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This weekend I dewinterized and sanitized the fresh water tank on our fiver. While flushing the tank there were several black blobs which came out. I had blown the tank dry last fall so maybe it is just a film which formed in the bottom of the tank. We do have very hard water in our area but I usually run it through a softner. Anyone ever have this issue and what do you think it is? Any thoughts appreciated.
I did do a sanitize with bleach and refilled and flushed the tank a couple of times with water as well as blowing air into the tank to drain the entire contents. That is when I was seeing the gunk coming out of the low point drain. Just curious if anyone has ever had this happen and if so what are your thoughts on what it may be.
the black build up normally is the contaminants that accumulate in the water over time.....the water sources are all different depending where you are at in the country when you fill, the worst being in the flat lands and swampy areas where the water table is stagnant and high in minerals and decomposition materials.
When you empty and winterize in the fall or the end of your travel season you should disinfect the tank with a bleach mixture before storage to keep the mold growth down with an empty tank and repeat the process upon refilling at the start of your next de-winterizing.
I personally bleach my tank on schedule Every 90 days and do not use Tank water for drinking or cooking , in fact unless I'm sure I will not drink water from hook-ups either.
I carry 14 gallons of good water for drinking and cooking durring boondocking and prefer good filtered water otherwise IMHO
an ounce of prevention and good water beats a doctor bill and filling the black tank in a hurry (running to the Bathroom)any Day!!!!!.....LOL
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1998 ...Harney Renegade DP class A
rers1@mail.com
My Service dog and life partner " Nikki"......Klee Kia Miniature Husky....(she Runs the ship!!)
We are not lost in the Woods.....Just Extreme boondocking!!!!!!
Sounds like black algae. I had it growing in a section of clear hose between the filter and water inlet. I first saw it when flushing the toilet after moving the clear hose around when regenerating the water softener. No faucet strainers in the line to the toilet so it showed up there.
-- Edited by Clay L on Monday 29th of April 2013 03:29:22 PM
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Clay (WA5NMR), Lee (wife), Katie, Kelli (cats) Full timed for eleven years in a 2004 Sightseer 35N. Snowbirds for one winter and now settled down in CO.
Thanks to all for the replies. I guess I will have to start sanitizing the fresh tank more frequently. I imagine it is what was suggested that some type of algae formed while setting. I have noticed it occasionally in the toilet also. Like you Mike we use jugs or bottled water for drinking and cooking and only use the fresh water from the tank for cleaning and showers.
Hey, one tip if you sanitize the tank with bleach; I did that once, and even though I flushed and flushed and flushed, it still smelled like bleach for a couple of months. Then I discovered, Vitamin C will neutralize chlorine bleach, so I poured 1/2 a bottle of Trader Joe's Vitamin C powder in the tank. No more bleach smell, and the water felt wonderful, made my skin really nice!
Gene ........Also if you cut a hole in the top of the tank you can purchase a plumbers test plug at most home Depots and lowes that will seal the tank and act as a cap so it does not slosh out durring travel.........Note: buy the plug before drilling the hole!!! they come in assorted pipe sizes and have an expanding rubber seal that tightens as you turn it down
__________________
1998 ...Harney Renegade DP class A
rers1@mail.com
My Service dog and life partner " Nikki"......Klee Kia Miniature Husky....(she Runs the ship!!)
We are not lost in the Woods.....Just Extreme boondocking!!!!!!
Gene ........Also if you cut a hole in the top of the tank you can purchase a plumbers test plug at most home Depots and lowes that will seal the tank and act as a cap so it does not slosh out durring travel.........Note: buy the plug before drilling the hole!!! they come in assorted pipe sizes and have an expanding rubber seal that tightens as you turn it down
Mike that's exactly what I did, works like a charmmmm, the Red Oatley Test Plug.....
