Add-on 'window' to holding tank?

[Dave]

I have a black opaque 15-gallon holding tank with no tank monitor. Thus, it is somewhat of an educated guess when it comes to timing the pumpout. Now I know that the Snake River AccuGage comes highly recommended, but it is $300+. I'm curious if any has ever seen a device that would allow you to drill a hole in your tank about 3/4 of the way up and insert a translucent window so you could see when the tank was 3/4 full and take action accordingly. It would seem to me that this could be done and be a lot cheaper. Thoughts? Am I asking for trouble? After some time of use, will it just become opaque from the waste anyway? Easier just to replace the tank with a translucent one?

 

[Peggie Hall/Head Mistress]

$300 is the price for the 8 tank "ultra" model

Which, for an 8 tank system is an incredible deal. There are other less expensive AcuGauge models, including the single tank "mini," which is right at $100...the 4 tank system is somewhere in the between. Hunter may have even better prices.Check 'em all out on the Snake River Electronics website...link below. Forget installing a "window" in a plastic holding tank...it would have to heat welded to the tank or it'll leak.

 

[Forrest B True]

Holding tank guage

Dave: Tank Watch holding tank alert system from Boat US works great. I installed one years agoand have had great success with it. Price $55.99I also installed a clear inspection plate and it also works great. Forrest

 

[Peggie Hall/Head Mistress]

More than one TankWatch system

TankWatch I only lets you know when the tank is full...which isn't much use if you need to know whether you're only one flush away from full or only half full. The TankWatch IV (or maybe it's V by now...I, II and III have been discontinued) do give you a 1/2, 1/2, 3/4 and full reading, but costs more for one tank than an 8 tank AcuGage system. Sending units in the TankWatch don't last very long in aluminum tanks either. The sender is an open connection that falls victim to galvanic corrosion.I LOVE the AcuGage system...did even before I knew who made 'em...'cuz the sender never comes in contact with the tank contents. And, they're the least expensive system by FAR that provides any information except "full."

 

[Stan Rogacevicz]

Holding Tank Eye

This is a step tapered plastic tube that slips into a 1" hole cut in the top of your tank to show 3", 2", and 1" of air left at the top of the tank. I've installed it in 2 boats and they don't leak. Link is below. I also have the accu guage by snake river but the eye is a good backup and it came in handy to calibrate the accu guage.Stan"Christy Leigh"c320 #656

 

[Peggie Hall/Head Mistress]

Only good, Stan, IF...

there's easy access to the top the tank. Anything that requires a visual inspection of the tank is useless if you can't get to the tank to check it without taking the boat apart...or even removing everything stored on top of it.

 

[Dave]

Thanks for advice

Thanks for the thoughts. The Holding Tank Eye seems like a great idea except, as Peggy points out, the top of my tank is not very accessible.I have ordered a 4-tank Acu Guage LED monitor. $108 for everything. Given the rave reviews it has gotten here, it seemed well-worth it at $100.