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Water tank cleaning

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JeanAndre
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USA
224 Posts

Initially Posted - 10/25/2011 : 08:02:17

I am in the process of bringing my new to me C25 to shape.

The boat has been sitting still for a while and I haven´t used the water in the tank since I got it. The water has no smell and no color, what tells me the tank is still good, but I would like to drain it and clean it.

What have you guys done to clean it?

Cheers

I am Captain ! !
Yelled I to my wife and daughter...

Jean André - St. Louis - MO
1981 C25 SR/SK - OH LALA #2591
1977 C25 TR/FK - CLARICE M. #0042
2011 9.8 Nissan XL shaft
USCG Master, sail and tow endorsements
ASA instructor
Aspiring boat designer (Westlawn)

Edited by - JeanAndre on 11/05/2011 06:24:07

dmpilc
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4593 Posts

Response Posted - 10/25/2011 : 08:32:16

From what I've read in previous threads on this subject, several have recommended cutting a hole in the top of the tank and installing a 4" Beckson inspection port. This is supposed to make cleaning the tank easier by providing access to the inside of the tank, and it allows you to insert a water pump hose to drain it.
In our 5 years of owning our C25, we've not used the tank at all, so I've never been inclined to try istalling the port. Those who do use the tank generally do not use it for drinking water, just dish washing and other cleaning chores. Bring bottled water for drinking.

Edited by - on

Dave5041
Former Mainsheet Editor

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3758 Posts

Response Posted - 10/25/2011 : 15:08:20

Adding the inspection port is the only way for to really clean it. I haven't gone that far and just add a good splash (1/4 -1/2 cup, or so) of bleach and then fill the tank. I Pump both faucets until I smell bleach and let it sit overnight. Finally, I pump the tank dry using that water for beginning of the season cleaning, partially refill and pump it dry again. That keeps it clear, odor free, and probably safe for the season, but we still drink, cook, and brush our teeth with bottled water.

Edited by - on

Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
5352 Posts

Response Posted - 10/25/2011 : 17:19:09

Each spring I treat my tank with 1/2 cup of clorox diluted with water, then rinse it out, then clean it with white vinegar and rinse it out. I pump the mixture through the faucet pumps into the sinks.

I've got an inspection port, and use it to physically wash out the green slime each year.

Nonetheless, about 1/2 way through the season I get a sulfury smell from the water and don't know how to get rid of it. I could remove the tubing and wash it out or replace it. I could remove the tank and fill it with boiling water. Seems no matter what I do, I get the same funky smell every late August/Sept.

Does anybody else have the same problem? It smells like rotten eggs!

Edited by - on

Sloop Smitten
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USA
1181 Posts

Response Posted - 10/26/2011 : 07:18:25

Just a guess Bruce but the contamination might be resident in the hose you use to fill it up from. Just takes a few spores to get it going. Might clean the tubes well next time and use a new hose to fill the tank and see if it returns.

Edited by - on

wegman
1st Mate

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USA
35 Posts

Response Posted - 10/26/2011 : 11:25:05

Bruce, I too get the "rotten egg" smell after a few months. I plan to replace the water hoses this winter.

Edited by - on

Ryan L
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USA
230 Posts

Response Posted - 10/26/2011 : 11:33:02

Here are a few other tips that might help:

- Before hooking up a hose to fill your tank run the spigot for a few minutes to flush out the adjacent pipes.

- After the hose is hooked up run water through it for a few minutes to flush it out.

- Rinse the deck adjacent to your fill pipe before opening the cap.

- Try to avoid contacting the exterior of the hose to the interior of the fill pipe.

- After filling immediately cap the fill pipe.

- Run the excess water out of the hose by starting at one end, lift it up, then move your way to the other end holding up the adjacent section of hose. The water will run out as you go.

- After coiling your hose connect the ends together to form a closed loop.

Other tips include:

- Placing a small piece of electrical tape over your vent when you will not be using the water system for a while and/or when you do a washdown.

