mtrue
New Member
My water tank is pretty inaccessable and the water is somewhat smelly (I have never cleaned the tank in the 3 years I have had the boat) Is there anything I can add to the water to clean the tank?
Smelly water
- Thread starter mtrue
- Start date
l'escargot
Well-Known Member
Use Milton. Kept the tank of my last boat clean and drank from it for years. Tanks on current boat were not used by previous owner for drinking for 17 years. Used Milton in one big dose and drained tanks, then in small doses over the last year or so and I now drink from it (although SWMBO still uses bottled water). Read the label, it is used for sterilising for babies so used correctly can't do any harm.
VicS
Well-Known Member
Proprietary tank cleaner
Dose with Milton at the rate specified on the bottle for treating drinking water (5ml/10litres IIRC)
Dose with domestic bleach if you are happy to drink the impurities that commercial hypochlorite solutions may contain and any other chemicals there may be in your chosen brand of bleach. No recommended dose rate stated
Dose with Milton at the rate specified on the bottle for treating drinking water (5ml/10litres IIRC)
Dose with domestic bleach if you are happy to drink the impurities that commercial hypochlorite solutions may contain and any other chemicals there may be in your chosen brand of bleach. No recommended dose rate stated
EdWingfield
Well-Known Member
There is dosing, and there is super chlorinating.
Dosing is done to maintain the chlorine concentration at 0.2parts per million (ppm) (It arrives at the marina tap at that strength but then is lost to air on filling)
Super chlorinating is what you do to disinfect the tank and associated plumbing - chlorine at a conc of 50ppm is given 24hrs in the tank to kill off all the bugs. Remembering to run the super-chlorinated water into all the plumbing.
It sounds like you need to superchlorinate first and dose thereafter.
Milton is good, marinas also sell suitable products in yottie quantities. If you are unsure of how much to add, phone the company, ask to speak to a techie person and explain exactly what you are trying to do. (You must know the volume of your tank)
They will give free advice for the price of a phone call.
Dosing is done to maintain the chlorine concentration at 0.2parts per million (ppm) (It arrives at the marina tap at that strength but then is lost to air on filling)
Super chlorinating is what you do to disinfect the tank and associated plumbing - chlorine at a conc of 50ppm is given 24hrs in the tank to kill off all the bugs. Remembering to run the super-chlorinated water into all the plumbing.
It sounds like you need to superchlorinate first and dose thereafter.
Milton is good, marinas also sell suitable products in yottie quantities. If you are unsure of how much to add, phone the company, ask to speak to a techie person and explain exactly what you are trying to do. (You must know the volume of your tank)
They will give free advice for the price of a phone call.
Relax
Well-Known Member
Always found Milton gives an odd taste to the tea - good for cleaning though.
I use another product (Aqua???) from a caravan shop to treat each batch into the tank.
I use another product (Aqua???) from a caravan shop to treat each batch into the tank.
onenyala
Well-Known Member
I have a similar problem. However the problem seems to be in pipe from the tank to the tap. When I go on the boat after a week or so as soon as I pump the water you can see small flakes of crud in the water and an objectional smell. After I have pumped out about a pint or so the smell is gone.
What I am after is some means of sending a miniature dynarod thing through the pipe to clean off the crud from the inside of the pipe.
Any ideas ?
What I am after is some means of sending a miniature dynarod thing through the pipe to clean off the crud from the inside of the pipe.
Any ideas ?
bedouin
Well-Known Member
Chandlers sell various proprietary solutions to keep drinking water sweet, this tend to be based on a silver compound. We use this and it is both effective and tasteless.
Other solutions, such as Milton or "Puritabs" will actually make any water drinkable - but have the disadvantage that when used in the recommended dose they tend to give the water a distinct taint, which I find unpleasant.
You can also put filters in the pipes from the tanks to the taps - these are also very good at removing the taste from the water.
Other solutions, such as Milton or "Puritabs" will actually make any water drinkable - but have the disadvantage that when used in the recommended dose they tend to give the water a distinct taint, which I find unpleasant.
You can also put filters in the pipes from the tanks to the taps - these are also very good at removing the taste from the water.
Adamastor
Well-Known Member
SWMBO used to have a little brush a bit like a barrel-brush for a pistol that we used to clean inside the lighties' bottle-teats. I've got a nylon fish-tape that I use for electrical wiring. My thought is: if you used the fish-tape to set up a pull-through string, you could scour the pipe quite nicely by tying the brush to the pull-through. Just a thought...
Chris_Robb
Well-Known Member
You need to do a super chloriantion of the system. As said ealier - put loads of bleech in and then pump some of that through the plumbing and leave to sit for 12-24 hours. Then pump it all out and refill and pump out again.
Loads of crud should come out of the taps. Some taps have strainers on the end, - these will probably get blocked up.
For the second filling, yopu mauy want to use a sronger dose of bleech, but buy bottled water and only use it for washing up.
You should give your tanks a good dosing at least once a year!
Loads of crud should come out of the taps. Some taps have strainers on the end, - these will probably get blocked up.
For the second filling, yopu mauy want to use a sronger dose of bleech, but buy bottled water and only use it for washing up.
You should give your tanks a good dosing at least once a year!
ghostlymoron
Well-Known Member
Give some thought to how you are going to dispose of the super-chlorinated water. This should be neutralised before discharging especially in a marina.
