My Vacuflush holding tank deodorant.

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bobalong

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One of my buddies at the marina suggested another magic potion to minimize holding tank odor (outside when we flush, not in the cabin). Or course his works better than brand XYZ. And then of course then other shoe drops and he mentions he has a vent filter. (yes Roger that's you)

I really need to install a filter. We've all experienced the "flush" that sends everyone at the slip running for cover . . . and extinguishing all flammables for fear of an explosion.

I'll admit I'm getting a little lazy. The thought of rooting around in the tight engine compartment, trying to locate and dissect a vent line and install a filter isn't on my
list of immediate things to tend to.

The thought had crossed my mind to come up with a similar filter that screws into the pump out hole, for use in my slip seems doable. A little aquarium charcoal, some PVC pipe. . . .

OR a suction cup thing that goes over the vent hole. . . .same principal as the other one.

These things are work bench, do em' at home bring em to the water RTU things.

Anyway, I have a jug of deodorant that recommended 2 ozs for my 30 gallon holding tank. I have followed the directions all summer with non results for controlling the odor. Before I left the boat this afternoon, I pumped and rinsed the tank. then flushed about 12-14 ozs of this stuff down the head. It's supposed to be eco friendly non formaldehyde magic.

We'll see . . .
 
Good luck with it, but if it were I, I wouldn't be too hopeful...
 
Yea Vic I think you are right, it's more a case of getting rid of the chemical than expecting a miracle. No need to pack something around that doesn't work.
 
I have used ODORLOS and also CP they both uses enzymes that naturally eat the smelly stuff and seem to have kept my holding tank and waste hoses from having odors. I do have a filter on the tank vent that I replace every other year. Then again is your head a freshwater head or raw water head? I think it's easier to keep a freshwater waste system odorless than a raw water waste system.
My holding tank has an inspection plate and I can open it and have no odors as long as I have been using the ODORLOS product. Prior to that if I opened the inspection plate on the blackwater holding tank the odors would clear the boat!
Bill
 
I have been using Mostly K.O. and sometimes ODORLOS )both enzyme based) when K.O. is not available. A Couple of weeks ago we had the system pumped clean and needed to recharge the tank. None of the local store had either product so I picked up a bottle of CLR Septic system treatment, also enzyme based, at the local supermarket and I have to say it seems to work better than both K.O and ODORLOS, Cheaper too.
 
A well vented fresh water system shouldn't need any deodorant. I was doing a little plumbing rearranging on my system recently when the tank (all 210 gallons worth) was about 3/4 full. Pulled the hose off before the several year old vent filter, no odor, so decided not to update it as it wan't really filtering anything. Pulled the hose from tank to macerator pump , no odor. I recall it also wasn't an issue a few years ago when we were installing a gauge and new pump. System is three Vacuflushes. I think some people make the mistake of not running enough water through these, which is done by holding the pedal down a count of three, and a few counts more for any solids. The temptation is to let up once everything is sucked down, a la an airplane head. Flushing a generous dose of distilled white vinegar down them every so often helps keep the hoses clean and probably helps with odor too.
 
Try pouring some Calgon liquid in the tank and adding water and taking her out for a ride. The Calgon will help to soften the "crap" stuck to the sides of the tank. Pump it out and fill the tank with water and pump out again.

If you have a larger enough opening for a vent, stick a garden hose in the vent and turn it on full blast while wiggling it from outside the boat to constantly redirect the flow. Be pumping out the boat at the same time. I did this on my Regal and it took about 15 minutes to see clear water through the pump's site glass.

If that is not possible, consider installing a Camco Tornado. GeeBee installed one with great results. They are made for RV's but boaters have great results as well.

George is spot on. Proper venting negates the need for a filter. No USN ship I know of has a filter.

I wish the space was available to get rid of the one on Saint Max. If the filter gets wet it causes the filter to fail and worsens the smell problem. DAMHIK!
 
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