I simply drain my tanks fully each time. Then I use plenty of water when flushing. So far exactly zero problems in ten years of about 50 nights per year.
Funny, I do the same thing with the same results for over 35 years.
I did have one problem about 5 years ago. Had one pyramid. It was easy to take care of with a stick.
I was also a water nazi on that trip though. Trying to teach my kid and her friend a lession about water and TT.
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I took a closer look this evening, My tanks AND drain lines are completely hidden by my underbelly, so it will have to be a guesstimate. I do know that I've put a few gallons in my black tank and it still hasn't covered the bottom. It's all good, I'll just wing it.
BigSur2
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If your toilet drains directly into your tanks (no plumbing between), couldn't you just put a long stick down there (of course, don't drop it)? Water level will be indicated by "wet mark" on stick.
I'll throw a little kink in the calculation for you. Actually the bottoms of the waste tanks are not flat. They are deeper at the discharge end and taper to the other end so they will drain properly. Mine are about 6" deep at the deep end and 4" deep at the other. To do the calculation correctly you need to know the length, width, and difference in thickness from end to end. Mine would require about 8 gallons to cover the bottom completely if the trailer is perfectly level. Putting that much water in would be wasting about 20% of my tank capacity.
However, there is absolutely no harm in draining gray tanks completely and leaving them "dry" until the next time they are used. There is actually no harm in draining a black tank completely and leaving it that way if you flushed it well. I do add a couple of gallons of water and an odor packet to the black tank after a trip just so it's ready for the next trip. This method has worked for 12 years with no problems.
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12thgenusa wrote: I'll throw a little kink in the calculation for you. Actually the bottoms of the waste tanks are not flat. They are deeper at the discharge end and taper to the other end so they will drain properly. Mine are about 6" deep at the deep end and 4" deep at the other. To do the calculation correctly you need to know the length, width, and difference in thickness from end to end. Mine would require about 8 gallons to cover the bottom completely if the trailer is perfectly level. Putting that much water in would be wasting about 20% of my tank capacity.
However, there is absolutely no harm in draining gray tanks completely and leaving them "dry" until the next time they are used. There is actually no harm in draining a black tank completely and leaving it that way if you flushed it well. I do add a couple of gallons of water and an odor packet to the black tank after a trip just so it's ready for the next trip. This method has worked for 12 years with no problems.
That makes complete sense. I can tell by looking down through my toilet that it is not very deep at that actual point. I've tested this a bit and my black tank is similar to yours (I've put in 3 gallons since my last trip and still can't "see" water). I'll just do what makes the most common sense.
Let me ask you guys THIS though. What are you doing on trips where you have no sewer connection?...and when you get to the dump station, there is a line a mile long, i.e. you don't have time to flush tanks. Do you just drain and move on?....just add a little bit of water back and flush on your next trip?
That makes complete sense. I can tell by looking down through my toilet that it is not very deep at that actual point. I've tested this a bit and my black tank is similar to yours (I've put in 3 gallons since my last trip and still can't "see" water). I'll just do what makes the most common sense.
Let me ask you guys THIS though. What are you doing on trips where you have no sewer connection?...and when you get to the dump station, there is a line a mile long, i.e. you don't have time to flush tanks. Do you just drain and move on?....just add a little bit of water back and flush on your next trip?
Fill a pail with water, dump the black tank, dump the pail of water down the toilet (handy to have another person inside), while the black valve is open. Refill the pail, dump the grey tank, then dump the pail down the shower. Close the dump valves, put the cap back on and drive away. Use water in the fresh tank to add to the black and grey tanks.
If the water tank is empty, add one more pail of water to each tank once the valves are closed.
With two people, one on the inside who will also fill the pail, it does not take much time.
I've had problems with teepees in black tank. A dealer in South fork Co. helped me figure how to get rid of problem. 1at lots of water in black tank. I use so many minutes. Then I add a black tank bacteria. My problems started when a DR. ran a scope through my colon. The surgeon took out about 10 inches. Ever since what comes out of me is sticky, thus forming teepees. I now use baby wipes, and a special small can by toilet to put baby wipes in. Can with special liners control all order. Anyway I said all that so you don't cut back too far on water. Still when you are traveling, you can get by with less. Especially since the water will always be moving.
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