lew__
New member
we have recently purchased a westerly centar but we are not sure how clean the water tank is, is there a way of cleaning it, as there does not seem to be any access to it. TIA
water tanks
- Thread starter lew__
- Start date
ccscott49
Active member
I used Chempro, to clean mine, it's a product, used for cleaning brewing equipment, available from bigger boots stores that have a homebrew dept. Use as precified on the product, excellent stuff, my tanks are now fine, they were horrible! Took two applications in my case, you should have seen the colour of the first flush water!
Jools_of_Top_Cat
New member
After my boat was laid up a few years I was advised to change the tanks, I am too tight to do that; so thought I would have a go at cleaning them. Got some stuff from a caravan shop, powder but I don't remember the name. Mixed it in jug and poured into empty tank, filled tank. Left for two hours and flushed. We did this 3 times per tank.
Admittedly there was a slight taste to the water for the next two tanks, but after this the water is great on board, it was a bit of a pain but saved me money. I am not advising you should do the same but this has worked for me.
<font color=blue> Julian </font color=blue>
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.ukstaffords.com>http://www.ukstaffords.com</A>
Admittedly there was a slight taste to the water for the next two tanks, but after this the water is great on board, it was a bit of a pain but saved me money. I am not advising you should do the same but this has worked for me.
<font color=blue> Julian </font color=blue>
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.ukstaffords.com>http://www.ukstaffords.com</A>
charles_reed
Active member
The usual stuff used goes under the trade name of Puriclean - it's just sodium hypochlorite at an inflated price, even when you buy it from a caravan shop rather than a chandlers.
I'd second the suggestion od using Chempro - in essence exactly the same stuff.
I add chelated silver halide to my tanks when leaving them for any time, which obviates the need to clean tanks because of pseudomonas infection (the ones that produce that lovely rotten egg smell).
I'd second the suggestion od using Chempro - in essence exactly the same stuff.
I add chelated silver halide to my tanks when leaving them for any time, which obviates the need to clean tanks because of pseudomonas infection (the ones that produce that lovely rotten egg smell).
Trevor_swfyc
New member
Are you sure it wasn't "SODIUM METABISULPHITE"
Trevor.
Trevor.
ccscott49
Active member
Sodium hypochlorite is just household bleach isn't it? Anyway, the chempro stuff is slightly different, it actually lifts the muck off the pipes/tanks and holds it in suspension, you pump it through the system, each tap, then shut the taps, leave it for.............then when you open all the taps, out comes all the muck, it's quite amazing stuff, you do that a couple of times, then it's all clean. Probably has SoHyp in it aswell! as a disinfectant. I'm not aboard, so can't tell you the ingredients.
vyv_cox
Well-known member
Start with a good scrub out through inspection hatch(es). A little detergent is best at this stage and I found that a toilet brush (new) was the ideal implement for this through a small aperture. Flush through with clean water and then purify with a suitable product. Milton is excellent for this, it's the stuff used for cleaning babies' bottles. Its great advantage is that it and its taste disappears after a couple of hours, there is no need to flush copiously as with other products. If you really cannot get into the tank to clean it then Milton is the way to go. Make up a solution and fill the tank right up.
pvb
Well-known member
Milton...
Milton is simply a weak solution of sodium hypochlorite (otherwise known as bleach). The reason the taste disappears quickly is because it's so weak. You can get the same effect much more cheaply by using just a few drops of household bleach.
Milton is simply a weak solution of sodium hypochlorite (otherwise known as bleach). The reason the taste disappears quickly is because it's so weak. You can get the same effect much more cheaply by using just a few drops of household bleach.
pvb
Well-known member
Puriclean isn\'t bleach...
Puriclean (and Puritabs) are not sodium hypochlorite (bleach), but contain sodium dichloroisocyanurate which is much more effective against nasty bugs sometimes found in water.
Chempro isn't sodium hypochlorite either. It's sodium metabisulphite, which is a common sterilising agent used in home brewing.
Puriclean (and Puritabs) are not sodium hypochlorite (bleach), but contain sodium dichloroisocyanurate which is much more effective against nasty bugs sometimes found in water.
Chempro isn't sodium hypochlorite either. It's sodium metabisulphite, which is a common sterilising agent used in home brewing.
Trevor_swfyc
New member
Re: Puriclean isn\'t bleach...
