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The RVer's Open Forum / GENERAL RV DISCUSSIONS / Holding tank chemicals

Back 20 Messages

barney
User ID: 1418774 Feb 26th 8:46 AM
What is the best additive to use in the holding tanks to claen the sensors and tank?

Jonna
User ID: 1397584 Sep 2nd 12:30 AM
I was another happy customer of Mike's that has been out in the cold searching for something to replace Crestline. I tried Piranha and ended up dumping most of the bottle, and NOT in my tanks either! It didn't work for me and it smelled awful, not just the tanks with it in them but the stuff straight from the bottle. Yuck!

I'm off to find Pure Power.

Jonna

AyJay
User ID: 0492334 Sep 3rd 11:08 PM
Mike;
Just got back from a 6 day trip to Maine and didn't dump til earlier today. Six days with "Pure Power" in the tanks, happy to report "no odor and the sensors worked just fine".
I did fill the tanks with water several days before leaving, using their recommended dosage (2 oz) and let it stay for three days before pre-trip dumping. Put about 2 gallons of water in each tank, again using their recommended dosage to create a base line before leaving last thursday.....the product does appear to work as advertised.

AyJay

Mike
Administrator Sep 4th 11:01 AM
Thanks, AyJay. We appreciate the report.

Hope you had a great trip.

Mike

N_fini_T
User ID: 2616364 Sep 30th 1:21 AM
Hey everyone, thanks for all the info... I've been needing to find another product to use.

Mike... I did read ALL the posts (repeats and all), so some of us out here do. Thanks for all your expertise! What a great help!

Brian
User ID: 8645673 Oct 31st 1:56 PM
On the Pure Power web site they also have "Super Bio Tabs" they say is the same as the liquid but in tablet form.
is there any difference?

TIA
Brian

Mike
Administrator Oct 31st 3:09 PM
IMO, yes.

Liquid products are 100% active. Powders, granules and tablets, on the other hand, contain binders and other inert ingredients. They also take time to dissolve and require agitation to do so completely.

Imagine staying in one spot for some time. There's no agitation and thus much poorer dispersion of the product.

In addition, those who use other than liquid product often find granular reside after emptying their holding tanks. This material could well have an abrasive effect on the rubber components of the drain valves.

My advice is to stick with the liquid product.

Mike

Dean
User ID: 9245273 Oct 14th 8:43 PM
I switched to Pure Power a year and a half ago and it works. I just bought my second half gallon. It was on sale at a RV dealer nearby. I don't put it in tank until I put about 5 gallons of water in the tank. Why
waste it in the drain line. Dean

p4jim
User ID: 0310794 Oct 17th 11:02 PM
Thanks for the info. We just picked up a used rv and had no idea the holding tank would be complicated.

Bil Davis
User ID: 2254074 Nov 2nd 11:57 AM
Another satisfied Pure Power user. We get ours each year at the Quartzsite RV Show. Better price, and tons on hand. The wintergreen scent is mild, not offensive.

Jill
User ID: 0164614 Aug 6th 6:14 PM
I just joined the group because we are new to campers & the black water issue has been a nightmare. Thanks to everyone (especially Mike) for all this good information. I think I just hit the "mother lode."

Carol
User ID: 8771373 Aug 7th 6:44 PM
I was a happy customer of Mike's company's product, and have been searching since then to find a good replacement. I must agree with some others' evaluations---Pure Power seems to be the best I can find. It works and doesn't have a strong scent.

Barthbill
User ID: 1689844 Mar 8th 9:54 AM
"I wonder if all this antibacterial soap has any affect on the bacteria in my tank."
BOB

"Bob, the small amounts of antibacterial agents in body soaps, i.e. Dial, have no measurable ill effects on bacterial/enzyme products made for RV waste water holding tanks. There really isn't enough of it to do any harm.

Disinfectant cleaners, pine oil based cleaning products, bleach, and other products of that ilk are another story."

Mike

What effect do different dishwashing products have on the enzyme/bacteria in the tanks? Is there a brand that contains less disinfectants or other harmful ingredients, or is it a concern?

Mike
Administrator Mar 16th 9:48 AM
Barthbill,

Again, I don't believe that, when used in moderation, the small amounts of bleach found in todays "disinfecting" dish washing products would have much of an affect on enzyme/bacteria based holding tank products.

