Salt water flush

[AndrewB]

Hi
We have been in the Bahamas for 4 months and with fresh water costing between $0.10 and $0.80 a gallon we have used salt water to flush the toilets.
The senders in the 10 gallon holding tanks have got stuck and we have removed the sender units and submerged them in vinegar for an hour and then cleaned them. However, inside the tank, I can see a buildup of "Stuff".

Can I put muriatic acid (10% with water)/ or vinegar into the tank to attempt to clean out. Or any suggestions for cleaning out.

 

[Peggie Hall HeadMistress]

Yup...muriatic acid is the right cure...

...At least for any sea water mineral buildup. But I'd make it at least a 12% solution.

But if it's on the tank walls, it may be animal fats. The buildup on the senders should tell you what it is. Hard crystals = seawater calcium carbonate buildup...soft, detergent was the most effective cleaner= animal fats. Or it could be a combination.

Please tell me you didn't plumb the system to put everything through the tank with no option to flush directly overboard...'cuz that doesn't make any sense in waters where you MIGHT only have to use the tank once a month.

 

[AndrewB]

It appears to be hard so we will go ahead with the Muriatic acid.

Can I put this in via the toilet bowl. Will this destroy the white flexable plastic plumbing ?

And... Yes all waste goes through the holding tank ..... as delivered by Hunter.

We do spend most of the winter at Boat Harbour (Marsh Harbour) where they request that we leave the harbor to empty the holding tanks.

Thanks for help

 

[Peggie Hall HeadMistress]

Muriatic acid will not harm anything in the system... In fact, it's what Raritan recommends to clean the electrodes in the LectraSan/ ElectroScan. Just flush it down the toilet. If there's mineral buildup in the tank, there has to be buildup in the hoses too unless you've been flushing a cupful of undiluted distilled white vinegar through the system weekly to prevent it.

You should consider installing an ElectroSan. Treated waste is much better for the environment than a holding tank and is legal everywhere in the Bay except Herring Bay. And welcome everywhere in the islands too. Check it out: Raritan Electro Scan

And you should also consider replacing your tank level monitor with a Profile system that puts the sender on the outside of the tank. Profile Tank Monitors Cleaning holding tank senders is no fun!