- Using a water filtration system inline with the hose you're using to fill your tanks (this is what we do on a mega yacht I sometimes work on)

- Use a hose designed for potable water (the hose uses material that supposedly does not leech as much as regular garden hoses, or is "safer" if it does, and supposedly it is more resistant to other stuff like bacteria and mold)

I agree with the suggestions regarding occasional use of bleach to shock the system.

Hope this is helpful. We use all these techniques on our C25 (except the filtration system) and so far have zero green slime, odor, etc plus nearly zero particulate matter (helps keep the strainer clean...)

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Sloop Smitten
 Just a guess Bruce but the contamination might be resident in the hose you use to fill it up from. Just takes a few spores to get it going. Might clean the tubes well next time and use a new hose to fill the tank and see if it returns.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Edited by - on

dmpilc
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4593 Posts

Response Posted - 10/26/2011 : 16:38:31

"hose designed for potable water"
Get the white hose sold at RV and camping centers. You won't get the garden hose taste.

Edited by - on

KiteKraemer
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191 Posts

Response Posted - 10/27/2011 : 11:45:07

You should cut the hole in it and install the inspection port, but whether you do or dont'..

Heres what I'd do when I winterize it:

I drain it, pump it out, whatever. There is still water in there. Then I put a small bottle
rot gut vodka in there with a teaspoon of bleach. then use the water pump until it comes out
the fawcett. It won't freeze and nothing will grow in there. I've used RV fluid before and it
really sucks. you can't get the taste out next season. Never had any bad smells or anything
growing in there.

Edited by - on

Ryan L
Navigator

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USA
230 Posts

Response Posted - 10/27/2011 : 15:29:47

I forgot to mention one other thing we did...

We added an access hatch to the settee above the tank inspection port. This makes it easy to see the remaining water level and allows us to visually watch the level rise as it's being filled via the fill pipe. This lets it fill much more quickly than if you use the vent alone and it lets you fill it to the very top. Here's the port we used- http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?productId=605209&catalogId=10001&langId=-1&storeId=11151&storeNum=10114&subdeptNum=11317&classNum=10554

Edited by - on

Unsinkable2
Captain

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USA
273 Posts

Response Posted - 10/27/2011 : 20:10:56

Here's an old RV trick. In many RV's you can't get to the tanks, and you have to occasionally clean a tank with sulphurish or other undesireable tastes/odors.

Empty the tank
Fill with fresh water, adding about 1/4 cup of bleach.
Be sure to fill it up to the deck filler so the entire system gets exposed to the bleach.
Pump water through each outlet (shower head, sink), again so that the entire tank and hoses are swimming in the fresh water/bleach mix.

Bleach will do its work in about half an hour.

Drain the tank and lines.

Now you have to get rid of the bleach taste.

Mix a cup of baking soda into a gallon of water and pour that down the filler neck. Follow up by filling the entire tank, and don't forget to run the water to the shower head and sink faucet.

Let it sit for half an hour. The baking soda will neutralize the taste and smell.

Empty the tank. Run 2-3 gallons of fresh through to make sure everything is cleared out.

Now you're ready to go.

You can buy all kinds of chemicals to clean and neutralize water tanks, but bleach and baking soda have never failed me, or any other RVers I've met.

Edited by - on

redviking
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1771 Posts

Response Posted - 10/28/2011 : 04:35:08

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Unsinkable2
 Here's an old RV trick. In many RV's you can't get to the tanks, and you have to occasionally clean a tank with sulphurish or other undesireable tastes/odors.

Empty the tank
Fill with fresh water, adding about 1/4 cup of bleach.
Be sure to fill it up to the deck filler so the entire system gets exposed to the bleach.
Pump water through each outlet (shower head, sink), again so that the entire tank and hoses are swimming in the fresh water/bleach mix.

Bleach will do its work in about half an hour.

Drain the tank and lines.

Now you have to get rid of the bleach taste.

Mix a cup of baking soda into a gallon of water and pour that down the filler neck. Follow up by filling the entire tank, and don't forget to run the water to the shower head and sink faucet.

