My fresh water smells bad. I figure that the tanks need a good cleaning. What is the best way to deal with cleaning and maintaining fresh water tanks?
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clean water
is probably the most desirable thing on a boat. On Bietzpadlin we don't use enough water to keep the tanks flushed so they get funky. For drinking water we freeze water in jugs and put it in the ice box and use the tank water for washing. each fall I drain the tanks and in the spring I fill them and add a full gallon of chlorine bleach to each tank and let them sit for a couple of days and then rinse them with at least four changes of water. That cleans them and destroys any algae. If after four rinses you can still smell chlorine rinse again.
is probably the most desirable thing on a boat. On Bietzpadlin we don't use enough water to keep the tanks flushed so they get funky. For drinking water we freeze water in jugs and put it in the ice box and use the tank water for washing. each fall I drain the tanks and in the spring I fill them and add a full gallon of chlorine bleach to each tank and let them sit for a couple of days and then rinse them with at least four changes of water. That cleans them and destroys any algae. If after four rinses you can still smell chlorine rinse again.
You're using way to much bleach and leaving it
in the system way too long, Ross. 1 quart/50 gals of water is enough to get the job done....24 hours is maximum length of time to leave it in the system. And it appears from your comments that you're only leaving it in the tank...that you aren't cleaning out the plumbing too, and it's actually in the plumbing, not the tank, where most of the critters than make the water turn foul live...which is prob'ly why your water turns foul sooner than it should. If you clean out the whole system, your water should remain as good as any coming out a faucet on land for a full season. Search the archives for "fresh water maintenance" for the right way to do it. I've posted 'em at least a dozen times in the last 2 years.
in the system way too long, Ross. 1 quart/50 gals of water is enough to get the job done....24 hours is maximum length of time to leave it in the system. And it appears from your comments that you're only leaving it in the tank...that you aren't cleaning out the plumbing too, and it's actually in the plumbing, not the tank, where most of the critters than make the water turn foul live...which is prob'ly why your water turns foul sooner than it should. If you clean out the whole system, your water should remain as good as any coming out a faucet on land for a full season. Search the archives for "fresh water maintenance" for the right way to do it. I've posted 'em at least a dozen times in the last 2 years.
Neat drinking water trick
Ross mentioned freezing water in jugs, which prompted me pass this on: (I know nobody in this crowd would ever drink wine from a box, but if you know some low-life that does, ask him for the empties.) Cut a small hole in the top of the liner bag, and fill with water or other freezable beverage, replace in box, and freeze. Remove and discard box, place as many as practicable in ice box or cooler where they serve as ice while waiting to be drank.
Ross mentioned freezing water in jugs, which prompted me pass this on: (I know nobody in this crowd would ever drink wine from a box, but if you know some low-life that does, ask him for the empties.) Cut a small hole in the top of the liner bag, and fill with water or other freezable beverage, replace in box, and freeze. Remove and discard box, place as many as practicable in ice box or cooler where they serve as ice while waiting to be drank.
Wine In a box
I know a person that uses the 5liter size and also the 3.5liter boxes. I have never personally ever seen such a thing or would I ever let that uncivilised foul elixir pass my lips. :>) Fair Winds Cap'n Dave
I know a person that uses the 5liter size and also the 3.5liter boxes. I have never personally ever seen such a thing or would I ever let that uncivilised foul elixir pass my lips. :>) Fair Winds Cap'n Dave
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