jims1
NC
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Borax works as well in place of Calgon. We use about 1/4 cup of powered borax with about a gallon of water.
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'09 36MAX1 Carrilite
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alliemac9
Colorado
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Joined: 10/28/2007
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Based on my reading here before purchasing our RV, here are our "rules":
To ensure adequate liquid, when you go #1 flush with one bowl of water. When #2 flush with two bowls of water.
Our dealer recommended occasionally waxing the inside of the bowl with normal car wax to keep things slippery. We have a porcelain bowl (not plastic) so I don't know if that made a difference in that recommendation. I also can't remember if we've ever done this.
We use dishpans in the sink to catch dishwater. We then put this down the toilet since our gray and black tanks are the same size. This helps them fill at a more even pace, saves space in the gray tank, and provides plenty of liquid for the black.
You don't need RV TP, but people around here recommend a single ply septic safe brand. You can also do a shake test with one square in a jar of water to see if it breaks down quickly, but we've never gone to those lengths.
We prefer to dump upon arrival somewhere rather than prior to leaving. The theory being that the drive got things good and sloshed around so nothing will be settled on the bottom of the tank or stuck on sensors, etc.
We do dump at home after a trip and we LOVE it. We can use our own facilities on the drive, and it fits with the point above. We have a clean out to our sewer line in a perfect spot near our driveway, but slightly downhill. We dump just like we would at a dump station.
We use a device that supports the drain hose to try to keep a reasonably constant slope between the tank and the drain.
Always leave some water in the tank. After dumping, we hold the flush pedal down for a couple minutes to add water. This is when we add Calgon (we buy the powdered bath salts version). We don't typically add detergent, just Calgon (we end up with small amounts of dish soap as a result of dumping dishwater).
We installed a tornado flush on our black tank. We use this every few trips or whenever we feel the need. It is really nice to have. All flushing of hoses or tornado usage is done with a dedicated black/gray tank hose that is very different (and kept separate) from our drinking hose.
We also installed/hung a 6" PVC pipe under the rear of our RV with one end sealed and the other has a screw on cap (also drilled some holes in it to allow the hose to air out). This provides dedicated sewer hose storage (including the fittings) that doesn't use up an outside storage bin or potentially rust out our bumper (the fittings don't fit in a bumper anyway, so you would still need a black storage area in one of your compartments).
2007 Coachmen 2430DB + 2 people + 2 dogs
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DE88ROX
West Michigan. The other West Coast
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Joined: 03/08/2012
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Smax wrote:Dumping at Campgrounds can be a slow process if there are a lot of people leaving at the same time.
Check around home - chances are you will find a public dump station. We have one at our local treatment plant (where the honey suckers go). A bit industrial, but it is quick and we are always the only one there.
I know that my local Camping World has a dump station. Also this site lists all of them in the nation. Just enter your state.
TV- 2010 GMC Sierra Z71 EXT. cab
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anaro
Mebane, NC
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Joined: 01/16/2011
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We used to use the drop in chemicals and then the black tank began to stink. We did some research and switched to the geo method. No problems since. We will add a little bleach in to the mix occasionally but don't always. We use liquid tide and liquid calgon water softener. The tide is now also in the TT if we need to do laundry. The liquid clagon water softener can be used to coat the inside of your toilet as well to make it slippery. We will occasionally add the calgon to the grey tank to help keep it slippery. We don't add any detergent because there is already dish soap in there. We also always use a flush wand to rinse the black tank. Ever since doing things this way, DH has seen a tremendous difference when dumping the tanks. We now are able to get to the point of getting clear water out when we are done. We then close the tank and add everything plus about 3 gallons or so of water (and some leftover ice if we think we need it). As to when to dump. We dump after every trip but add water first. The tank will dump better if it is 2/3-all the way full. Remember to dump the black and then the grey tank so the grey water can help rinse your stinky slinky. And as others have said, use the septic safe TP and ignore the cooking spray thing. Relax and don't be afraid to use your bathroom to its full capacity.
as to dumping at home, I believe there are some that have a way they rigged something to their septic system to dump at home. We are on city sewer and don't keep the TT at home so we haven't looked into this.
2009 Ford F250 Lariat Crew Cab 6.4L diesel 4WD
2011 Crossroads Zinger ZT26BL
Reese Dual Cam
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21 nights camped in 2012!
27 nights camped in 2011!
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bitzandbytes
Canada
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Joined: 04/14/2012
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Wow great tips thanks
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lanerd
Newport, OR
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Ron3rd wrote:bitzandbytes wrote:Thanks to everyone for their comments. I like the idea of no chemical and regular toilet paper (septic safe i know because we are on septic at home. makes things much simpler and better for the environment and that is what this is supposed to be all about. I agree I seemed to be making it too complicated. I think I researched this too much. Just one other question though. What is Calgon? a laundry soap? I don't think we have it in Canada or maybe i just never saw it.
As noted above, Calgon is a fabric softener
No, it's NOT a "fabric softener".... it's a "water" softener.... big difference.
Ron
Ron & Sandie
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RETIRED!! How sweet it is....
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DE88ROX
West Michigan. The other West Coast
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Any single ply TP will work. I have already tried the cup test. Put a single sheet in the glass of water, cover with hand and shake the glass. It breaks down right away.
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anaro
Mebane, NC
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Joined: 01/16/2011
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I use one capful of the calgon, I find it at my local grocery store (Harris Teeter), I think others have said you can get it online. I use about a half capful of the tide. It is the geo method
A quick search found the calgon on amazon here. One bottle lasted me through at least 10 tanks.
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1775
NY
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Joined: 09/30/2009
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The amount that you use has a great deal to do with the size of your black tank. Too much won't hurt it but when we added too much (we have only a ten gallon black tank) we had a lot of bubbles and soap foam come out when we dumped the tank. We have been using ERA detergent - I don't know if it makes a difference but it has "enzyme action". Check the website on the Geo Method and then proportion the amounts to suit the size of your tank.
Also about TP - buy a brand you like that is "septic" safe and put a sheet in a cup of water. Let it sit for a little while and it should break down in the water to a thin slurry. That is what it will do in your tank - and that is what you want. If it doesn't try another brand. I know that Scott Single Ply works well and it is a lot cheaper (and softer) than the RV toilet paper.
Roadtrek 190 Popular 2011
Meryl and Me Hit the Road
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DE88ROX
West Michigan. The other West Coast
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anaro wrote:We used to use the drop in chemicals and then the black tank began to stink. We did some research and switched to the geo method. No problems since.
how much ofthe tide and calgon do you use and where might i find the liquid calgon?
thanks!
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