How quickly do solids break down?

[Lou 14643]

Peggie,I've got your book but don't find this topic covered. I'm going sailing this weekend with someone who, without getting too graphic, is on an iron supplement which has the side effect of creating (how do I say it?), hard stools. I am hoping to pump out my holding tank soon after the weekend, as any day now, my marina will shut it down before the first hard frost. So, this got me wondering, what is the rate of decomposition like in order to make pumpout go easily. I've sometimes found in the past that the ease of pumpout can be variable depending upon how the head has been used. You mention a couple of tank additives such as K.O. and C.P. Do these speed breakdown of solids? Over what kind of time frame? Thanks for your advice! Lou

 

[Seattle Scott]

Hey Lou

If you can get: (1)the poo into the holding tank you should be able(2) to get it out. I'd worry about getting #2 into #1, before I'd worry about getting #2 out of #2. *yks

 

[Peggie Hall HeadMistress]

Most solids dissolve in water very quickly

"Dissolve" and "break down" aren't the same thing...but solid waste is 75% water to begin with...just going through the pump breaks it up into smaller bits...and it SHOULD dissolve in the tank within no more than 12 hours.HOW oten the head has been used should have nothing to do with ease of pump out...I suspect any problems you've have had more to do with the wrong type of TP or guests who's flushed something they shouldn't have...'cuz there's no way that the solid waste from just ONE ne guest onboard for just ONE weekend could possible interfere with pumpout. How often do you flush out your tank? If you never have, you could have an accumulation of sludge in the bottom of the tank that's deep enough to clog up the discharge. That should be done 2-3x/season ((check the archives for directions for doing tha).

 

[Lou 14643]

Do you ever come across a weak pumpout pump?

I've wondered if maybe my marina's pumpout station is a little weak. My deck fitting had a chain to keep it from falling overboard, but I cut it off because I felt it kept me from getting a tight seal between the fitting and the pumpout hose. My method for pumping out is to turn on the pump (it is set to turn itself off in about 5 minutes), and pump out what I can. Then I run a couple of gallons of water down the clean-out hose and repeat a couple of times until the water coming out is reasonably clear. Between cycles I go below and hold a flashlight next to the tank to see if I've in fact emptied the tank. Sometimes yes and sometimes no. Eventually it all works and I'm left with a pretty clean and empty tank, but there have been times when it seems I'm fighting a clog. Maybe as you suggest Peggie, it is just too much TP (I don't think wrong type, while it is not "marine," it is cheap "safe for septic systems."). I generally pump out a few times per season.Thanks for your advice.

 

[Jerry Clark H356 SV Persistence]

Check your vent!

Read Peggy's book - but always backflush your vent and check to see if spiders have built a web in it. If it is clogged or slightly clogged, the pump out will be more difficult.

 

[Peggie Hall HeadMistress]

Jerry's right...

A blocked tank vent will cause the pumpout to pull a vacuum that prevents it from pumping out more than a gallon or two. A particularly strong pumpout can even implode a tank. So make sure the vent also stays clear.I can't argue with the rest of the advice Jerry gave you either. Waste fitting caps should NOT have chains...for just the reason you discovered: the pumpout can't seal with a chain in the way, and if it can't get a good seal, it can't pump out your tank. So if you only cut the cap off the chain, and the chain is still dangling in the fitting, that could be your problem. Get rid of it altogether. Just be sure to put the cap where it can't get knocked into the water when you remove it, or be prepared to buy a lot of replacements. Or your marina may have a wimpy pumpout. Best way to find out: make sure a blocked vent or the chain isn't causing the problem, then try a different pumpout.

 

[Lou 14643]

I usually test the vent when I pump out...

by putting my finger on it and feeling the vaccuum. It has strong suction, telling me that the vent is clear. I'm curious though, when Jerry mentions backflushing the vent, how do you suggest doing this? Do you just hold a hose against the vent opening? I'll give it a try, and also try another pumpout this weekend to see if I get better performance. Thanks for all the advice!

 

[T J Furstenau]

Backflush Vent

Lou -Exactly as you described, hold the hose to the vent line while pumping out. That way you can be sure the vent is clear and it helps to agitate the contents of the tank while pumping. Per advice from Peggie, when I replaced my tank, I went with a 1" vent line. I can stick the hose into the thru hull, and leave it sit while pumping. As you mentioned, I pump until all that is coming out is clear, and then I remove the hose until it's empty.T J

 

[Lou 14643]

Ingenious Rick!

This winter I'll have to look into increasing the size of my vent line. Makes great sense. Not sure off the top of my head, the size of my tank's vent fitting, but I know the hose is something like 5/8 ID.

 

[Ross in Tampa]

I gotta try that...

I gotta try that finger thing... normally I just suck on the hose like a syphon, works great, tastes terrible.Ross

 

[Ken Juul]

Catalina Vent Cleaner

To flush my Nissan outboard I have a garden hose coupler fitted with a 3/8" barbed fitting. Plugs into a flushing hose to back flush the motor. I use the same coupler & fitting on the pump out water hose to direct water into the little vent hole in the stanchion. Water still gets everywhere, but more goes down the vent than with out it.

 

[ed wolfe]

freon back flush

I simply take vent off the tank ,snake hose out port window , fill with h20 , let it sit ,then take air horn and blow the stuff out . Take care that you don,t blow to long if it is pluged. Has worked fine for me for years!

 

[Bob Todd]

Ross...

You're a sick man... *yks"I gotta try that finger thing... normally I just suck on the hose like a syphon, works great, tastes terrible.Ross"