We use regular Dawn. For my money the best cleaning and degreasing product for dish washing (and lots of other cleaning chores) around.

Mike

Back 20 Messages

barney User ID: 1418774	Feb 26th 8:46 AM What is the best additive to use in the holding tanks to claen the sensors and tank?
Jonna User ID: 1397584	Sep 2nd 12:30 AM I was another happy customer of Mike's that has been out in the cold searching for something to replace Crestline. I tried Piranha and ended up dumping most of the bottle, and NOT in my tanks either! It didn't work for me and it smelled awful, not just the tanks with it in them but the stuff straight from the bottle. Yuck! I'm off to find Pure Power. Jonna
AyJay User ID: 0492334	Sep 3rd 11:08 PM Mike; Just got back from a 6 day trip to Maine and didn't dump til earlier today. Six days with "Pure Power" in the tanks, happy to report "no odor and the sensors worked just fine". I did fill the tanks with water several days before leaving, using their recommended dosage (2 oz) and let it stay for three days before pre-trip dumping. Put about 2 gallons of water in each tank, again using their recommended dosage to create a base line before leaving last thursday.....the product does appear to work as advertised. AyJay
Mike Administrator	Sep 4th 11:01 AM Thanks, AyJay. We appreciate the report. Hope you had a great trip. Mike
N_fini_T User ID: 2616364	Sep 30th 1:21 AM Hey everyone, thanks for all the info... I've been needing to find another product to use. Mike... I did read ALL the posts (repeats and all), so some of us out here do. Thanks for all your expertise! What a great help!
Brian User ID: 8645673	Oct 31st 1:56 PM On the Pure Power web site they also have "Super Bio Tabs" they say is the same as the liquid but in tablet form. is there any difference? TIA Brian
Mike Administrator	Oct 31st 3:09 PM IMO, yes. Liquid products are 100% active. Powders, granules and tablets, on the other hand, contain binders and other inert ingredients. They also take time to dissolve and require agitation to do so completely. Imagine staying in one spot for some time. There's no agitation and thus much poorer dispersion of the product. In addition, those who use other than liquid product often find granular reside after emptying their holding tanks. This material could well have an abrasive effect on the rubber components of the drain valves. My advice is to stick with the liquid product. Mike
Dean User ID: 9245273	Oct 14th 8:43 PM I switched to Pure Power a year and a half ago and it works. I just bought my second half gallon. It was on sale at a RV dealer nearby. I don't put it in tank until I put about 5 gallons of water in the tank. Why waste it in the drain line. Dean
p4jim User ID: 0310794	Oct 17th 11:02 PM Thanks for the info. We just picked up a used rv and had no idea the holding tank would be complicated.
Bil Davis User ID: 2254074	Nov 2nd 11:57 AM Another satisfied Pure Power user. We get ours each year at the Quartzsite RV Show. Better price, and tons on hand. The wintergreen scent is mild, not offensive.
Jill User ID: 0164614	Aug 6th 6:14 PM I just joined the group because we are new to campers & the black water issue has been a nightmare. Thanks to everyone (especially Mike) for all this good information. I think I just hit the "mother lode."
Carol User ID: 8771373	Aug 7th 6:44 PM I was a happy customer of Mike's company's product, and have been searching since then to find a good replacement. I must agree with some others' evaluations---Pure Power seems to be the best I can find. It works and doesn't have a strong scent.
Barthbill User ID: 1689844	Mar 8th 9:54 AM "I wonder if all this antibacterial soap has any affect on the bacteria in my tank." BOB "Bob, the small amounts of antibacterial agents in body soaps, i.e. Dial, have no measurable ill effects on bacterial/enzyme products made for RV waste water holding tanks. There really isn't enough of it to do any harm. Disinfectant cleaners, pine oil based cleaning products, bleach, and other products of that ilk are another story." Mike What effect do different dishwashing products have on the enzyme/bacteria in the tanks? Is there a brand that contains less disinfectants or other harmful ingredients, or is it a concern?
Mike Administrator	Mar 16th 9:48 AM Barthbill, Again, I don't believe that, when used in moderation, the small amounts of bleach found in todays "disinfecting" dish washing products would have much of an affect on enzyme/bacteria based holding tank products. We use regular Dawn. For my money the best cleaning and degreasing product for dish washing (and lots of other cleaning chores) around. Mike