I routinely use Raritan K.O. and CP products. I have been in paces while cruising where I could not purchase these items. Would it be acceptable to use the Rid-X Septic tank treatment product instead? Product claims to have bacteria to help beakdown waste. Similar to K.O.? Thanks Grant Ziebell S/V Nemo Pensacola, FL
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Nope...
You've been seeing the same TV commercials I have.
And I've been asked this question every time Rid-X has run an ad campaign for years. Not all bacteria and enzymes are created equal....there are all kinds, cultured to work in different ways. K.O. and Rid-X work in opposite ways. The bacteria in K.O. are aerobic bacteria, cultured to work in aerobic conditions to not only break down waste, but also digest odor-causing anaerobes The bacteria and enzymes in Rid-X are cultured to work ANaerobically in septic tanks, which are anaerobic systems. Anaerobic bacteria and enzymes won't prevent odor. Waste breaks down equally well in both environments...in fact, waste alone has enough bacteria in it that it doesn't need any help from added bacteria, but septic tanks (arguably) need some help 'cuz waste isn't the only thing that ends up in 'em. Additionally, there are over 100 billion (that's right, with a "b") bacteria colonies/gallon in K.O.--which is why it's so expensive...bacteria colonies cost a lot more than enzymes. So the price difference tells you Rid-X. is mostly enzymes--which exhaust themselves very quickly--and very few bacteria colonies.
You've been seeing the same TV commercials I have.
And I've been asked this question every time Rid-X has run an ad campaign for years. Not all bacteria and enzymes are created equal....there are all kinds, cultured to work in different ways. K.O. and Rid-X work in opposite ways. The bacteria in K.O. are aerobic bacteria, cultured to work in aerobic conditions to not only break down waste, but also digest odor-causing anaerobes The bacteria and enzymes in Rid-X are cultured to work ANaerobically in septic tanks, which are anaerobic systems. Anaerobic bacteria and enzymes won't prevent odor. Waste breaks down equally well in both environments...in fact, waste alone has enough bacteria in it that it doesn't need any help from added bacteria, but septic tanks (arguably) need some help 'cuz waste isn't the only thing that ends up in 'em. Additionally, there are over 100 billion (that's right, with a "b") bacteria colonies/gallon in K.O.--which is why it's so expensive...bacteria colonies cost a lot more than enzymes. So the price difference tells you Rid-X. is mostly enzymes--which exhaust themselves very quickly--and very few bacteria colonies.
Odorlos and yeast...
The active ingredient in Odorlos is nitrates, which prevent odor by promoting oxygen release from the waste itself...so it needs far less oxygen from an external source to work. As for yeast...it'll help waste break down (which doesn't need any help)...but it won't do a thing to prevent odor. And there's a definite risk involved with using it, 'cuz yeast outgasses BIG time. Let me tell you a story about it: A friend of mine has a summer cottage in a remote area...it's on a septic tank. People are only there a couple of months a year...the septic tank died. Somebody told him to put yeast down the toilet to restart it. As "cottages" go, his is huge...it has 4 baths, and he put a whole block of Fleishman's yeast down all 4 toilets. After a few hours, he began to hear a slight rumbling sound from the direction of the septic tank...then he noticed that the water in a toilet was no longer still. The rumbling sound increased to a level that he started to think the septic tank was gonna explode...but it didn't. Instead, every toilet and drain in the house erupted--the pressure blew the water out of every trap...and the odor was UNBELIEVEABLE!! Gradually the outgassing began to subside..but it was a day and a half before the drains stopped continuously outgassing...and they continued to "burp" for over a month. Everything in the house stank so bad they couldn't live in it...they even considered just tearing it down and rebuilding. They rented another place to stay while they spent that summer working on making the house tenable again...It took a couple of years to get rid of all the odor...99% of it anyway. Now...would you be willing to risk a similar occurance on your boat? 'Cuz just a little too much and/or a blocked tank vent would be all it would take.
The active ingredient in Odorlos is nitrates, which prevent odor by promoting oxygen release from the waste itself...so it needs far less oxygen from an external source to work. As for yeast...it'll help waste break down (which doesn't need any help)...but it won't do a thing to prevent odor. And there's a definite risk involved with using it, 'cuz yeast outgasses BIG time. Let me tell you a story about it: A friend of mine has a summer cottage in a remote area...it's on a septic tank. People are only there a couple of months a year...the septic tank died. Somebody told him to put yeast down the toilet to restart it. As "cottages" go, his is huge...it has 4 baths, and he put a whole block of Fleishman's yeast down all 4 toilets. After a few hours, he began to hear a slight rumbling sound from the direction of the septic tank...then he noticed that the water in a toilet was no longer still. The rumbling sound increased to a level that he started to think the septic tank was gonna explode...but it didn't. Instead, every toilet and drain in the house erupted--the pressure blew the water out of every trap...and the odor was UNBELIEVEABLE!! Gradually the outgassing began to subside..but it was a day and a half before the drains stopped continuously outgassing...and they continued to "burp" for over a month. Everything in the house stank so bad they couldn't live in it...they even considered just tearing it down and rebuilding. They rented another place to stay while they spent that summer working on making the house tenable again...It took a couple of years to get rid of all the odor...99% of it anyway. Now...would you be willing to risk a similar occurance on your boat? 'Cuz just a little too much and/or a blocked tank vent would be all it would take.
Odorlos and KO?
So do Odorlos and KO compliment one another then? I should use both, along with vinegar?
So do Odorlos and KO compliment one another then? I should use both, along with vinegar?
That would be a "belt and suspenders" approach...
If one works, you don't need the other. As for vinegar, it has nothing to with the tank...the only reason to flush vinegar down the toilet is to prevent sea water mineral buildup. You don't really need it on the river.
If one works, you don't need the other. As for vinegar, it has nothing to with the tank...the only reason to flush vinegar down the toilet is to prevent sea water mineral buildup. You don't really need it on the river.
So for the cabin?
Peggie: So what does your friend use in his septic tank after the explosive yeast experience? Dick
Peggie: So what does your friend use in his septic tank after the explosive yeast experience? Dick
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