Let it sit for half an hour. The baking soda will neutralize the taste and smell.

Empty the tank. Run 2-3 gallons of fresh through to make sure everything is cleared out.

Now you're ready to go.

You can buy all kinds of chemicals to clean and neutralize water tanks, but bleach and baking soda have never failed me, or any other RVers I've met.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

I always give my tanks a capful of bleach or two. I dose with a bunch of bleach and flush twice a year. But I never knew the baking soda trick. Thank you....

I've got two 35 gallon tanks. Still just a cup of BS, or should I use more?

sten

Edited by - on

JeanAndre
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USA
224 Posts

Response Posted - 10/28/2011 : 07:48:08

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by KiteKraemer
 ... Then I put a small bottle
rot gut vodka in there with a teaspoon of bleach. ...
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

I may try a full bottle of Absolut Vodka, a few spoons of sugar and some lime... That would be some "Brazilian Caipirinha" and it would make a pretty fun season i think...

Thank you all for your inputs, I think I will add the inspection port. I like RyanL´s tips for the day-to-day opperations, the Vodka trick and the baking soda to remove taste are great suggestions!

Edited by - on

Unsinkable2
Captain

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USA
273 Posts

Response Posted - 10/29/2011 : 18:44:18

Sten, I'd probably use 2 cups of baking soda if you have 50 gallons total. The trick with the baking soda is to premix it in a gallon so its dissolved and then pour it in. When you add the rest of the water, the solution will quickly disperse throughout the rest of the water.

Funny this came up. I was cleaning the boat tonight and happened to notice some water in a low spot of the freshwater fill line with some water in it. I never use the fresh water system on the boat so it sits empty. Anyway, the water must have been there for a while, because there was some rather unsightly growth in it. Looks like I'll be bleaching and doing the baking soda myself this week.

Edited by - on

Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
5352 Posts

Response Posted - 10/31/2011 : 22:01:43

I was decommissioning Passage for the winter this weekend (amidst the freakish snowstorm) and checked the tank and hoses. While the tank looked pretty good, the hoses leading to the faucet handles and the fill pipe were yuckkie as all get out, probably some kind of algae, bacteria or fungus.

I disconnected the hoses from the tank and pulled them through. They're all made of clear, soft plastic (vinyl?) like the hoses you can purchase at West Marine or elsewhere, and are intended for waterlines. Now that I have them pulled out, I will try cleaning them with a bottle brush and a wire snake, and wash them out with clorox, vinegar, baking soda and maybe ketchup until they are clear once again.

Like I said, I have an inspection port on the tank and I've gotten my arm inside with a scrubbing sponge and removed the gunk. Now if I clear out the hoses, we may be getting somewhere!

Edited by - Voyager on 10/31/2011 22:02:45

bigelowp
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USA
1773 Posts

Response Posted - 11/01/2011 : 04:58:36

Bruce -- rather than going to that much effort which may, or may not be succesful I would probably bite the bullet and replace the hoses so you know you have safe water. Going forward, I wonder if companies like Culligan have additives to keep algie, other buildups from forming that are safe for "potable" water?

Edited by - on

Stinkpotter
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Djibouti
9076 Posts

Response Posted - 11/01/2011 : 07:08:38

Bruce: A bottle brush, snake, ketchup, etc. sounds like a recipe for creating an even more hospitable environment for growth in those hoses--lots of little scratches with sugar in them. How much would it cost to replace them with the same stuff... and how much less is that than the white RV hose (probably like marine waste line hose) that supposedly has the lowest permeability?

I have never used my tank for drinking water--in fact I use it very little except that it's also plumbed to the head--so I have always added a little bleach with each fill. Before I fill, I leave the hose running into the river until the water is cold--the lines on our dock are exposed to the sun. In five seasons on the current boat, the only odor has been a hint of swimming pool.

Edited by - on

dlucier
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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 11/01/2011 : 07:48:21

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by JeanAndre
 I am in the process of bringing my new to me C25 to shape.

