I have just removed the water tank on our 77 CD28 hull # 129. The tank has an unpleasant odour and a brown slime on the bottom and lower sides. The cover is about four inches in diameter and I am unable to get my hand inside. Can anyone tell me of a product or home brew that will clean the inside of the tank?
Mel Vincent
Caprice #129
mawv@nbnet.nb.ca
water tank cleaning
Moderator: Jim Walsh
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Neil Gordon
Re: water tank cleaning
Dockmates at the marina have used a strong solution of bleach to shock their water systems. Kills everything and I'm told it takes the slime, etc., right out.
Regards, Neil
s/v LIQUIDITY
Cape Dory 28 #167
neil@nrgordon.com
Regards, Neil
s/v LIQUIDITY
Cape Dory 28 #167
neil@nrgordon.com
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D. Stump, Hanalei
Re: water tank cleaning
Mel,
Since you have it out of the boat, I'd try cleaning it with a 50/50 solution of On and Off and Water. The O&O is acid, made for cleaning biologicals, and should take it clean in one easy step. You might remove any metal fittings before cleaning it, and rinse it real well with water. Then I'd fill the tank, add about 1 cup of common bleach per 10 gallons while filling, and let it set for a day or so. Then flush it out one more time, drain it and reinstall it in the boat. Should be like spring fresh water!
One other thing, if there is a lot of grit/sand/muck etc. in the tank, put in a little water and use a shop vac to vacuum it out.
Dave Stump
Captain Commanding
s/v Hanalei CD-30
Since you have it out of the boat, I'd try cleaning it with a 50/50 solution of On and Off and Water. The O&O is acid, made for cleaning biologicals, and should take it clean in one easy step. You might remove any metal fittings before cleaning it, and rinse it real well with water. Then I'd fill the tank, add about 1 cup of common bleach per 10 gallons while filling, and let it set for a day or so. Then flush it out one more time, drain it and reinstall it in the boat. Should be like spring fresh water!
One other thing, if there is a lot of grit/sand/muck etc. in the tank, put in a little water and use a shop vac to vacuum it out.
Dave Stump
Captain Commanding
s/v Hanalei CD-30
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Ryan Turner
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D. Stump, Hanalei
Re: Salad dressing ? ? ? ....
Ryan,
Sounds like a good idea, I'll try it as my tanks contain bleach water as we speak. Maybe if it's good enough, I could mix in a little vegatable oil(keeps pump seals lubricated!) and have an unlimited supply of salad dressing.
Yes, I AM kidding! .......
Dave Stump
Captain commanding
s/v Hanalei
Sounds like a good idea, I'll try it as my tanks contain bleach water as we speak. Maybe if it's good enough, I could mix in a little vegatable oil(keeps pump seals lubricated!) and have an unlimited supply of salad dressing.
Yes, I AM kidding! .......
Dave Stump
Captain commanding
s/v Hanalei
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Anthony P. Jeske
Re: water tank cleaning
Mel:
In addition to doing the bleach routine that everyone suggests, I added clean out hatches to the tanks on my CD-28. I was then able to get my arm inside and do a good scrubout as part of the winter layup. You may want to replace the water lines, too.
Regards,
Tony Jeske
ajeske@ixpres.com
In addition to doing the bleach routine that everyone suggests, I added clean out hatches to the tanks on my CD-28. I was then able to get my arm inside and do a good scrubout as part of the winter layup. You may want to replace the water lines, too.
Regards,
Tony Jeske
ajeske@ixpres.com
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Catherine Monaghan
Re: water tank cleaning
Mel,
My husband cannot get his hands/arms into the water tanks' inspection ports either, but I can. I can get nearly my entire arm in there. Do you have any smaller, or dare I say thinner, friends or family members that can help you?
I first spray the inside of a tank with water from a garden hose at relatively high pressure and fill the tank with a few inches of water. I spray all sides, the top and bottom of the tank. Then I empty the tanks by running the water in the galley sink, and then repeat the spray procedure only filling the tank with a few inches of water. Once the tank has been emptied the second time I add bleach to the water remaining in the tank (it doesn't empty completely). I then use a brush to scrub the inside of the tank -- all sides, top and bottom. The brush is very narrow and has a handle about 10 inches long -- I bought it from a supermarket. I spray down the tank again, and empty it, and repeat the scrubbing-with-bleach process again. Then I empty the tank completely. I use a small portable pump for this (make sure you use a hose that has not been used anywhere else, like the bilge). Then I fill the tank with water. After it's been filled you may want to use a very small amount of bleach or water tank conditioner (AquaTabs) to keep the tank and the water fresh. And as someone else mentioned, you can also use a bit of vinegar -- baking soda works too -- to kill the chlorine taste.
Make sure that after emptying the water tanks at the end of the season and running non-toxic antifreeze through the system that you empty the tanks completely with that portable pump again. Then just wipe down the inside of the tanks with a paper towel that has been wetted with bleach. Leave the inspection ports open so that the tanks can dry out, otherwise mildew may decide to grow.
