What to add to my holding tank???

Hi there,

There are many products out there and I think your best bet is to try which one suites you the most in terms of packaging (depending on your tanks sizes), type of treatment, price and after all how did it work for you, some are more effective if the tanks are fairly away from the head because the react slower than others. As for brands, pure oceans and sealand worked for me. Also, you might want to consider trying "Green" products first if you desire.

Some products are scented and this might give you a "strange" smell, not bad, just strange, specially during humid days. So after all, see what is available in your area, class them according to your preference then try them for some time and see, the good thing is almost all are available in small one use packets so you will not have to buy a quart or more for trial.

Cheers,

Alfred

Once you have a stinky tank, I have found only two real stink cures;
1. Clean tank properly. The slime goop on the sides makes a lot of that nasty stink.
2. Set auto pump on very low tank level setting. Example pump on at 20% pump off at 10%. Keeping a lot of fluid stored creates stink fumes.

Chemicals only mask for very short times in my experience. The bacteria takes a long time to cultivate and is usually destroyed by improper cleaning products added by people unknowingly and plus you need an air generator or the bacteria can not live. And please do not even consider adding bleach. That can cause some real nasty gases harmful to others.

I have also seen A/C fan coils have there condensate drains plumbed in into tanks with out proper P traps and the fans would suck the tank fumes and push that lovely scent throughout the boat and no one could figure out why the boat always smelled of grey water.

More likely, it's the toilet hoses - holding tank hoses - that are causing the smell. There is a hose that goes from the deck pump-out to the holding tank too. Take a good look around the bilge ... put your nose to the hoses.

Cleaning the tank is a good idea if you have a serious problem. Prevention works well before a real stink starts. SeaLand is the most common treatment I've seen on the Island, and does a good job. Also, make a point of pumping out every couple of weeks if it's been used at all. When you do pump out, shoot in a couple of gals of clean water in , and pump again. Leave some clean water in your tank to work on any brick (old waste that dried and solidified) you might have. Better still, suggest that guests use the head on land whenever possible and remind the ladies that it's 4 sheets per flush. That usually gets them to use the one on land.
Also, make sure your filter is clean. A couple of flushes in the red can do them in. That'll stink you for sure.

I like Raritan's holding tank additive.

As for having a holding tank cleaned. I have never ever had to have that done. On stinky holding tanks, I have flushed them a few times (by doing a pumpout, filling it with garden hose, pumpout, filling it and pumping out), then have filled the tank with the garden hose and a healthy dose of additive for a week and it pretty much cleans whatevers heavy in the tank.......

BUT, the hoses going to and from the tank can be a source of smells. A clogged vent hose, or vent filter is usually the source of most smells in holding tanks.

I have found Raritan KO is very effective in the holding tank. Google it for additional info.

Holding tank odor

As a liveaboard for the last 17 years, I am sensitive to the issue at hand........A previous boat had two of the old Mansfield heads that dumped directly into a 8 to 10 gallon holding tank directly under the seat and when that was full, it was pumped forward to a 40 gallon plastic holding tank under the forward berth. After trying all the usual suspects, I found a product that killed the odor in the heads and the hoses between the heads and the holding tank. Its called Happy Camper and can be ordered on line. I have no connection other than I am a Happy Boater.........

The reason the senders are a source of leakage is because most boats have plastic tanks that flex, expand, and contract. I've found holding tank treatment (raritan) does help. I manage and run a 62' Sunseeker Predator......the moron's at Sunseeker decided a 34 gallon holding tank would suffice on a boat that sleeps 6 people.........

Your Hatteras has a fiberglass tank with an aluminum plate on the top of it......they don't flex....hehehe, therefore the Hatteras tanks rarely if ever have an air leak.......

yes, 34 gallons is totally nuts, it also is a 2007, was built for the US market, and has the seacocks and valving to pump from the head directly overboard.....which I haven't seen on any yacht since the late 80's early 90's......needless to say, with 6 of us on-board I'm lucky if it lasts 24 hours.

Your holding tank on your Hatt was most likely added at a later date, because Hatteras has never used Poly holding tanks........Chances are yours was built without a holding tank and it was added later because it went to the great lakes or something along those lines.......I ran a 1978 58' YF and it had 2 fiberglass holding tanks, 1 in the bow that was around 100 gallons for the FWD and midship head, and a smaller one midships for the master head.