Holy bubbling holding tanks!

No, we're not talking the latest OT flame war on rec boats, but a device called
a Sweettank that pumps air through the contents of a holding tank to oxygenate
the contents and kill off the anaerobic (stinky) bacteria. Built by Groco.

Looks like a simple, and likely effective idea.

Anybody use one yet?

Any opinion, Peggie?

One of my neighbors installed one and it solved his stinky holding tank
problem within a couple of days, never to return. He loves it!

--


Keith
__
Don't let your mind wander -- it's too little to be let out alone.
"Gould 0738" wrote in message
...
Holy bubbling holding tanks!

No, we're not talking the latest OT flame war on rec boats, but a device
called
a Sweettank that pumps air through the contents of a holding tank to
oxygenate
the contents and kill off the anaerobic (stinky) bacteria. Built by Groco.

Looks like a simple, and likely effective idea.

Anybody use one yet?

Any opinion, Peggie?

Now if they would just make one for the diesel exhaust.

Ron


Ah, that rich aroma of travel, adventure, and exploration? Nothing wrong with a
little diesel smell, IMO, but to each his own. :-)

Gould 0738 wrote:
Holy bubbling holding tanks!

No, we're not talking the latest OT flame war on rec boats, but a device called
a Sweettank that pumps air through the contents of a holding tank to oxygenate
the contents and kill off the anaerobic (stinky) bacteria. Built by Groco.

Looks like a simple, and likely effective idea.

Any opinion, Peggie?

Aeration is a very effective way to prevent odor in holding tanks. But
aeration doesn't kill off any bacteria...it just allows them to function
aerobically instead of anaerobically. The principle is the same one
I've been preaching for years, and the Sweetank does work. Groco shows a
diagram of it on their website at http://www.groco.net

IMO, it's the ideal solution for large (50 gal+) tanks that are too deep
for passive ventilation above the surface to work very well, or that are
buried so deep in the bowels of the boat TO ventilate passively.
However, the tanks on most boats are small enough to allow passive
ventilation, with a "boost" from an organic holding tank treatment such
as Odorlos or Raritan K.O. to work...making the $200+ price tag for the
Sweetank an unnecessary expense.

I hear from a lot of people who want to know if a small fish tank
aerator will work. Prob'ly not...because a) fish tank aerators don't
push enough air to do more than just force noxious gasses out the vent,
b) there's a bit more to it than than just blowing air into the tank
through a tube...and c) fish tank aerators don't run on 12v, and the
aerator has to run 24/7/365 (except, of course, during winter layup) to
keep the tank contents aerobic. And neither would a submersable live
well aerator...the animal fats in waste would clog one of those up in no
time.

So, while the Sweetank can be the ideal solution for large yachts with
huge tanks, but is neither necessary nor practical--plus it's too
expensive--for use in 99% of tanks.

--
Peggie
----------
Peggie Hall
Specializing in marine sanitation since 1987
Author "Get Rid of Boat Odors - A Guide To Marine Sanitation Systems and
Other Sources of Aggravation and Odor"
http://shop.sailboatowners.com/detai...=400&group=327

http://www.seaworthy.com/html/get_ri...oat_odors.html

Gould 0738 wrote:
Now if they would just make one for the diesel exhaust.

Ron


Ah, that rich aroma of travel, adventure, and exploration? Nothing wrong with a
little diesel smell, IMO, but to each his own. :-)

Weeeelll...after inching along for 30 minutes through a freeway
construction site last night, sandwiched behind a bus with no breeze to
blow away his exhaust, my appreciation for the aroma of travel,
adventure and exploration was pretty much over by the time I was able to
pass him.

Peggie
----------
Peggie Hall
Specializing in marine sanitation since 1987
Author "Get Rid of Boat Odors - A Guide To Marine Sanitation Systems and
Other Sources of Aggravation and Odor"
http://shop.sailboatowners.com/detai...=400&group=327

http://www.seaworthy.com/html/get_ri...oat_odors.html

On Fri, 29 Aug 2003 10:33:02 +0000, RG wrote:


Job well done, Lloyd!

I had no idea I was so famous. Geez, I'd NEVER spend as much time on you
as you have on this post!

Lloyd

Lloyd, I am surprised that you don't just run two 4" hoses from your
holding tank. 1 for a vent and 1 for your carburetor. That way when you
run your engine your aerobically aerating, your holding tank. All the
while burning FREE methane improving fuel efficiency.

Jack
P.S. eat more beans

"Lloyd Sumpter" wrote in message
...
On Fri, 29 Aug 2003 10:33:02 +0000, RG wrote:


So, while the Sweetank can be the ideal solution for large yachts with
huge tanks, but is neither necessary nor practical--plus it's too
expensive--for use in 99% of tanks.


Not to worry. Lloyd has already managed to engineer his own special
"affordable" version of the Sweetank, and has installed it on his new
holding tank.

(Aw, what the hell...)

- I have TWO 3/4" vent hoses, as Peggy recommended
- I run both vent hoses with minimal bends to outlets just under the bow,
as Peggy recommended.
- I had them use 1/2" plastic to build the tank rather than the 3/8" they
recommended, as per Peggy's recommendation
- I used $13/ft odorfree hose, as Peggy and others recommended
- All fittings are on the top of the tank, as per Peggy's (and others)
recommendations (this alone cost me an extra $100 or so)

...and so on. I spend close to $2000 on the same size holding tank a
friend put in for $700.

I also have replaced the inadequate steering system Catalina used with a
more robust system Edson recommended. I've replaced the inadequate wiring,
the incorrect fuel pump, the wrong fuel filters, all of which were done
by either Catalina itself or "the Dealer", which you seem to put in high
regard.

So what makes you think I'd design a "cheap and nasty" aeration system as
you described?

Lloyd Sumpter
"Far Cove" Catalina 36