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thinwater · 22-06-2009, 19:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ocean Girl

Sorry, if I made a big deal outta nothing, got some good ideas still,
Bit different than a diaper- unless you change 30 year old 4ft x 4ft ones

Cheers
Erika

Had to clean the ceiling once in my kids room.......

Randy · 22-06-2009, 19:52

I try to keep my kids/grandkids cleaner than the contents of a holding tank!

Ocean Girl · 22-06-2009, 21:02

Yeah, I was a teacher at a child development center while I went through nursing school, I've been pee'd on, pooped on, I joke that it really prepared me for the "blood and guts" of nursing

Ceiling...that I never had to do.

Erika

scotte · 22-06-2009, 21:04

Having done this recently, there's only really one way - just do it. But honestly it wasn't the tank that's the worst part, it's all the old hoses, which will be full of what you expect along with massive amounts of stinky buildup. What I did first was pour a bunch of disinfectant odor remover that I bought by the gallon at home depot down and flush it through the hoses and tank (i.e. do this at the pumpout). Then flush with fresh water. This will make the job slightly more appetizing. After that, just cut the hoses and go to town. Don't bother trying to get the clamps off at this point, just cut it and get it out and on the dock.

Another handy hint: for the hose that goes to the bottom of the tank, cut it up high, don't even try to remove it at the fitting or cut it low on the tank.

While you are at it, replace every individual hose. It's a bunch more work and $$, but the only way to do it. Our 1+1/2" hose only had about a 1/2" opening at one point - no wonder it was hard to pump the head!

captain58sailin · 22-06-2009, 21:51

I don't know if you are concerned about the bacteria or not, you could always dump a cake of active brewers yeast in the tank, the bacteria will eat up the organics and reduce the odor. If they have been using some kind of treatment in the tank, the brewers yeast won't work. As the previous poster suggested, chlorine and then put a liner in your shop vac and suck out the offending residue. I would probably put a plug of some sort in the hose ends and cover with plastic and use electrical tape to seal the plastic to the hose ends. I would love to help you too, however I am safely in Nigeria right now. :-)

Ocean Girl · 22-06-2009, 21:58

I have replaced the head and all hoses already so the holding tank is the last stinkin job, do I hear an Amen!
Thanks for the feedback and all the offers that poured in to help

RainDog · 23-06-2009, 07:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by scotte

Having done this recently, there's only really one way - just do it. But honestly it wasn't the tank that's the worst part, it's all the old hoses, which will be full of what you expect along with massive amounts of stinky buildup.

I am replacing all my hoses and rebuilding the head this weekend. You all are making me afraid! I do not think the PO ever used the holding tank, so at least that hose is probably clean.

gonesail · 23-06-2009, 07:58

speaking of holding tanks .. I need to replace mine it also has a cracked fitting but it is 20 years old. These plastic tanks use a process called 'spin welding' for the fittings. I am guessing that this works pretty well or there would be a lot of complaints.

Randy · 23-06-2009, 19:52

After all the huurah, we need a blow by blow story of the HT extraction. Did ya get in a space suit and get the kiddie pools out

Ocean Girl · 23-06-2009, 20:36

Thursday is D-day.

captain58sailin · 24-06-2009, 01:30

We'll be rooting for you!

**James S** · 24-06-2009, 02:42

How about some pictures to, if its no problem?

Sandero · 24-06-2009, 04:29

Slightly OT.... but I was thinking about another system for waste management on boats. Instead of storing and pumping out, you would have returnable small modular tanks between 3 and 6 gallons which you connect to you head. They would have a gauge to indicate how full they are and integral check valves to eliminate the possibility of spillage.

The waste management company would pick them up and supply new empties from their roving waste management boat... like the pump out boat. Marinas and town docks would have facility for exchange of filled ones for empties. They would be small enough to carry in a dink and boats could carry multiple ones and "exchange often" as they want or needed.

Any comments?