The boat has being sitting still for a while and I haven´t used the water in the tank since I got it.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

I also haven't used the water in my tank since I got it...over eleven years ago.

I only use my tank for ballast with all other water needs coming from bottles.

Edited by - on

Voyager
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USA
5352 Posts

Response Posted - 11/01/2011 : 19:48:46

Thanks for the advice, but the only reason I use the water is for washing my hands after a dirty job or handling salt-encrusted stuff. Other times, I'll wash my head and face when its really hot.
But I don't use it for washing out cups and glasses, or pots and pans.
The main problem I encountered was the nasty sulfur smell, so I stopped using it for anything (well maybe to swab the decks).
If you see the hoses - I'm sure most of you would agree that - whatever - they need to be cleaned out.
I agree with David, using any cleaning solution other than bleach, detergent or white vinegar would probably make matters worse. But I'll give it a try. The worst that could happen is I'd have to replace them next year...

Edited by - on

KiteKraemer
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191 Posts

Response Posted - 11/02/2011 : 11:49:12

Luckily you cant buy better water than we have out of the tap in the cascades;
I use the water in my tank for EVERYTHING! Spooky huh!?

Not sure how to eliminate the SULFUR taste/smell,... Wonder where it came from?

Edited by - on

glivs
Admiral

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USA
836 Posts

Response Posted - 11/02/2011 : 17:50:40

Not to get carried away but in freshwater the most common source of a sulfur smell are sulfate reducing bacteria which produce hydrogen sulfide gas as a waste product. To control them and the slime growth they facilitate...kill them off, minimize their introduction in to your freshwater system (great ideas listed above) and don't provide them a friendly environment. For example, choose your water source carefully. City water (chlorinated) will keep its antimicrobial powers a bit longer through the summer than most well waters. Some ground waters, however, and well water that passes through a home water softener or even hot water heater are particularly rich in sulfate and magnesium which the bacteria require. I have also convinced myself that filling the tank only half full and using the water regularly so that fresh chlorinated and aerated water is added once or twice through the summer nearly eliminates any sulfur odors (these particular bacteria can only function in oxygen limited waters). Not foolproof but seems to work in our northern clime.

Edit: I should add I would never drink from the holding tank. We use the water either as a backup for the head or for cleaning purposes.

Edited by - glivs on 11/02/2011 17:54:56

KiteKraemer
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Response Posted - 11/03/2011 : 17:57:22

Edit to my above post; --I don't have any sulfur smell--

I was commenting on voyagers problem.

Thanks Glivs, good info!

Edited by - on

dlucier
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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
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Response Posted - 11/04/2011 : 06:12:32

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by glivs
 Edit: I should add I would never drink from the holding tank.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

I would hope not as it is filled with sewage!

Edited by - on

Dave5041
Former Mainsheet Editor

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Response Posted - 11/04/2011 : 06:39:29

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">I would hope not as it is filled with sewage!<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
I struggled hard to not post but knew somebody would lose the battle.

Edited by - on

aeckhart
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Response Posted - 11/04/2011 : 07:36:16

In 23 years of ownership I don't believe I used the water tank for anything other than ballast. In an effort to cut down on maintenance issues, the tank being one of the worst, I decided to remove it altogether. I hinged the settee cover and now use the space for much needed storage. I still have the tank and will reinstall as I gradually prep the boat for sale in a year or two.

Edited by - on

Boomeroo
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Australia
129 Posts

Response Posted - 11/04/2011 : 16:39:45

Hi, The flexible plastimo 150 litre ( 35 ?gal) tank is ideal for fresh water . I put town water ( undetectable Cl treated) in the tank and then a couple of treatment tablets after about 6 months .
The flexible tank doesn't have the air and vent problems that can pollute the water as the fixed tanks breathing does .

Sailed a few ocean races with a skipper who put two bottles of scotch in the water tank then filled it . Water was served with extra scotch as was the coffee . Happy crew. ..

Edited by - on

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