ThreeDtx
Central Texas
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Joined: 09/26/2007
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I have read many of the tank odor postings in the last year or so and even printed some of the suggestions that sounded good. But, now I have a problem and can't find any of the things I printed.
My wife and I are work camping in Texas at the present time and MAN its hot. We have tried several things in the black tank and just can't seem to knock down that odor. I dump the black tank every 7 days and treat it with 2 green packs from Wal-mart. The gray tanks are constantly open and I don't smell them.
What are ya'll using in the black tank to control odor? I know the heat makes it harder which is why I use 2 packs.
Thanks,,,,,,,,,,Don
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swebber
Brunswick , MD
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Joined: 02/14/2005
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What do you use to flush the tank when you dump ? It could be that you are not emptying the tank completely.
You could dump several cups of bleach into the tank and fill with water and let sit for 15 to 20 minutes and then empty as usual. After that...who knows what might be in there !
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MFinCA
San Francisco Bay Area, CA
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Joined: 06/09/2004
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You might try this:
Happy Camper
I've been using it in some pretty hot climates and it seems to control odor--we haven't had any. 
MFinCA
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geefrank
Stockton ca
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You may try dumping more often. We use the same stuff that you use from Wal-Mart and have not had a problem with odors. From time to time I also put in a cup of Pinesol
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Bubtoofat
Westland, Michigan
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We used Campa-Chem (liquid) from Wally World for a month in Wyoming and Montana. Never had any smell. We tried other chemicals and even the GEO method failed us last year. I'm sold! The RV has been sitting in the drive for the past three very hot weeks and still no odor is coming from the black tank.
Mike
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ThreeDtx
Central Texas
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Thanks for that info. I remember the Happy Camper treatment and have read the postings on them before. I ordered some today. The other suggestions were also good and I will do the bleach treatment today as well.
I printed out all the coments and will tape them to the door were we keep the products
Thanks A lot
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JFG
TN
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Joined: 07/01/2007
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". "
One other thing... don't leave your gray tank open all the time. After dumping the black, you need to dump the gray with a considerable amount of water in it to flush out your hose. If you dont, the black stuff stays in your sewer hose. This may be what you are smelling.
Fred
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campercajun
Central Texas Hill Country
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JFG wrote:" . "
One other thing... don't leave your gray tank open all the time. After dumping the black, you need to dump the gray with a considerable amount of water in it to flush out your hose. If you dont, the black stuff stays in your sewer hose. This may be what you are smelling.
I agree with JFG that you need to have the gray tank as full as possible when you dump the black tank, in order to rinse the contents of the black tank out of your hose, and that may be where some of your smell is coming from.
I live in Texas, and have been RVing here for about 32 years. The way the heat down here grows bacteria, it can overwhelm just about any tank treatment. But formaldehyde (like the Campa-Chem from Wal-Mart) kills everything it comes into contact with, including bacteria, and bacteria is what causes the smell from the black tank. No, it's not "green", but it works, very effectively in this nearly year-round heat. If you would like to read how I eliminate tank odor, go to this threadthat I posted last night, and scroll down to the post from "campercajun".
The smell is often coming from the lower potty chamber and pipe connecting it to the black tank, and no matter what treatment you use, unless you clean and kill the bacteria in that chamber and pipe like I do, you will still smell odors anytime you open the valve. No matter what treatment you use, unless you follow the procedure that I do, the treatment is not going to stop the odor or kill the bacteria in that pipe and lower toilet chamber, because the level of water in your tank never gets that high, and if it does, it's full of waste, not clean water with formaldehyde in it.
Let us know if the Happy Camper treatment works for you.
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K3WE
Missouri
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Joined: 05/24/2005
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I can generate plenty of "good" smells in 7 days with zero requirements for Texas heat.
Dittos on dumping every two or three days. this would include "wasting" some water for good "flush action"
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Big Shoe
Exit 1-NJ Turnpike, PENNSVILLE, NJ
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I totally agree with JFG..... use the gray water to wash out the sewer hose and flush the black water down into the sewer system.
I always run a few gallos of water back into the black tank and flush it again just in case and then I put a couple gallons back in the tank so nothing solid lays in the tank.
Another suggestions would be to lay off the Mexican food ! Ole'
Sorry about that  Couldn't help myself.
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