Using OxyClean to "oxygenate" the holding tank
Dear Peggy: I purchased your book on eliminating head odors and found it to be very enlightening. To this end I have already this year installed a quot;by-passquot; hose between the head raw water intake and the sink drain with a marelon ball valve in between. I plan to use it to quot;flush the hosesquot; with fresh water to control odors from the hoses. However, after reading your book with regard to the role of aerobic vs. anaerobic bacteria in creating/fighting head odors and the need for a supply of ambient oxygen to support the action of aerobic bacteria, I'm wondering if it might be possible to quot;oxygenatequot; the holding tank environment with the addition of a laundry additive like OxyClean. My understanding from their company website is that when mixed with water, OxyClean is supposed to react to liberate oxygen and soda ash, without the use of bleach. Although the actual chemical composition is not clear, the company's FAQ indicates that the solution created has a pH of between 10.4 and 10.8, making it moderately alkalai, similar to baking soda, but not as strong as lye. What are your thoughts on this? Could aerobic bacteria survive a moderately alkalai environment if enough oxygen were present? P.S. I am NOT a representative for OxyClean in any way, shape or form.does buckest
I, too, have pondered the subject of oxygenating a holding tank. Rather than using quot;Oxycleanquot; I have from time to time added a cup or so of 3% hydrogen peroxide to each head. H2O2 is bacteriocidal to both the quot;goodquot; aerobic as well as the quot;badquot; anaerobic bacteria. But it quickly breaks down into O2 and water... and this oxygenation favors the aerobes. How much does it help? I don't know... but its very inexpensive and probably doesn't hurt. Oh, BTW, my boat has been in service now for 3 full years. I have flushed both heads only w/ fresh water from day 1. I have never had a problem w/ head odors, at all, with either head. So, something is working.
I've been asked about using it in holding tanks quite a bit lately...don't. Not only is it caustic, and therefore murderous to hoses--and especially to a metal holding tank--but it's effervescent...even the slightest vent blockage or clog can result in a pressurized tank. The quot;oxygenatingquot; effect doesn't last very long either. Mixing it with vinegar used to prevent sea water mineral buildup in hoses may produce toxic gasses. And finally, waste and water have a pH of 7-9...the higher the pH level, the more active bacteria become...conversely, the lower the pH, the more sluggish they become...going dormant (but not dead) at 4. So the LAST thing you want to do to eliminate odor is raise the pH level.
She's a stickler for chemistry, and I've found her advice to hold up unfailingly. Oxyclean had me going for a moment.
She'll get the stink out of Washington!! *5 BTW Peggie, moving the anti-siphon hose worked... Jim S/V Java
If your hoses stink replace em with sea/land odorsafe hose. replace all of your old chemicals with K/O. and make sure your vents aren't plugged or too small. Listen to Peggy. I did.
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