EdWingfield
Well-Known Member
I would add to the previous suggestion that if you are going to use bleach make sure it is thin bleach ie. 5% Chlorine concentration. This is found in supermarkets as the own-brand cheapo stuff. Never buy stronger scented stuff as it will leave a taint that is impossible to remove.
As for neutralising, I know nothing of that, please explain. But typically here, when a ship drops the contents of a super chlorinated tank into the bilge (typically 50T per tank) thence to be bilgepumped into the river there is no reported effect on the river ecology. I presume, rightly or wrongly, that because it quickly breathes off to atmosphere.
As for neutralising, I know nothing of that, please explain. But typically here, when a ship drops the contents of a super chlorinated tank into the bilge (typically 50T per tank) thence to be bilgepumped into the river there is no reported effect on the river ecology. I presume, rightly or wrongly, that because it quickly breathes off to atmosphere.
Chris_Robb
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
Give some thought to how you are going to dispose of the super-chlorinated water. This should be neutralised before discharging especially in a marina.
[/ QUOTE ]
Cannot see any necessity to dispose of safely. The volumes compared to the sea are tiny, and the Chlorine quickly goes into the atmosphere.
Give some thought to how you are going to dispose of the super-chlorinated water. This should be neutralised before discharging especially in a marina.
[/ QUOTE ]
Cannot see any necessity to dispose of safely. The volumes compared to the sea are tiny, and the Chlorine quickly goes into the atmosphere.
VicS
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
Cannot see any necessity to dispose of safely
[/ QUOTE ] Of course it must be disposed of safely! Hypochlorite solutions are toxic to aquatic organisms in general and very toxic to fish.
Unfortunately I cannot think any acceptable quick method of treatment so that leaves disposal via an authorised waste disposal contractor to an approved waste disposal site while observing all local and national regulations.
Exposure to bright light will however lead to the decomposition of the hypochlorite so maybe that suggests an alternative.
Cannot see any necessity to dispose of safely
[/ QUOTE ] Of course it must be disposed of safely! Hypochlorite solutions are toxic to aquatic organisms in general and very toxic to fish.
Unfortunately I cannot think any acceptable quick method of treatment so that leaves disposal via an authorised waste disposal contractor to an approved waste disposal site while observing all local and national regulations.
Exposure to bright light will however lead to the decomposition of the hypochlorite so maybe that suggests an alternative.
EdWingfield
Well-Known Member
No, this will breathe off quickly.
Think about drinking water and swimming pool water - both treated by Chlorine and both toxic to typhoid, cholera etc. and both released to waste
Think about drinking water and swimming pool water - both treated by Chlorine and both toxic to typhoid, cholera etc. and both released to waste
Chris_Robb
Well-Known Member
Vic - I don't understand..... Surely at 50 ppm, it is quite diluted - and would only have an initial effect on the immediate discharge area. The seas water would then very quickley dilute it. Also would not the salinity of the sea cause the chlorine to go off even quicker? Your the chemist, so I bow to your supperior knowledge!
Athene V30
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
I have a similar problem. However the problem seems to be in pipe from the tank to the tap. When I go on the boat after a week or so as soon as I pump the water you can see small flakes of crud in the water and an objectional smell. After I have pumped out about a pint or so the smell is gone.
[/ QUOTE ]
I have the same and after about 12 pumps all is well. Have used Milton in past but it made tea taste horible so don't do that anymore. I keep a couple of bottles of bought water as cold drinking water (for squash etc) otherwise I drink things out of bottles and cans! /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif
I have a similar problem. However the problem seems to be in pipe from the tank to the tap. When I go on the boat after a week or so as soon as I pump the water you can see small flakes of crud in the water and an objectional smell. After I have pumped out about a pint or so the smell is gone.
[/ QUOTE ]
I have the same and after about 12 pumps all is well. Have used Milton in past but it made tea taste horible so don't do that anymore. I keep a couple of bottles of bought water as cold drinking water (for squash etc) otherwise I drink things out of bottles and cans! /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif
VicS
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
Think about drinking water and swimming pool water
[/ QUOTE ] Yes I'm thinking but the concentration you suggested earlier for "super-chlorinating" is very much higher than normal swimming pool concentrations which themselves are very much higher than drinking water concentrations.
I don't know but i suspect that higher concentrations are acceptable for discharge into the common sewerage system, which is where a swimming pool would be drained to, than to watercourses or other parts of the environment. Many years ago i used to monitor a chlorinated discharge into the Thames but I cannot now remember the limits imposed.
Think about drinking water and swimming pool water
[/ QUOTE ] Yes I'm thinking but the concentration you suggested earlier for "super-chlorinating" is very much higher than normal swimming pool concentrations which themselves are very much higher than drinking water concentrations.
I don't know but i suspect that higher concentrations are acceptable for discharge into the common sewerage system, which is where a swimming pool would be drained to, than to watercourses or other parts of the environment. Many years ago i used to monitor a chlorinated discharge into the Thames but I cannot now remember the limits imposed.
EdWingfield
Well-Known Member
Vic, do you think that the introduction of say 50 tonnes of superchlorinated water which will quickly dissipate, into a river is even measurable?
magwych
New Member
I was reading this thread because we are in a similar situation, when I was hit by sudden thought ....I do no know what it is chemically made of, but what about using beer-line cleaner to clean the tank and pipes? If it so good enough for beer then it should be fine for water ?
EdWingfield
Well-Known Member
as above, phone the manufacturer, ask to speak to a techie.
