Home made holding tank?
 

I know, there are lots of holding tank, made of good rotomolded
polyethylene...
But if space is small and irregular, the standard tanks may not fit...

epoxy-fiberglass tanks do works or create odor problems?

Can I build a tank from thick polyethylene sheet, hot air welded?
Any experience?

Paolo Zini

Paolo Zini wrote:
I know, there are lots of holding tank, made of good rotomolded
polyethylene...
But if space is small and irregular, the standard tanks may not fit...

epoxy-fiberglass tanks do works or create odor problems?


SFWIW, I custom built an epoxy/knitted glass holding to fit an odd ball
shape.

Had some old fashioned coal tar epoxy tank resin which was used to coat
inside of tank.

Probably wasn't necessary, but had to use the coal tar resin for
somethingG.

HTH

Lew

Paolo Zini wrote:

I know, there are lots of holding tank, made of good rotomolded
polyethylene...
But if space is small and irregular, the standard tanks may not fit...

I'll bet you can find one here that will: http://www.ronco-plastics.com
They make top quality tanks for a very reasonable price and have more
than 400 shapes sizes to choose from, including over 100 non-rectangular.

epoxy-fiberglass tanks do works or create odor problems?

That depends on how well made they are. But even well made, they're much
heavier than poly tanks...and if you go that route, you'll also have to
install a gauge. 'Cuz federal law requires that all waste tanks have
some means of determining when they're at least 3/4 full, to prevent
overflow of raw sewage out the vent that pollute. If the tank wall is
translucent, and easily accessible for visual inspection, that's enough
to meet the requirement. But if it's either made of a material that
doesn't allow you to see the level in side, or in a location that makes
visual inspection impossible--or so inconvenient as to be impossible--a
gauge of some kind is required.

Can I build a tank from thick polyethylene sheet, hot air welded?
Any experience?

Easier said than done. Hot air welding won't work...it has to be heat
welded, blending new poly with melted edges of the tank walls. The
integrity of the tank is dependent upon the integrity of the welds...and
it takes a bit of skill/practice to know how much new material and how
much edge of tank wall to melt to run together so that they become a
single mass that actually actually becomes part of the walls and
reinforces the corners, without bubbles or weak spots. Walls should be
at least 3/8" thick, btw...to support the weight of the contents without
bulging or flexing, which would put additional stress on the welds.

IMO, you're MUCH better off buying rotomolded tanks for water and waste
than making them.

--
Peggie
----------
Peggie Hall
Specializing in marine sanitation since 1987
Author "Get Rid of Boat Odors - A Guide To Marine Sanitation Systems and
Other Sources of Aggravation and Odor"
http://www.seaworthy.com/store/custo...0&cat=6&page=1

Paolo Zini wrote:

I'll bet you can find one here that will: http://www.ronco-plastics.com
They make top quality tanks for a very reasonable price and have more
than 400 shapes sizes to choose from, including over 100 non-rectangular.

I aven't checked with plans, but I must admit: they have it for shure...
But... ONE tank ordered from california to Italy?

Ooops...:)

It looks a bit complex and
expensive...

Maybe not, if you know anyone who travels to the US (today people hop
all over the world as easily as going to the next town). When I still
owned my company, we sold tanks to people as far away as New ZeaLand and
Brazil...shipped from the mfr to a US a address to be taken home as a
checked luggage on their flight.

But if that won't work for you, there's a company in the UK--Tek-Tank
http://www.tek-tanks.com/Pages/frameset.htm --that also makes excellent
tanks and has a good number of different shapes/sizes.

If THAT won't work for you, I'm active on several websites that are also
populated by European boat owners...I'll try to find some European tank
mfrs for you.

--
Peggie
----------
Peggie Hall
Specializing in marine sanitation since 1987
Author "Get Rid of Boat Odors - A Guide To Marine Sanitation Systems and
Other Sources of Aggravation and Odor"
http://www.seaworthy.com/store/custo...0&cat=6&page=1

On Wed, 22 Jun 2005 07:48:51 GMT Peggie Hall
) wrote:

If THAT won't work for you, I'm active on several websites that are also
populated by European boat owners...I'll try to find some European tank
mfrs for you.

Here is one in the Netherlands:
http://www.freetechnics.nl/index.php...e=TNK&ArtCode=

--
Richard

Tank you for fast replay...
You wake up early in the morning...
:-)

Maybe not, if you know anyone who travels to the US (today people hop
all over the world as easily as going to the next town).

I have friends that cross the pond, but I can ask that type of help for
small items...
:-)
I am planning the work, not under pressure. I can take my time.


