While checking out my holding tank, hoses, etc, I discovered that inside the holding tank is a large hard substance that appears to be taking up a lot of room. What is it and how can I get rid of it?
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It's sludge that's hardened into "concrete"
Once that happens, there's nothing that will dissolve it that won't also damage the tank and plumbing. That's why it's so important to at least nominally rinse out the tank after every pumpout and thoroughly flush it out 2-3x/season, especially in preparation for winterizing. It's easy to do: put a couple of gallons of water--enough to cover the bottom to a depth of a few inches--into the tank via the deck pumpout fitting ('cuz that sends it into the tank at the bottom to stir up the sludge. Pump out or turn on the macerator. Once or twice is enough after each pumpout...2-3 x/year--and at the end of the season--repeat till the water coming out is clear. Be sure to run enough clean water through any macerator or pump to clean it out too. Since the sludge in your tank was allowed to accumulate and harden, you really only have two choices: live with the reduced tank capacity or replace the tank. Btw...while you're checking out hoses, be sure to check out the vent connection at the tank and the vent thru-hull for a blockage...very common in the spring. You may have to scrape out the tank fitting, that end of the hose and the vent thru-hull with a screw driver blade to clear out the hardened material.
Once that happens, there's nothing that will dissolve it that won't also damage the tank and plumbing. That's why it's so important to at least nominally rinse out the tank after every pumpout and thoroughly flush it out 2-3x/season, especially in preparation for winterizing. It's easy to do: put a couple of gallons of water--enough to cover the bottom to a depth of a few inches--into the tank via the deck pumpout fitting ('cuz that sends it into the tank at the bottom to stir up the sludge. Pump out or turn on the macerator. Once or twice is enough after each pumpout...2-3 x/year--and at the end of the season--repeat till the water coming out is clear. Be sure to run enough clean water through any macerator or pump to clean it out too. Since the sludge in your tank was allowed to accumulate and harden, you really only have two choices: live with the reduced tank capacity or replace the tank. Btw...while you're checking out hoses, be sure to check out the vent connection at the tank and the vent thru-hull for a blockage...very common in the spring. You may have to scrape out the tank fitting, that end of the hose and the vent thru-hull with a screw driver blade to clear out the hardened material.
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