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HOW OFTEN SHOULD I CHANGE MY VENT FILTER
VENT FILTER
- Thread starter nat liantonio
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Capt. Bill1
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That really only works if the vent line is very large, like 1 1/4"+. And even better if there are two lines so you get good cross air flow.
You could get away with just one small vent line if you added a air bubblier to you black water tank I suppose.
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Well, really who cares what s in the tank... What matters is that when you flush you don't get nasty smell out the vent and coming in thru open hatches...
The only way filters can cause problems is if you let your tank overflow, which we all agree is bad practice in the first place...
The only way filters can cause problems is if you let your tank overflow, which we all agree is bad practice in the first place...
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"ilters don't address the issue, but enzymes do? I don't follow the logic."
David:
Anaerobic bacteria stink. Aerobic bacteria do not.
Thus, a tank using an aerobic system has no need for a vent filter. Systems which use Odorlos or KO are aerobic.
So, here is the logic: If you use a system which, by it's nature, stinks, you need a filter; if you "cure the problem at the source", that is, use a system which does not stink, then you do not need the filter.
David:
Anaerobic bacteria stink. Aerobic bacteria do not.
Thus, a tank using an aerobic system has no need for a vent filter. Systems which use Odorlos or KO are aerobic.
So, here is the logic: If you use a system which, by it's nature, stinks, you need a filter; if you "cure the problem at the source", that is, use a system which does not stink, then you do not need the filter.
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Exactly! How many people who use a filter also dump stuff into the tank? Overkill????
I stop the stink at the source, therefore, I don't use a filter, I never have to change it and I never have to worry about it becoming clogged.
I'm happy with my system.
Got it. So in the absence of a large vent or two (ARE YOU LISTENING SEA RAY) Capt. Bill's proposal of aerating the black water is the most effective way of precluding odors????? Or am I still missing something?
Believe me, I was very impressed with the 1.5" vent hose in my Regal. Not only did it provide for a great holding tank vent, I could shove a dedicated piece of garden hose down the vent to flush the tank. I wish I could figure out a way to do that on Saint Max.
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Hogan, I think Pascal was saying he's got plenty of fresh air coming into the tank so he doesn't need to add anything.
David, I've experimented over the years with both Vic's and Peggy's advice. The more air to a tank the better. To back up my experiments, Practical Sailor just had the results of one of their studies. To summarize (and this agrees with what's been said above):
-1.5" vent hose will greatly help the growth of "good" bacteria (aerobic). 2 hoses are better.
-Absent that, a treatment with nitrates is best (produces it's own O2). KO is good, but no nitrates. Camco at Wal-Mart was rated well.
-Aerate the tank - use the expensive system, or as PS tried (and I did too for 2 years), put an aquarium pump in to add air!
I gave up on the aquarium pump not because it didn't work (it worked very well actually), but because the pumps are 110v and we spend too much time at anchor on 12v batteries to run it. It's great for weekends, as I suppose enough O2 is built up. But for longer stretches I switched to a larger vent hose.
David, I've experimented over the years with both Vic's and Peggy's advice. The more air to a tank the better. To back up my experiments, Practical Sailor just had the results of one of their studies. To summarize (and this agrees with what's been said above):
-1.5" vent hose will greatly help the growth of "good" bacteria (aerobic). 2 hoses are better.
-Absent that, a treatment with nitrates is best (produces it's own O2). KO is good, but no nitrates. Camco at Wal-Mart was rated well.
-Aerate the tank - use the expensive system, or as PS tried (and I did too for 2 years), put an aquarium pump in to add air!
I gave up on the aquarium pump not because it didn't work (it worked very well actually), but because the pumps are 110v and we spend too much time at anchor on 12v batteries to run it. It's great for weekends, as I suppose enough O2 is built up. But for longer stretches I switched to a larger vent hose.
Capt. Bill1
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i think the correct answer depends alot on where and how you boat. we have a 1 1/2" vent line to a 40 gallon tank. the hose is short, less than 4'. in the warm waters of florida even in the winter time, the chemicals/enzymes dont work. i spent way too much $ trying different products, at the end of it the solution for us was a filter. it works every time without fail provided it doesnt get wet as others have noted. every few years i cut it in half and get some charcoal from the pet store and recharge it. cost me less than $10 now and that is a fraction of what the chemicals were costing me. i'm sure in a cooler climate the chemicals probably work better, but down here tied up to a floating dock at a marina even a light smell is too much.
Buy this book:
http://www.amazon.com/Get-Rid-Boat-Odors-Aggravation/dp/1892399156/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top
Study it, and you will know the answers to your boat odor and sanitation problems.
http://www.amazon.com/Get-Rid-Boat-Odors-Aggravation/dp/1892399156/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top
Study it, and you will know the answers to your boat odor and sanitation problems.