Marine water tank rotten egg smell

E

estame6

Member
Joined
Jul 12, 2007
RO Number
27400
Messages
22
Hi all, I have a 30' Sea Ray and last year winterized fresh water tank by emptying and adding gallon of RV pop and running it through.
This year I flushed it out and filled tank ran it through and filled it again. After a month of non use it now smells like rotten eggs.

If I emptied this 30 gallon tank and refilled and adding a pint of bleach and following Vic procedure will this fix "my" problem?

This is an outline of Vic's procedure for recommissioning a water tank in the sticky:

1. Use a solution of 1 pint Purex or Clorox bleach to 25 gallons of water). With tank empty, pour chlorine solution into tank.

2. Complete filling of tank with fresh water. Open each faucet and drain cock until air has been released and the entire system is filled. Do not turn off the pump; it must remain on to keep the system pressurized and the solution in the lines

3. Allow to stand for at least three hours, but no longer than 24 hours.

4. Drain through every faucet on the boat (and if you haven't done this in a while, it's a good idea to remove any diffusion screens from the faucets, because what's likely to come out will clog them). Fill the tank again with fresh water only, drain again through every faucet on the boat.
 
After the tank is empty, put 5 gallons or so in along with 1/2 pint of white vinegar. It will help flush out the bleach smell and taste. Your water will have a "tossed salad" taste, but it's a whole lot better than a bleach taste.
Flush that out and then run the pump while adding water to the tank to keep flushing.
 
Also, check the anode. Sometimes a depleted anode can add to the problem.
 
Great thanks, This will be a good job on this 90+ degree day.
The post about the anode - it is a cold water tank so presumably ( I hope) it doesn't have one!
Many thanks.
 
It is also a good idea to use an additive to keep the smell from coming back if you're filling the tank with well water (city water should have enough chlorine in it). Either buy something off the shelf at your local marine store or add about a teaspoon of bleach for every 10 gallons.
 
When I do the procedure instead of the white vinegar I use a couple of bottles of cheap vodka, let it sit overnight then flush and refill. No tossed salad taste at all. :D

Bob
 
Good luck with the vodka now that Bosun is around. He'll refill the bottles with tap water after he's finished with them.
 
Estame6..
Sorry. Missed the part about it being the cold water tank!
 
quote:
Originally posted by mixman

Good luck with the vodka now that Bosun is around. He'll refill the bottles with tap water after he's finished with them.

Click to expand...


LOL, that's why I said "Cheap" Vodka. Caught him with his head under the faucet this morning.

Bob
 
Youre rotten egg smell is most likely bacteria. Pour two quarts of hydrogen peroxide in the tank and let it sit for a day, then run the tank dry and refill.
 
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