Read above... its an urban myth IMOHave you tried adding a half dozen bags of ice cubes and going out for a trip to help break up the hard stuff? Works in the RV black water tank too
I'm a user / believer of NoFlex or the generic equivalent sodium percarbonate available in bulk.
I have also periodically (end of season) used Calgon water softener and believe it helped but it seems more difficult to find in stores recently.
If you have access a pressure washer or garden hose w straight nozzle help break things up so repeated pump outs clean it up.
Another one here for Noflex Digester.........
A question for Peggy or anyone using Noflex. I just started using it for the first time. Do you really need to follow the instructions after a pumpout? It would have me adding about 5 gallons of water back into an empty tank. Cant I just start adding it regularly to the toilet? Eventually the result would be similar. My holding tank is only 30 gal and I don't let it get completely full, so adding 5 gals of fresh water eats up a lot of capacity.
Another one here for Noflex Digester.........
A question for Peggy or anyone using Noflex. I just started using it for the first time. Do you really need to follow the instructions after a pumpout? It would have me adding about 5 gallons of water back into an empty tank.Not according to these instructions that I just downloaded from the No-Flex site:
Suggested dosages – Black water holding tanks
In service ½ an ounce every 5-7 days on board per person.
If there is more than one toilet, flush t No-Flex down a different toilet every day.
Should there ever be any problem with odor flush 1 oz, into tank it will take aprox. 5 minutes to work.
After pump out add one ounce into empty tank via the toilet, flush twice to introduce the power into tank.
Unless you have a toilet that uses 1-3 gal. water/flush (a Raritan Crown Head maybe?), I can't see how that would add more than a quart or two to the tank after pump out.
--Peggie
+1 for probiotics. Prior used the usual chemicals and vinegar with olive oil on occasion. Since switching to RO water only and probiotics no troubles and no chemicals.
A question for Peggy or anyone using Noflex. I just started using it for the first time. Do you really need to follow the instructions after a pumpout? It would have me adding about 5 gallons of water back into an empty tank.Not according to these instructions that I just downloaded from the No-Flex site:
Suggested dosages – Black water holding tanks
In service ½ an ounce every 5-7 days on board per person.
If there is more than one toilet, flush t No-Flex down a different toilet every day.
Should there ever be any problem with odor flush 1 oz, into tank it will take aprox. 5 minutes to work.
After pump out add one ounce into empty tank via the toilet, flush twice to introduce the power into tank.
Unless you have a toilet that uses 1-3 gal. water/flush (a Raritan Crown Head maybe?), I can't see how that would add more than a quart or two to the tank after pump out.
--Peggie
Thanks Peggy. That's not the istructions that came with the No-flex I just purchased. It says that after pumpout, add no-flex to the pumpout outlet and 3 gallons of water. Then add some no-flex to the toilet along with a gallon of water and flush for 30 sec. That's a non-starter for me as I would use up about 20% of my capacity after every pumpout. I will just add some to the toilet and flush well on a regular basis and hope that does the trick. Like a scoop each morning while cruising. Thanks for everyone's help and advice.
When I'm solo on the boat, I add a tablespoon after pumpout and then again every 2-3 days. I no longer have odors. If I even think I got a slight whiff of anything, I just add a tablespoon.
PS. I buy the sodium percarbonate on Amazon for pennies on the dollar compared to NoFlex.
Hello where did the instructions come from?? If you are adding the Noflex to the pump out discharge side of the tank 1/2 gal after adding after you pump out ---If in toilet two flushes one to empty the toilet clean and then one to get it in the system . But not really necessary one flush is okay Dave --Mr Noflex. Most people do just the toilet flush wayA question for Peggy or anyone using Noflex. I just started using it for the first time. Do you really need to follow the instructions after a pumpout? It would have me adding about 5 gallons of water back into an empty tank.
