Water tank cleaning with Milton's and removing Milton's taste afterwards

[Paulka]

... and how are Milton and vinegar on aluminium tanks?

I don't know the theory, but my tank is over 30 years old - as is the boat -, and was cleaned once a year in the way mentionned and .... still going strong.

Just waiting for the next 30 vears

 

[theoldsalt]

I believe the use of miltons is not designed for the water to be drunk after, but just to steralise the container and then flushed out (as with a babies bottle, babies don't drink the miltons). Whereas when aqua tabs are used the water should be drinkable.

So it seems to me the two have different uses. If miltons is used to clean the water for drinking and not steralise the tank perhaps it should be used in a much less concentrated form.

 

[PetiteFleur]

I also used Aquatabs early this year for the first time - after complaints from SWMBO that the water tated awful. So removed the tank inspection hatch, filled with water and Aquatabs and flushed through a couple of times. I was surprised how much gunk/calcium was in the bottom which took a lot of flushing out. I also use a Jabsco Aquafilter which ios renewed every spring and so far the water is fine. I also took the opportunity to fit a cheap battery operated water gauge(the mechanical one I'd fitted earlier corroded up) and this works a treat. Here it is:- http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/WATER-LEVEL-I...K_BOI_FarmingEquipment_RL&hash=item2eb4dc0261
Very pleased with it so far.

 

[theoldsalt]

Just had a look at my pack of Miltons tablets and the instructions say one tablet to 5 litres of water for steralising.

What concentration are others using in their tanks ?

 

[FlyingDutchman]

In the past I had problems with awful smelly water. I now use Steradent Denture Tablets (the stuff to clean false teeth) and this solved it. I put 1/8 tablet in 150 liters of water. That's it. No sterilizing, nothing. We don't use the water for drinking, but it smells absolutely fine. A cheap solution it is too! No connection with Steradent, just a happy user that has his own teeth

 

[VicS]

I now use Steradent Denture Tablets (the stuff to clean false teeth) and this solved it. I put 1/8 tablet in 150 liters of water. That's it. No sterilizing, nothing. We don't use the water for drinking,

A cocktail of potassium monopersulphate, sodium percarbonate, malic acid, citric acid, sulphamic acid and sodium carbonate.
Some sterilizing action from the monopersulphate and percarbonate

I'd not drink it either!

 

[Ariadne]

I use Milton tablets at a dose of 2 per tank (250 ltr seach), about once a year if needed.

We drink all our tank water all the time (via Jabsco Aqua Filter) straight from the tap or boiled and have done for the last four years - Italy, Greece, Balearics, Morocco etc. We're all still alive and kicking and healthy.

We took 20 ltr of bottled water once (the only time) when the Port Captain told us not use the water if we were drinking as it wasn't fit to drink (well it was safe to drink, but it tasted so bad!!!!).

 

[Ian45]

I had a new metal water tank made this year as the old one was leaking. So far no taste to the water but then again we don't drink the water from it unless boiled ie cups of tea or coffee.

In an old Freeman we used to own I used Aqua tabs but like others may have found the taste lingered for quite a while.

 

[KellysEye]

It's cheaper to use a quarter cup of bleach for every 40 gallons. Run the taps briefly to clean the pipes. Leave for 12 hours max 24. Flush once and then fill. There should be no smell.

 

[theoldsalt]

Many years ago I ran a yacht club bar and used something to clean the beer pipes once a week then flush with beer to remove the chemical. I can't remember the chemical I used (probably now replaced with a modern product anyway) but wonder if it would be suitable to clean out tanks that may be suspect (ie tainting the water). Then flush with fresh water to remove the chemical.

Has anyone used this method ?

Edit : Just done a google search and came up with VWP steraliser for beer kits.

 

[VicS]

Many years ago I ran a yacht club bar and used something to clean the beer pipes once a week then flush with beer to remove the chemical. I can't remember the chemical I used (probably now replaced with a modern product anyway) but wonder if it would be suitable to clean out tanks that may be suspect (ie tainting the water). Then flush with fresh water to remove the chemical.

Has anyone used this method ?

Edit : Just done a google search and came up with VWP steraliser for beer kits.

"Beer line cleaner" but they are a variety of products with different formulations. Several are dilute hypochlorite solutions