My holding tank fills up too fast

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bobalong

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I have a Vacuflush. Also a 30 gallon holding tank. Nothing else goes into the tank. Seems like the indicator on my cabin display goes from empty, to half to full in no time. The FULL indicator located in the head has only been on once. I assume because when the half full light in the cabin display comes on I'm thinking pump out time. I assume these are two different sending units. One in the head is the Vacuflush equipment, the one on the cabin console display is brand X. Is the Vacuflush supplied light more accurate ? When it says full, does it mean FULL FULL ? or does it mean I'm pretty full and you better pay attention ?
Unfortunately you can't measure the quqntity of flush going in or being pumped out. Visibility of the tank is nil. The Vacuflush is 93 vintage.
 
Does your VF cycle frequently? How many people use the head? Does your crew flush after every #1? How quickly does your fresh water tank drop?
Suggestions: sounds a little gross but try reminding the crew not to flush after after #1, not much to do about the number of crew, if your water drops quickly and your VF cycles you may have a leaky water valve and flush ball and seal that will cause quick filling, to me digging into the tank area for a visual would be a last ditch after every thing else has been eliminated.
Also, my VF display in the head is also on the pump out switch and the full on it says specifically "Full-do not use".
 
Thanks for the reply. No, the VF only cycles when flushed. And I will usually #1 off the swim deck when possible. Just the two of us using the head. To put it into perspective I try to envision what six, five gallon buckets would look like. (= my 30 gallon holding tank), that seems like a LOT more capacity than what I think we put in there. Maybe after my next pump out I will put a marker in the head so we can keep count of how many flushes moves the indicator to the /empty/quarter/half/three quarter/ full mark. I think the cabin indicator is overstating level.
 
you can get a 5 gallon water jerry can and measure the tank capacity. It may be that there is a layer of solidified stuff on the botom of your tank.
 
What a no brainer, but I never thought of it. Pour 5 gallons in at a time and use it to calibrate the gauges. It also will tell me if my capacity has diminished. Great idea, thanks.
 
Just remember there is a direct ratio with the beer you consume, So you may want to drink less to conserve holding space.
 
quote:
Originally posted by Audrey II

Just remember there is a direct ratio with the beer you consume, So you may want to drink less to conserve holding space.

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For long weekends, I drink wine for that reason.
 
Half full with a 30 usg tank and VF should be 30 or 40 flushes

There is no way for water to leak in the bowl and getvpast the ball valve into the tank without flushing...

Another likely cause is that you have an overboard macerator with underwater discharge and that with the seacock open water syphon in the tank
 
quote:
Originally posted by Audrey II

Just remember there is a direct ratio with the beer you consume, So you may want to drink less to conserve holding space.

Click to expand...


Not if you swim a lot Dave.
 
quote:
Originally posted by ronp

quote:
Originally posted by Audrey II

Just remember there is a direct ratio with the beer you consume, So you may want to drink less to conserve holding space.

Click to expand...


Not if you swim a lot Dave.

Click to expand...
In this case there is a correlation of beer consumed to water temp.

I was surprised that my current boat has two 50 gallons holding tanks I have never seen a full light as of yet.
 
if the tank gauge is accurate and it really is filling up too quickly you may have to look at closing the thru hull on the overboard pump. if your tank is set up with a low to water line pump, tank and discharge, if the joker valves in the pump are worn you can have water backflow into the holding tank when the thru hull is open.
 
quote:

Suggestions: sounds a little gross but try reminding the crew not to flush after after #1,

Click to expand...


Really? Your admiral lets you get away with this? Mine would kill me for even suggesting it. I would rather pump out every weekend than save holding tank space that way. Each to their own but after 20yrs in the Navy sharing heads I am not about to start sharing toilet bowl water.
 
quote:
Originally posted by pdecat

you can get a 5 gallon water jerry can and measure the tank capacity. It may be that there is a layer of solidified stuff on the botom of your tank.
Click to expand...


If there was much of a layer, you would not be able to pump the tank out.

My guess is that the gauge is inaccurate. Mine (mounted on the outside of the tankk) has never worked right because of "poop" on the inside of the tank.
 
quote:
Originally posted by vic33004

if the tank gauge is accurate and it really is filling up too quickly you may have to look at closing the thru hull on the overboard pump. if your tank is set up with a low to water line pump, tank and discharge, if the joker valves in the pump are worn you can have water backflow into the holding tank when the thru hull is open.
Click to expand...


If this can happen on your boat, you have a much more serious problem than the holding tank filling up too quickly. If the overboard discharge is below the waterline, there needs to be a loop in the hose that's above the waterline and a siphon break device (vented loop). Otherwise, it's possible to sink the boat under certain conditions.
 
quote:
.... Suggestions: sounds a little gross but try reminding the crew not to flush after after #1, .....
Click to expand...

My wife and I will often "share" flushes, but there's no way I'm leaving urine in the bowl and hoses for long periods. That's an invitation to permanent "stink" and premature hose replacement.
 
Forgot to include in my description that I do not have any means to discharge overboard, there is just a holding tank.
 
Unless I've missed it, there is no quantification as to what "full in no time" means exactly. I don't know how anyone answers the question as to what is wrong without knowing this. Or to even answer to confirm whether something IS in fact wrong.

Why don't you count the number of flushes from empty to full, but do it all in a row with a set amount of water in the bowl. At this point, you don't even know if the guage is accurate. I think that's your question. Nobody but you can answer that.
 
quote:
Originally posted by Ghost......... At this point, you don't even know if the guage is accurate. I think that's your question. Nobody but you can answer that.

Click to expand...


If it's a poly tank and you can get to it, you can see the level in the tank. You might have to shine a light through it.

If you can't see through it, one reliable way to test the capacity and gauges is to empty it, then fill it, counting the gallons of water used, until water comes out the vent fitting. If there's a vent filter, you have to remove it and connect the two ends of the hose together. Getting wet will ruin the filter.

The other way is to cut an access port into the top of the tank if it doesn't already have one. With an access port, you can see the level in the tank. You will want to use a fitting that has a sealing "O" ring to close it off.
 
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