holding tank -upright or horizontal

[Czar]

I've read through everything and can't find an answer to whether the tank should be upright or horizontal. I've got quick and cheap access to a 35 gal tank from Todd Enterprises. (I need to finish my install!) It is 16 x 15.5 x 36". I've also got the space to install horiztally - 15.5" high, or upright - 36" high. The installed fittings are on the 16 x 15.5 surface so if I place horizontally I will move the fittings to keep them on top.

Upright gives less free water effect, horizontal provides more surface area for aeration. The head is a Sea Elegance so the upright tank shouldn't be a problem to pump into.

Any thoughts? Advise?

 

[capjules]

in my battles with hodling tank odors, nothing I put in the tank made any difference, only improving the aeration really made any significant difference.

I would go with the better aeration position.

what is worse, when I tried bio-active products in a tank that had poor aeration, it back fired, the smell got 10 times worse.

it's all about proper aeration.

 

[Peggie Hall HeadMistress]

Vertical or horizontal has no impact on ventilation

to the tank unless the tank is deeper than 20". That's a function of a larger (1" instead of 5/8"), short straight vent line.

I know you want to get this job done, but I wouldn't go with a Todd tank...there's a reason why they're so cheap...you get what you pay for. My big toenail is thicker than the tank walls...not thick enough to support the weight of the contents. So you'd have to build a plywood box to support it on all sides to keep it from bulging, which ultimately results in a cracked tank. "Fitting relocation kits" are not the best thing either...they often leak! You haven't mentioned hoses, but I suspect you're going cheap and easy to get for that so you can "get 'er done now" too...which means it's gonna permeate before the summer is over. You haven't mentioned exactly where you want to put this tank either...that can make plumbing and venting more of an issue than it needs to be.

I suggest you spend $50 for a cheap portapotty to get you onto the water and buy you the time you need to do this job right...'cuz it's ALWAYS cheaper and easier to do anything right the first time than it is to do it over...and you WILL have to do this job over if you go the way you're starting out to go.

 

[Czar]

Im not on the cheap

Thanks for all the replies... I've got the Sea Elegance head with smart panel installed, trident 101 hoses plumbed, connected to onboard fresh water supply, and just need to get and install a holding tank. Planning on 2 x 1" vents. This is the second head on my catamaran. The other head is an at sea only, manual PH II. Want to quickly get this done as I'm a liveaboard and getting tired of the walk up to the marina facilities.

 

[Czar]

And the tank is going into the

forward stbd hull. Its an isolated space forward of the last watertight bulkhead. The space is 6' long, and 7' deep. The trident 101 hose passes through the bulkhead with sealed fittings. total length from head to tank can be 4 to 10 feet depending on where I put the tank in the space. Further fwd gets me better access for venting, further aft gets me a shorter run from the head to tank.