Waste Tank Charcoal Filters

[Andrew38]

Has anyone got experience of using one of these?

I've had had problems with tank smells and chemicals don't help - these seem to offer a solution but....

 

[jfm]

Has anyone got experience of using one of these?

I've had had problems with tank smells and chemicals don't help - these seem to offer a solution but....

If you mean in the vent pipe then my experience is that they work very well. I fitted them to a boat years ago and it cured the vent smell instantly. since then I've always specced them; I had them included on the extras list for my last boat and they're going on my current-in build boat. I like the Leesan one becuase it is quite big hence lots of charcoal area. Price is a bit mad, like £70 or so, erk. I change the filter twice a year, approx

Peggy Hall aka Headmistress disapproves of them however. So you can have any answer to your question that you want!

 

[Nick_H]

I have them, and change them at the start of each season. They don't solve the issue completely, you still have to try and empty the tank as often as possible, flush it regularly, and use tablets, but i'm pretty sure they help.

I fitted one that barely worked at all, and we identified it was old stock (like 2-3 yrs old), so it seems you need to make sure it hasn't been lying on the shelf at the chandlers.

There you go, now you have three answers, yes, no and maybe!

 

[Tranona]

Has anyone got experience of using one of these?

I've had had problems with tank smells and chemicals don't help - these seem to offer a solution but....

Filters only deal with smells from the vent - and not all vents smell. Smells in holding tank systems are more likely caused by permeable hoses and you may well find replacing the hoses with high quality sanitary hose and making sure all joints are sound will cure your problem.

 

[MoodySabre]

I fitted a Vetus charcoal filter in my tank vent three years - I've never changed it and I've never had any smells.

 

[jfm]

Filters only deal with smells from the vent - and not all vents smell. Smells in holding tank systems are more likely caused by permeable hoses and you may well find replacing the hoses with high quality sanitary hose and making sure all joints are sound will cure your problem.

Yup. OP wasn't clear about whether he meant smell from the vent pipe or something else. In my reply I assumed he meant smell from the vent pipe, as I said, but I agree with you that vent pipe isn't the only potential cause of smells. Hopefully OP will clarify

Nick, ref old stock, interesting point. My stock of Leesan charcoal filters are in the factory original shrink wrap - I hope that stops the carbon being used up so to speak while sitting om the shelf

 

[henryf]

I found Lee Sanitation a great company to deal with when fitting a vacuflush system to a 70 foot narrow boat I built many years ago. Listen to and take their advice.

I think using fresh water in the toilet system is the biggest difference you can make. Every thing else from there on is a bonus. Of course we don't have to deal with excessive heat like boys in the south of France. Another reason for staying in the UK. That dodgy foreign food can't help either.

I can't imagine having carbon filters will harm the cause, it can only improve things and their cost is pin money in the scheme of things. The trick is to keep everything flushed through nicely.

Henry

 

[kashurst]

might be a wild card but my boat had stood for about 12 months with little use before I bought it. Tank vent was very wiffy even though toilets are fresh water flushing. I inadvertantly left the macerator outlet seacock open after emptying the tank one day and went for a trip out. Came back and holding tank was full again - with sea water! as the pressure during cruising had overcome the one way valve in the pipe work to prevent this. Tank vent smell massively reduced so I did it on purpose a few more times and smell more or less gone and its hot where I keep the boat.

Don't know if the seawater had a specific effect or whether its just the result of a good rinse out a few times. Think I will fit one of those carbon filters though - worth a go for £70

 

[jfm]

I found Lee Sanitation a great company to deal with when fitting a vacuflush system to a 70 foot narrow boat I built many years ago. Listen to and take their advice.

Yup, except that always remember they tend to advise you to buy stuff they sell, understandably of course, but that means they don't advise you to buy Tecma. Tecma is way better than anything they sell, so sort of fundamentally their starting position is to advise you to buy 2nd division gear... No big deal; I could say the same about any Kia dealer I suppose. (Not Porsche dealers, obviously )

 

[Andrew38]

Thanks for the input guys.

Your assumption is correct the smell is exclusively from the vent pipe so I'm really trying to focus on stopping that. The boat goes to Sant Carles in April so I don't want the heat (what a wonderful thought - boating when it's warm!!) making matters worse.

But if JFM is happy then that's a good enough for me!

 

[jfm]

Ooh, good luck with the Med (wise) move. Was there a thread on this - sorry if I missed it.

 

[Andrew38]

Ooh, good luck with the Med (wise) move. Was there a thread on this - sorry if I missed it.

Yes. As usual I got some extremely good advice from forumites on how to prepare the boat, transport recommendations, equipment etc. I'm afraid enough was enough of UK weather this year.

 

[jfm]

Yes. As usual I got some extremely good advice from forumites on how to prepare the boat, transport recommendations, equipment etc. I'm afraid enough was enough of UK weather this year.

Oh yes i remember now. I think you mentioned the weather! Good luck with the move anyhow. Looking forward to pictures on here of your boat in the Med! If you fancy a cruise across to France/Corsica post on here and folks based in the "east end" can advise/help. Praps that'll be your second season though, cos I bet you'll be busy on Balearics this year

 

[Andrew38]

Oh yes i remember now. I think you mentioned the weather! Good luck with the move anyhow. Looking forward to pictures on here of your boat in the Med! If you fancy a cruise across to France/Corsica post on here and folks based in the "east end" can advise/help. Praps that'll be your second season though, cos I bet you'll be busy on Balearics this year

Thanks for that - I'll be moored near to Hurricane so if he's thinking about a SoF trip again this year but you're right the family are insisting on the Balearics!

 

[jfm]

Thanks for that - I'll be moored near to Hurricane so if he's thinking about a SoF trip again this year but you're right the family are insisting on the Balearics!

OK. Sometime do another thread pulling Balearic anchorage pics together in one place, and between us all we can dump 50 pics of lovely spots and do you a map. Should keep the family happy!

As a starter for ten here's the sea state when I was crossing to Menorca in summer 2011

 

[Bilgediver]

If you mean in the vent pipe then my experience is that they work very well. I fitted them to a boat years ago and it cured the vent smell instantly. since then I've always specced them; I had them included on the extras list for my last boat and they're going on my current-in build boat. I like the Leesan one becuase it is quite big hence lots of charcoal area. Price is a bit mad, like £70 or so, erk. I change the filter twice a year, approx

Peggy Hall aka Headmistress disapproves of them however. So you can have any answer to your question that you want!

Yup Peggie says no to carbon filters but possibly due to the fact many are small with insufficient surface area to deal with the problem and also severely reduce the air flow in the breather pipes. Maybe yours are on large enough pipes to do the business.

One product which Peggie did sort of endorse was oderlos and there have been many good reports from users in the UK.

http://marinestore.co.uk/Odorlos_Holding_Tank_Treatment_1_18Litres.html