But if that won't work for you, there's a company in the UK--Tek-Tank
http://www.tek-tanks.com/Pages/frameset.htm --that also makes excellent
tanks and has a good number of different shapes/sizes.

Seen. They do make custom built tanks, made from hot gas welded
polyethylene...

If THAT won't work for you, I'm active on several websites that are also
populated by European boat owners...I'll try to find some European tank
mfrs for you.

I can made the search work... But I tink that we can make a better use of
your competence...
Do you think that the clorine dispenser used in Raritan Purasan (or
equivalent device) can be added to the holding tank?
the set would be: electric macerator, tank, clorine dispenser...
Just one idea...

Paolo

paolo

You can Also try to find a local plastics manufacturer in your area to
build you a custom tank. I was pleasantly surprised by the price
(cheaper than ordering and shipping from West Marine) and I was balt to
specify the material shape and location of the fittings.

P.S. This was a replacement for a tank that had failed and I happily
went with Peggie'e reccomendation of 3/8 thickness on the premise that
I did not want to deal with another failure anytime soon.

Cheers

matt

Paolo Zini wrote:

Tank you for fast replay...
You wake up early in the morning...
:-)

I sometimes stay up late. :)

Do you think that the clorine dispenser used in Raritan Purasan (or
equivalent device) can be added to the holding tank?
the set would be: electric macerator, tank, clorine dispenser...
Just one idea...

Not a good one, I'm afraid...for several reasons. The PuraSan dispenser
is designed to deliver enough cholorine to treat each flush of the
toilet--one gallon or less. The toilet flush water washes through it,
carrying away just enough from the solid block of it...then the PuraSan
mixes and macerates that flush for 2 minutes. A whole tankful at a time
going through the cartridge would wash away most of the entire block,
but wouldn't be in contact with the waste long enough to "sanitize" it.
Nor would adding chlorine--or any other chemical--to a tank meet any
legal requirement in the world for "treated" waste. Even waste that's
been treated by a legal device before going into a tank is no longer
considered treated once it does. So nothing is accomplished by adding a
chemical to the waste before or during dumping the tank.

If the discharge of treated waste is legal in your waters, consider
installing a PuraSan or Lectra/San instead of a tank. More expensive
than a tank, but beats the socks off carrying waste aboard and all the
hassle of maintaining a tank if you don't have to.

--
Peggie
----------
Peggie Hall
Specializing in marine sanitation since 1987
Author "Get Rid of Boat Odors - A Guide To Marine Sanitation Systems and
Other Sources of Aggravation and Odor"
http://www.seaworthy.com/store/custo...0&cat=6&page=1

Thanks, Richard...I'll add it to my list of mfrs.

Peggie

Richard van den Berg wrote:

On Wed, 22 Jun 2005 07:48:51 GMT Peggie Hall
) wrote:


If THAT won't work for you, I'm active on several websites that are also
populated by European boat owners...I'll try to find some European tank
mfrs for you.


Here is one in the Netherlands:
http://www.freetechnics.nl/index.php...e=TNK&ArtCode=


--
Peggie
----------
Peggie Hall
Specializing in marine sanitation since 1987
Author "Get Rid of Boat Odors - A Guide To Marine Sanitation Systems and
Other Sources of Aggravation and Odor"
http://www.seaworthy.com/store/custo...0&cat=6&page=1
http://shop.sailboatowners.com/detai...=400&group=327

Not a good one, I'm afraid...for several reasons.

Thecnical obiection noted....
.....
Nor would adding chlorine--or any other chemical--to a tank meet any
legal requirement in the world for "treated" waste. Even waste that's
been treated by a legal device before going into a tank is no longer
considered treated once it does. So nothing is accomplished by adding a
chemical to the waste before or during dumping the tank.

You look at the idea from a legal point o view...
My target wasn't to comply with any law, but is one attempt to find a
radical solution to odor control.
In your articles you talk about a sanitizing device that works both as type
1 and type 3...
Sometingh like that...
But custom made to fit in the available spaces...

The related laws are changing here... Don't know how it will be in the near
future...



If the discharge of treated waste is legal in your waters, consider
installing a PuraSan or Lectra/San instead of a tank. More expensive
than a tank, but beats the socks off carrying waste aboard and all the
hassle of maintaining a tank if you don't have to.

I like it, but, disregarding the cost, it can't fit... I am building a small
cat...

Anyway Your comments have helped a lot to clarify the problems.

I will try to find one standard tank, if unable to find a suitable one (one
that make efficient use of available space), i can have one custom made here
in Italy or from one of the suggested european manufacturers...

Tank you!

Paolo