happy holding tank
There are two schools of though on holding tanks, natural versus chemical.
The natural crowd tries to create an environment in their holding tank so the less smelly aerobic bateria will florish and very stinky anerobic bacteria will not. This requires air in the tank either through forced or passive ventilation plus some starter bacteria and maybe some enzymes to keep it all going. It also require you don't use cleaners that could kill the bacteria. It also requires them to poop on their boat because urine alone will not grow the right bacteria. You know these boats because the owners will be constantly working on getting the system to work right.
The chemical crowd tries to kill everything and cover the smell with blue dyed formaldehye and then block any remaing odors with a charcoal air filter on the vent line. Since the goal is killing everything, strong cleaners are no worries. You'll know these boats when their vent filters get wet, every flush will send a cloud of death out the vent.
The natural crowd tries to create an environment in their holding tank so the less smelly aerobic bateria will florish and very stinky anerobic bacteria will not. This requires air in the tank either through forced or passive ventilation plus some starter bacteria and maybe some enzymes to keep it all going. It also require you don't use cleaners that could kill the bacteria. It also requires them to poop on their boat because urine alone will not grow the right bacteria. You know these boats because the owners will be constantly working on getting the system to work right.
The chemical crowd tries to kill everything and cover the smell with blue dyed formaldehye and then block any remaing odors with a charcoal air filter on the vent line. Since the goal is killing everything, strong cleaners are no worries. You'll know these boats when their vent filters get wet, every flush will send a cloud of death out the vent.
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Thanks all
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Chris,
Are you sure? You can't smell anything because the filter is doing it's job of absorbing the odors. Do you have an access port to check the tank directly? I'll bet you a dollar if you open that port up you'll regret doing so and you'll realize you're wasting your money on KO.
KO will not work without a supply of O2. A vent filter blocks O2 from getting into the tank. This isn't me coming up with this. Rather I'm repeating what Vic has told me over the years.
Are you sure? You can't smell anything because the filter is doing it's job of absorbing the odors. Do you have an access port to check the tank directly? I'll bet you a dollar if you open that port up you'll regret doing so and you'll realize you're wasting your money on KO.
KO will not work without a supply of O2. A vent filter blocks O2 from getting into the tank. This isn't me coming up with this. Rather I'm repeating what Vic has told me over the years.
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Got the book "get rid of boat odors" a while back. Basically everything you need to know about boat odors and how to get rid of them. If you have odors, order the book. About the best $15 you will spend on boat stuff.
I know that I started with a boat that smelled like a septic tank, shortly after I purchased it and it was closed up for 2 weeks I came in the boat with my wife and it was so bad we left. After taking her home I returned determined to find the cause and started investigating a wet forward bilge (near the head). There were 2 problems one gigantic hidden one, a leaking Aluminum holding tank combined with permiated original hoses and a raw water Jabsco.
When the tank was removed everyone helping the marina manager, his helper and myself all almost vomited there was about a 30" long stringer to stringer 1" thick "YELLOW" wet crystalized slick. The tank was removed and taken to a remote part of the marina to air out. The helper went scrambling out of the boat to the dock and dropped to his knees, both myself and the marina manager had tears in our eyes from the odor and us laughing at the helper fleeing! The front bilge was treated with straight Bleach and I got a scraper and plastic bags. Needless to say it was one of the most disgusting Mike Rowe jobs I have ever done. Eventually once everything was clean and dry the floor was removed and the entire front bigle was painted with Bilge Coat grey. Then the process of removing the old head, hoses, bilge pump well you name it I replaced it.
That is when I went to a freshwater flush system and new top qualiity everything. I have used a combination of Odorloss and CP. I have an inspection plate on the new 36 gallon Poly tank and I can tell you that if I don't use the Odorless within a week if I open the vent it would make most people sick. If I use the Odorless I can open the 6" inspection plate and there is -0- odor.
Kurt I am going to try the WalMart product.
When the tank was removed everyone helping the marina manager, his helper and myself all almost vomited there was about a 30" long stringer to stringer 1" thick "YELLOW" wet crystalized slick. The tank was removed and taken to a remote part of the marina to air out. The helper went scrambling out of the boat to the dock and dropped to his knees, both myself and the marina manager had tears in our eyes from the odor and us laughing at the helper fleeing! The front bilge was treated with straight Bleach and I got a scraper and plastic bags. Needless to say it was one of the most disgusting Mike Rowe jobs I have ever done. Eventually once everything was clean and dry the floor was removed and the entire front bigle was painted with Bilge Coat grey. Then the process of removing the old head, hoses, bilge pump well you name it I replaced it.
That is when I went to a freshwater flush system and new top qualiity everything. I have used a combination of Odorloss and CP. I have an inspection plate on the new 36 gallon Poly tank and I can tell you that if I don't use the Odorless within a week if I open the vent it would make most people sick. If I use the Odorless I can open the 6" inspection plate and there is -0- odor.
Kurt I am going to try the WalMart product.
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I started using it last year. I read the active ingredients and it seemed close enough to Odorlos and it seems to work fine (double-dose this time of year though). Did you read the Practical Sailor review that showed the two products even?
Make sure it's the green one with nitrates in it. Camco has a couple other colors that don't.