Houseboat Forums

Air Pump For Holding Tank

Kartracer — 2012-07-21T05:04:13 -07.00

I have a sewage plant at my house and it uses an air pump, would installing an air pump on my holding tank help in any way.

Holding Tank Installation Level

CoryWright — 2011-11-22T12:44:39 -07.00

We have a 1977 40’ Harbormaster with an Electra San System on Board. We wish to convert to holding tanks.

Our Dillema lies in the positioning and level of the holding tanks. Our options are as follows:

1) Install Holding Tank just behind the toilet – the holding tank would be at the same level as the toilet. Thus, as the tank gets more full the waste level would be higher than the toilet.

2) Install a holding tank in the bedroom – over 10’ away – underneath the bed. Same problem as #1 in that the tank would be at the same level as the toilet.

3) Cut a hole in the floor to install the tank in the bilge area. Location of Tank would still be at least 6’ feet away however the tank would be below the toilet.

#1 and #2 would require no cutting and would be the easiest to install. #3 would be a bit of a project. Any suggestions you have would be great.

Thanks.

Black Holding tank treatment

CaptRon — 2011-07-22T12:45:26 -07.00

I have used several different treatment products for my black holding tanks in the past and they all seem to fail after a week or so.

Has anyone tried Rid-x in their black holding tanks?

I started using it a couple of months ago and it is doing a good job so far.

My tanks have a good cross vent system, with a vent through the hull just above the tanks and one high just below the roof for each tank.

I don't have any odor at all so far.

I planned on adding an air bubblier to the tanks but haven't need it yet.

Help Designing Waste Setup

JoeAyers — 2011-03-10T10:41:27 -07.00

For the last 5 months I've been building a houseboat and am finally to the point where I need to get the blackwater holding tank plumbed. I will be moored 100% of the time with city water hookup, approximately 1 gallon of water per flush, and regular pumpouts (like after every weekend (4-6 people for 3-4 days at a time). The holding tank is 250 gallons and can be drilled any way I want. I would prefer not to use harsh chemicals instead using something like Raritan or Odorlos. my initial plan was to have a 1.5" vent that came out of the top of the tank and up approximately 10' and then turning 90 to the outside.

Will this be enough oxygen for a natural product? Should I add a second vent? If so I would either need to leave the vent about 6" above the holding tank, place it right next to the 1st vent, or have it 90 over then 90 up to run next to the 1st vent.

If you could design the perfect set up what would it be. My next week to work on the boat is March 30-April 10 and the black water tank is #1 on the list.

Thanks for any help.

Joe

Hot Water Smells Like Sulfur/Rotten Eggs

tnlegendracer — 2010-12-31T11:56:02 -07.00

When we return to our houseboat after 2-3 weeks away, we experience a smell from the hot water faucets that smells like rotten eggs or sulfur. It stinks so bad we have to open up all windows/fans to evacuate. After a couple of sessions of this, it goes away.

At one time our boat had the ability (may still have it) to draw lake water in as fresh water, run through a couple of filters and onto fresh water pump. It's a separate system but eventually makes it to the fresh water pump.

The previous owner said he would experience this smell after using lake water, but we haven't drawn in lake water in the 6 years we've had the boat, just city water. Could there be something that grows in hot water heater tanks when we're away and once cycled, it's gone until the water heaters sit off for 2-3 weeks? If so, what can I do to eradicate this (short of replacing water heaters)? Replacing water heaters looks like it would require floor removal, as there are two of them in bilge of boat (shorty household type) and the smell's gotta get way worse for me to consider that.

holding tank

DaleHollow — 2010-09-15T06:43:54 -07.00

What is the sop for treating my holding fresh water supply. 100 gallon plastic tank, through out our 6 month season
my use is ordinary dish washing, hand washing an perhaps an unknown guest takes a drink

with a surface water temp of nearly 90 degree's most of the summer 24/7, which has to effect my tank water temp. Just curious how often you add chemicals if u do, flushing if u do this. Not real sure what all ineed to prevent or treat for, Suggestions. refill, filling my tank isnt an issue as potable water readily available,

at times I have just put the hose in it an let it fill till the overflow does it thing for a couple hours, this practice im not real comfortable with if something goes wrong an my overflow ends up inside instead of going outside

anyone use a test kit to see what the holding tank is holding bacteria wise?

Tank Type Toilets on Houseboat

dekvet — 2010-08-25T10:54:21 -07.00

I found a houseboat that has a "Blackwater Treatment System" and it has standard tank type toilets installed in both heads. The owner tells me that the system works great and they have had no issues with this system. No smell, water does not splash out of the tank and bowls, etc. I can't find much information and I'm concerned the system my not function properly if not designed correctly. Does anyone have any experience or opinions with systems where tank type toilets are installed? dek

Extended vent stack

endurance — 2010-08-10T08:55:16 -07.00

I've tried various tank treatments (most recently Odorlos) and I've come to the conclusion that a black water tank is going to have a smell as long as you're standing next to the vent stack on top of the boat. That's fine for RV folks that don't spend much time on their roof, but my roof is the best place to spend a summer night under the stars.

Having decided that tank treatments control rather than eliminate smell, I am giving thought to extending my vent stack. I have a 1.5" stack that terminates in a cap just above my roof. If I add a 90 degree bend and travel horizontally about 6 feet, I can make another 90 degree bend to go straight up and attach a 10 foot vertical extension to the leg of a permanent canopy. That would raise the top of the stack ten feet over the roof surface and four or five feet above my guests' and my noses. I realize the horizontal portion of the stack would need a slope; I have room to give it a standard .25" per foot slope. I could add a cap, but Lake Powell averages about 7 inches of rain in a year. I don't think that will add much water to my tank.

I have to imagine I'm not the only one who has experienced a smell from black water. It seems that many enjoy time on their roof. So I'm thinking that someone has to have tried something like this. Or at least considered it and decided it was a stupid idea. I'd love anyone's thoughts on whether this is a great idea or whether I should scrap it.

TST Toilet/Tank Treatment

CaptMark — 2010-06-10T11:27:59 -07.00

Has anyone else tried the green TST liquid holding tank/toilet treatment?
It didn't work at all for us. I even used twice the recommended amount but we had terrible odor.
I never had a problem with Aqua Keem. I went back to that and no more odor.

JABSCO #58500 ELECTRIC TOILET?

BENMURPHY — 2010-06-07T09:44:57 -07.00

Does anyone know about this new Jabsco Lite Flush Toilet? The literature seems too good to be true! Almost silent, uses hardly any flush water, etc....Would like to know if anyone has one and how it is working...one this that concerns me is that after each paragraph in their instruction manual it warns you that your boat could sink if you don't turn off the thru the hull valve after each use...do you think they are just doing this to protect themselves? Seems like you would not want to open up a hatch in the floor and turn the valve off after each use...