Re SODIUM DICHLOROISOCYANURATE this is maufactured by Surgikos Ltd a Johnson & Johnson company. It is sold as PRESEPT disinfectant granuals which have to be diluted just prior to use. It is a wide spectrum disinfectant effective against all vegetative bacteria, fungi, viruses and bacterial spores.
I use this in my water tank it also keeps the pipe work free of odour, but it must not be used in drinking water. I have a separate supply for fresh drinking water.
Happy tank flushing.
Trevor
Re SODIUM DICHLOROISOCYANURATE this is maufactured by Surgikos Ltd a Johnson & Johnson company. It is sold as PRESEPT disinfectant granuals which have to be diluted just prior to use. It is a wide spectrum disinfectant effective against all vegetative bacteria, fungi, viruses and bacterial spores.
I use this in my water tank it also keeps the pipe work free of odour, but it must not be used in drinking water. I have a separate supply for fresh drinking water.
Happy tank flushing.
Trevor
pvb
Well-known member
Try bleach first...
As others have said, the best way to clean the tank is to get access to it so you can scrub the inside surfaces. Quite a few Centaurs have flexible water tanks, so access may be impossible. (Can't remember what sort my Centaur had - although I remember the sail number was 1487). Plastimo flexible water tanks have a removeable and replaceable inner see-through bladder.
If there's no way of gaining access, you could start by flushing it well with fresh water. Try disconnecting the outlet and putting a running hosepipe in the filler pipe, so that water flows through and into the bilges (where it's relatively easy to pump out).
Then reconnect the outlet, add some ordinary household bleach to the tank, and fill it up with fresh water. I can't remember how big the water tank is on the Centaur but it's around 100 litres I think. You need 1ml of household bleach per litre of water - so if it's a 100litre tank, you'll need 100ml of bleach (this will give about 50ppm of bleach). Run the taps until this bleach solution has filled the pipework too. Then let it all stand for a couple of hours, then empty it and flush thoroughly (same method as before). Remember to flush the pipework to the taps too.
Next, empty the tank and add a few drops of bleach. For a 100 litre tank, you'd only need around 15 drops (approx 1ml). Fill up with fresh water. Don't overdo the bleach, or you'll find it tastes unpleasant. This very low concentration of bleach will help safeguard the fresh water stored in your tank against most of the nasties which might be around.
If you prefer, you can use proprietary water purification products for long-term storage (Puriclean, Puritabs, etc). These contain a different chemical which is more effective against water-borne bugs.
The easiest way to keep water tanks fresh is to replace the water frequently - especially in warmer weather. I try to completely empty and refill my tank every month during the summer, in addition to normal usage.
As others have said, the best way to clean the tank is to get access to it so you can scrub the inside surfaces. Quite a few Centaurs have flexible water tanks, so access may be impossible. (Can't remember what sort my Centaur had - although I remember the sail number was 1487). Plastimo flexible water tanks have a removeable and replaceable inner see-through bladder.
If there's no way of gaining access, you could start by flushing it well with fresh water. Try disconnecting the outlet and putting a running hosepipe in the filler pipe, so that water flows through and into the bilges (where it's relatively easy to pump out).
Then reconnect the outlet, add some ordinary household bleach to the tank, and fill it up with fresh water. I can't remember how big the water tank is on the Centaur but it's around 100 litres I think. You need 1ml of household bleach per litre of water - so if it's a 100litre tank, you'll need 100ml of bleach (this will give about 50ppm of bleach). Run the taps until this bleach solution has filled the pipework too. Then let it all stand for a couple of hours, then empty it and flush thoroughly (same method as before). Remember to flush the pipework to the taps too.
Next, empty the tank and add a few drops of bleach. For a 100 litre tank, you'd only need around 15 drops (approx 1ml). Fill up with fresh water. Don't overdo the bleach, or you'll find it tastes unpleasant. This very low concentration of bleach will help safeguard the fresh water stored in your tank against most of the nasties which might be around.
If you prefer, you can use proprietary water purification products for long-term storage (Puriclean, Puritabs, etc). These contain a different chemical which is more effective against water-borne bugs.
The easiest way to keep water tanks fresh is to replace the water frequently - especially in warmer weather. I try to completely empty and refill my tank every month during the summer, in addition to normal usage.
pvb
Well-known member
Of course it\'s safe in drinking water...
