Holding Tank Vent Length - Peggie

[redunculous]

Peggie

Not sure if you saw my previous post

My holding tank vent is around 11ft

Whilst I change out my holding tank I would like to move it

What length is going to be ok - I think I can get it down to about 8ft maybe 7 - will this be ok (1inch pipe)

Kind Regards

Redunc

 

[Peggie Hall HeadMistress]

Ideally it should be <5', straight as an arrow and rise no more than 45 degrees.

 

[redunculous]

Thats going to be very difficult I think

 

[Peter Fridman]

More questions to Peggie on Holding Tanks

Peggie, most of us are stuck with production boats that have breather tubes installed, mine is curved and there is no other solution in its track. I have tried everithing available in the market in order to remove septic odor in the cockpit when someone is flushing the head. As I understand the anerobic activity in the tank is displaced into the breathing tube as new "poop" is pumped into the tank.

My question is, would the odorl be eliminated if I get a blower to pump air into the tank ocasionally?

 

[redunculous]

Peter

How would you achieve that?

Surely a blower is just going to do the exact same thing as your experiencing right now?

It was mentioned to me about putting a sealand vent filter in but Peggie no no'd that so it will be interesting to see what she says.

My holding tank is located underneath the floor on my boat so no matter what - to get it to a decent height above the water line I am going to go over 5ft and my degree is going to end up more than 45 degrees

 

[Peggie Hall HeadMistress]

Wouldn't work

However, rerouting a new larger diameter vent line to a new thru-hull might...but just changing your tank product could improve things too...what are you using?

If all else fails a holding tank aeration system may be the only solution:
Groco Sweetank installation instructions

Guy, your tank is in a horrible location for a waste tank...but just because the original tank was installed where it is does NOT mean that's the only place to put one. The simplest--and MUCH less expensive--solution for your boat is a new location for the tank. But unfortunately you've chosen to charge ahead and spend a bunch of money repeating the builder's mistakes instead trying to find a better way.

 

[redunculous]

In all fairness

I have just chosen to get it replaced - the same as many others did here on the exact same boat in the exact same fashion. I havent heard them complain it still stinks and simply sought your advice ref the vent length after spotting another post from a while back where you had given advice to someone who had an 11ft vent line.

I am not at my boat as you know, I do not want to fly back from Iraq and spend my time once again working on my boat - to date I've hardly even sailed it but instead have been constantly fixing items from the previous PO that were not uncovered on the survey. This time I wanted to go back and use it and actually have a 'break' which in all fairness doing what I do I think I deserve.

When I discussed my tank with you, you didnt mention moving it you simply mentioned who was good to use to find a replacement for it that would fit where the other one was (unless I am mistaken?)

If a 7ft vent line is going to cause issues then I will have to have it investigated more - I find it a bit harsh to be told I'm charging ahead wasting my hard earned money when in reality I am reading and following advice not only from people that have the same boat and experienced the same issues but also from you.

I am here on this forum to seek advice and to look at other peoples experience, this is the first time on this issue for me and all the others I have seen with the same boat where its been said the tank is in a horrible location - I cannot act on that if I do not know

Its been a particulary tough day out here in Iraq so I realise I have probably come across a bit short but I also hope truthful.

 

[Peter Fridman]

Pegie, how about the sweet tank alternative as suggested. Do you have any knowledge of its performance ?

 

[Peter Fridman]

Pegie, how about the sweet tank alternative as suggested. Do you have any knowledge of its performance ?

Thats the Grocco Sweet tank system.

 

[Peggie Hall HeadMistress]

When installed, operated and maintained according to directions, the Groco Sweetank system eliminates odors out the vent without the need for any other tank product.

Groco Sweetank installation instructions

 

[jeromeddd]

I had the odor problem till i started dumping a slash or two of the blue tank deodorizer, from walmart into the head shortly after a pumpout... quick easy and cheap... happy sailing..

 

[Lost Parent]

We in the RV business do not have issues with a longer run even at 45 degrees , just make the vent line as large as you can and use a good quality chemical deoderizer

 

[Peggie Hall HeadMistress]

RV tanks aren't inside the coach

And neither is 90% of the plumbing. RV tanks are typically vented above the roof, not out the side of the vehicle. There's still plenty of odor...it just isn't noticed by those on the ground.

So it's actually necessary to use toxic chemicals in most RV tanks because they cannot be maintained aerobically.

Iow, while RV sanitation systems and marine sanitation systems use many of the same components, RV and marine SYSTEMS have almost nothing in common.

About 30 years ago, someone in the RV industry had the bright idea to use the engine exhaust to drain holding tanks while traveling by incinerating it. It only had a couple of drawbacks: the animal fats in waste clogged catalytic converters and the odor out the tailpipe was unbearable for anyone following the coach. But every 10-15 years someone tries to revive it in both the RV and marine industries. The most recent attempt was the "ZLD" thezld.com - The ZLD - ThermalTreated Zero Liquid Discharge It opened to rave reviews, but doesn't seem to have been any more successful than any of its predecessors.

 

[Lost Parent]

Re: RV tanks aren't inside the coach

I agree with you Peggie aboout the junk RV systems out there but they are definatley not thought up by RV technicians . I have built numerous conversion and have had to run so many odd routes that I just learned cleaner and a Good non toxic chemical is better

 

[Peggie Hall HeadMistress]

I didn't say they were junk...

Nor did I mean to imply it... only that RV systems are totally different from marine systems. And neither one has much if anything in common with a household system.

If only houseboat owners were capable of grasping that...<sigh>....