Thanks Peggy. That's not the istructions that came with the No-flex I just purchased. It says that after pumpout, add no-flex to the pumpout outlet and 3 gallons of water. Then add some no-flex to the toilet along with a gallon of water and flush for 30 sec. That's a non-starter for me as I would use up about 20% of my capacity after every pumpout. I will just add some to the toilet and flush well on a regular basis and hope that does the trick. Like a scoop each morning while cruising. Thanks for everyone's help and advice.
You may not see concensus but look up the MSDS or SDS for both.Hello where did the instructions come from?? If you are adding the Noflex to the pump out discharge side of the tank 1/2 gal after adding after you pump out ---If in toilet two flushes one to empty the toilet clean and then one to get it in the system . But not really necessary one flush is okay Dave --Mr Noflex. Most people do just the toilet flush way
Last I looked NoFlex was sometjing like 80-100% sodium percarbonate (or one of the alternate accepted chemicsl name for it) like many compounds there are a plethora of terms that mean the same thing.
Note both can have minor.smounts of stuff used as coatings to prevent clumping etc.
Many claim equal results with OciClean but it has s much lower % of the.important SPC.
Hello where did the instructions come from?? If you are adding the Noflex to the pump out discharge side of the tank 1/2 gal after adding after you pump out ---If in toilet two flushes one to empty the toilet clean and then one to get it in the system . But not really necessary one flush is okay Dave --Mr Noflex. Most people do just the toilet flush way
The istructions came from No-flex. They were wrapped around the bottle. I did what you said, added to the toilet and a couple flushes.
I am in the process of refitting my 1973 GB 36. Part of my plan is to install a larger holding tank. I intend to install an aquarium type air pimp to inject air into the effluent. This will constantly agitate the solids in the tank and also aerate the effluent to change the environment form anaerobic to aerobic, which promotes beneficial bacteria. I am a building contractor and it is amazing what this does for septic tanks on land. I figure if it doesn't work the worst I'm out is $100 for the air pump. We'll see.My tank is long and isn't level, with the low end having the pumpout port. Anything that would settle and solidify would get pumped out. I doubt that the PO designed it that way, it is just so far forward that the hull curves up.
All this talk about probiotics made me think about something. I probably hold the world record for contracting giardia and a couple of other exotic gut bugs. The standard remedy is a week's worth of an antibiotic that kills both good and bad. Seems like antibiotics might pass through and also wipe out things in my holding tank (and maybe my septic tank?) Maybe one should look into Forget About It to recharge the holding tank after taking antibiotics.
Smart move IMO. You don't need to spend anywhere near $100. I think by fush tank unit was about $30 and has been running 7 yrs.I am in the process of refitting my 1973 GB 36. Part of my plan is to install a larger holding tank. I intend to install an aquarium type air pimp to inject air into the effluent. This will constantly agitate the solids in the tank and also aerate the effluent to change the environment form anaerobic to aerobic, which promotes beneficial bacteria. I am a building contractor and it is amazing what this does for septic tanks on land. I figure if it doesn't work the worst I'm out is $100 for the air pump. We'll see.
Thanks for that. I will check it out. Is that "Bacchus.com"? How do you find the results in the tank? It was just an idea I had, I am excited to hear how it is working in the real world.Smart move IMO. You don't need to spend anywhere near $100. I think by fush tank unit was about $30 and has been running 7 yrs.
See Bacchus website Projects Holding Tank Aeration for pump info.
Thanks for that. I will check it out. Is that "Bacchus.com"? How do you find the results in the tank? It was just an idea I had, I am excited to hear how it is working in the real world.
I just looked at your project for aeration. I think I may over engineering mine (a typical problem for me). Could you tell me the physical dimensions of your HT, and where in the tank you located the air tube?
Thanks,
Ron
I got mine via Walmart delivered to store.Just looked on line for the "Power bubbles" air pump. Beyond my philosophical issue with Amazon they were more expensive than anyone else.