It's the main ingredient in Puritabs and Aquatabs, used throughout the world to make water safe for drinking!
It's the main ingredient in Puritabs and Aquatabs, used throughout the world to make water safe for drinking!
byron
RIP
<font color=blue>This subject comes up as regular as clockwork. The best stuff is to put some potassium permanganate in the tank, then flush the tanks/pipes through several times. No matter what you hear this really is the most effective way.
The stuff can be gained from any Chemist.
http://www.alexander-advertising.co.uk
The stuff can be gained from any Chemist.
http://www.alexander-advertising.co.uk
G
Guest
Guest
The best thing that I have found is to use one of the sterilisers for home brewing, it seems to work well, but as others have said during the summer change the water regularly.
John
John
vyv_cox
Well-known member
Check your facts!
Somehow I don't think the manufacturers of this product would get away with feeding bleach to babies. It clearly says on the product labelling that it is safe to leave it in the bottle without rinsing. I also dispute that it is "so weak". Again, products intended for babies need to be 100% reliable, or the company would have gone out of business years ago.
Somehow I don't think the manufacturers of this product would get away with feeding bleach to babies. It clearly says on the product labelling that it is safe to leave it in the bottle without rinsing. I also dispute that it is "so weak". Again, products intended for babies need to be 100% reliable, or the company would have gone out of business years ago.
Trevor_swfyc
New member
Re: Of course it\'s safe in drinking water...
PVB
CAUTION: Aquatabs contain a pre set dosage which may well be ok to drink. I was talking about the neat chemical which could be made up in a concentration which while safe for cleaning a tank would make you very ill if you drank it.
The CAUTION note on the container I have says : NOT TO BE TAKEN, AVOID SKIN & EYE CONTACT, IF EYE CONTACT OCCURS, IRRIGATE WITH COPIOUS AMOUNTS OF WATER. STORE IN A COOL, DRY PLACE. DO NOT MIX WITH ACIDS OR CATIONIC DETERGENTS.
This is the 100% granuals ie not cut back with a inert powder.
The point here is to follow the instructions on the product you could say ASPRIN is safe but you would not suggest that eating Acetylsalicylic acid was safe would you.
Also ASPRIN is only safe in the correct dosage.
Have a safe day!
Trevor
PVB
CAUTION: Aquatabs contain a pre set dosage which may well be ok to drink. I was talking about the neat chemical which could be made up in a concentration which while safe for cleaning a tank would make you very ill if you drank it.
The CAUTION note on the container I have says : NOT TO BE TAKEN, AVOID SKIN & EYE CONTACT, IF EYE CONTACT OCCURS, IRRIGATE WITH COPIOUS AMOUNTS OF WATER. STORE IN A COOL, DRY PLACE. DO NOT MIX WITH ACIDS OR CATIONIC DETERGENTS.
This is the 100% granuals ie not cut back with a inert powder.
The point here is to follow the instructions on the product you could say ASPRIN is safe but you would not suggest that eating Acetylsalicylic acid was safe would you.
Also ASPRIN is only safe in the correct dosage.
Have a safe day!
Trevor
pvb
Well-known member
OK, I\'ve checked, and...
...see this <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.miltonpharma.com/html_files/baby_care/babycare_antibac_sol.html>link to the Milton website</A>.
...see this <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.miltonpharma.com/html_files/baby_care/babycare_antibac_sol.html>link to the Milton website</A>.
vyv_cox
Well-known member
Re: OK, I\'ve checked, and...
You're right. No wonder Milton is banned in Holland. Still works well in water tanks, though. :~)
You're right. No wonder Milton is banned in Holland. Still works well in water tanks, though. :~)
DeLam
New member
Re: Milton...
Milton also say to avoid contact with metal objects, but I should think it means
neat from the bottle not in the diluted state. Any comments?
Milton also say to avoid contact with metal objects, but I should think it means
neat from the bottle not in the diluted state. Any comments?
bedouin
Well-known member
Re: Milton...
I've seen a spoon that was soaked in dilute Milton - it was VERY clean. I would certainly not recommend allowing prolonged contact with metal in any dilution
I've seen a spoon that was soaked in dilute Milton - it was VERY clean. I would certainly not recommend allowing prolonged contact with metal in any dilution
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