Hope this helps.
catherine_monaghan@merck.com
CD32 <a href="http://www.hometown.aol.com/bcomet/real ... ization</a>, #3
Rahway, NJ
Raritan Bay
catherine_monaghan@merck.com
My husband cannot get his hands/arms into the water tanks' inspection ports either, but I can. I can get nearly my entire arm in there. Do you have any smaller, or dare I say thinner, friends or family members that can help you?
I first spray the inside of a tank with water from a garden hose at relatively high pressure and fill the tank with a few inches of water. I spray all sides, the top and bottom of the tank. Then I empty the tanks by running the water in the galley sink, and then repeat the spray procedure only filling the tank with a few inches of water. Once the tank has been emptied the second time I add bleach to the water remaining in the tank (it doesn't empty completely). I then use a brush to scrub the inside of the tank -- all sides, top and bottom. The brush is very narrow and has a handle about 10 inches long -- I bought it from a supermarket. I spray down the tank again, and empty it, and repeat the scrubbing-with-bleach process again. Then I empty the tank completely. I use a small portable pump for this (make sure you use a hose that has not been used anywhere else, like the bilge). Then I fill the tank with water. After it's been filled you may want to use a very small amount of bleach or water tank conditioner (AquaTabs) to keep the tank and the water fresh. And as someone else mentioned, you can also use a bit of vinegar -- baking soda works too -- to kill the chlorine taste.
Make sure that after emptying the water tanks at the end of the season and running non-toxic antifreeze through the system that you empty the tanks completely with that portable pump again. Then just wipe down the inside of the tanks with a paper towel that has been wetted with bleach. Leave the inspection ports open so that the tanks can dry out, otherwise mildew may decide to grow.
Hope this helps.
catherine_monaghan@merck.com
CD32 <a href="http://www.hometown.aol.com/bcomet/real ... ization</a>, #3
Rahway, NJ
Raritan Bay
Mel Vincent wrote: I have just removed the water tank on our 77 CD28 hull # 129. The tank has an unpleasant odour and a brown slime on the bottom and lower sides. The cover is about four inches in diameter and I am unable to get my hand inside. Can anyone tell me of a product or home brew that will clean the inside of the tank?
Mel Vincent
Caprice #129
catherine_monaghan@merck.com
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Ryan Turner
Re: Salad dressing ? ? ? ....
I did this last year after winterizing my tanks with that pink stuff. The water in my tanks came out "oh so sweet". Others have commented on how good it tastes. But perhaps it has something to do with the vodka I put in there with each fill up.
Ryan Turner
rturnertec@aol.com
Ryan Turner
rturnertec@aol.com
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D. Stump, Hanalei
Re: An even better idea, cold pressure Vodka...! ! !
Ryan,
I think that's a great idea ! ! !
D. Stump
I think that's a great idea ! ! !
D. Stump
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Bob Davee
Re: water tank cleaning
I agree, and I have been doing it for years. Using a Chlorine shock treatment in the water tanks is the way to go. Add enough Bleach, or calcium chloride to raise the Free Chlorine level to at least 12 parts per million and hold it there for about 10 hours. Run the solution through the whole system. This will clean up everything organic and remove all tastes and kill almost all bactera in the entire system including the filters. Flush out the system with good, treated, domestic water and you will be all set for the season. This methods is foolproof. It's the same proceedure that you would use to keep your swimming pool crystal clear and free from chlormides and other nasty things.
Dockmates at the marina have used a strong solution of bleach to shock their water systems. Kills everything and I'm told it takes the slime, etc., right out.
RLCapeDory@aol.com
Dockmates at the marina have used a strong solution of bleach to shock their water systems. Kills everything and I'm told it takes the slime, etc., right out.
Neil Gordon wrote:
Regards, Neil
s/v LIQUIDITY
Cape Dory 28 #167
RLCapeDory@aol.com
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Jim Swiatocha
Re: water tank cleaning
I agree with Bob but I think you need to raise your level of free chlorine higher. 12 ppm is a common level for shocking a clean pool, but if a pool develops an algae bloom you need to raise the level of free chlorine to 30 ppm and it takes several days to kill all the algae. This is from experience of maintaining an in-ground pool for several years. Algae growing on the sides of a pool (or a water tank) can be very persistent.Bob Davee wrote: I agree, and I have been doing it for years. Using a Chlorine shock treatment in the water tanks is the way to go. Add enough Bleach, or calcium chloride to raise the Free Chlorine level to at least 12 parts per million and hold it there for about 10 hours.
cpgjim@erols.com
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Marv Brinn
Re: water tank cleaning
I apply high pressure at the the water outlet so that the tank actually turns itself inside out I then apply three coats of mcx h2o cleaner.Mel Vincent wrote: I have just removed the water tank on our 77 CD28 hull # 129. The tank has an unpleasant odour and a brown slime on the bottom and lower sides. The cover is about four inches in diameter and I am unable to get my hand inside. Can anyone tell me of a product or home brew that will clean the inside of the tank?
Mel Vincent
Caprice #129
The tank is then sucked back in and filled with vodka...
Never had anyone complain about my "water"
mibrinn@aol.com