Holding tank material
 

I just realized that the plastic holding tank in our boat, which was
not intended as a holding tank judging by the molded in fitting
arrangement, is yellowish and not the milk jug color. It's about the
color of a manila folder but translucent.

Does this mean that it is the wrong material for a holding tank? Our
boat was remarkably clean but evidently had an odor problem judging by
the cardboard odor eater things they had hung everywhere. I wonder if
the tank could have been the source.

--

Roger Long

Roger Long wrote:
I just realized that the plastic holding tank in our boat, which was
not intended as a holding tank judging by the molded in fitting
arrangement, is yellowish and not the milk jug color. It's about the
color of a manila folder but translucent.

Does this mean that it is the wrong material for a holding tank? Our
boat was remarkably clean but evidently had an odor problem judging by
the cardboard odor eater things they had hung everywhere. I wonder if
the tank could have been the source.


I suspct Peggy would tell you to suspect first the hoses, then the
tank. Hot water on a rag draped over the hose will absorb odor and
smell when removed from the hose after ten minutes or so, if the
hose is "permeated" with stinksource.

She would likely also suggest that polyethelene can be linear linked
or cross linked, and how to tell the difference is a highly skilled
aquired taste. The linear sort permeates and can stink.

If your hoses stink and you change them and your boat stll stinks,
even after a bloody good scrub and soak with bleach in water
everywhere a leak may get to, then tank permiance may be suspected.
Multiferous molded tanks are available and she will likely email
you a catalogue of ronco plastics, or some such.

Of course, the stink may be emanating from the tank vent hose, of
which there should be 2, of large enough diameter to ensure air
circulation and oxygenation of the good microbes who would
ordinarily eat all the poo and produce gas which doesn't smell.

If your vents are inadequate, the microbes that proliferate without
oxygen instead eat sulfer anerobically, and stink like rotton eggs
(H2S).

Until you get your vents improved, stop eating so much sulphur;-) or
use a leaf blower to push some air, with it's oxygen, down the head,
to sustain the aerobic flora. About 5 minutes a day should do it.
Just think of it as a special kind of aquarium that needs air.
You'll need a bunch of duct tape to make the end of the leaf blower
fit snugly in the drain of the head bowl, and a shower cap. Ensure
you have some venting in place, else you may experience a flushback.

PHFASGOG!(Pause here for a short gasp of giggles!)

We used to get gassed every time we went to stbd tack, and never got
around to improving the vent on the poo tank on "The Penney Louise"
but the new glass tank and garden hose vents in "The Bote Oeule"
have never offended. (touch the wooden toilet seat for luck)

An electrical toilet kills and dumps waste, using locally produced
chlorine in salt water or with locally provided salt in fresh, and
does not accumulate festering flops to enstench you.

Terry K