Noflex Digestor vs. Tank-Teria......

CliffA

CliffA

Well-Known Member
Dec 29, 2009
4,712
Lake Norman, NC
Boat Info
2001 Sea Ray 340DA
Name: 'Happy Place'
4.5kW West. Generator
Purchased Nov. 2014
Fresh Water Use
Engines
Twin Merc. 6.2L (MPI)
640 hp (Total)
Raw Water Cooled
V-Drive Transmissions
the use of Noflex Digestor for waste tank treatment has been discussed many times on this forum.....those that use it (including me) are convinced it is far superior to the standard type of treatment you can buy at places like Walmart......

I was looking at the 'Marine Sanitation' web-site the other day and started to wonder what the difference is between Noflex Digestor and Tank-Teria tablets.....

Noflex Digestor is supposed to be used on a regular basis....the amount used is based on the number of people that use the toilet.....the Tank-Teria tablets are used after each pump out....one table treats a 40 gallon waste tank.....they both claim to have bacteria that digest the waste and eliminate the odor....

so I wrote to Marine Sanitation and asked what the difference is and if I used one product would I need to also use the other product to maintain my waste tank in optimal condition.....

here is their reply to my question....

Hello,

Noflex is an oxygenator that keeps your bacteria alive, happy and multiplying like crazy. Tank-Teria is bacteria tablets. If you’re using the Noflex, adding a tablet of Tank-Teria is just supercharging the bacteria. It’s up to you if you’d like to use them together. The tablets should enough on its own, if that’s what you’re currently using.

Leah Cariker
Marine Sanitation & Supply
1900 N. Northlake Way #121
Seattle, WA 98103
206-633-1110


so based on this answer when I run out of my supply of Noflex Digestor I think I will try just using the Tank-Teria tablets after each pump out and not using Noflex Digestor....this seems easier than remembering to sprinkle Noflex Digestor down into the toilet on a regular basis.....one pack of 10 Tank-Teria tablets cost around $15....it will take me a long time to need to pump out the waste tank 10 times so one pack of Tank-Teria tablets should last a while.....

the Tank-Teria tablets will dissolve quickly in water.....I have used them before and found the easiest way to introduce the bacteria from the tablet into the waste tank is to dissolve one tablet in a partial bottle of water...once the tablet dissolves just pour the water into the toilet bowl and flush.....

just thought I would pass this on in case anyone is interested.....

cliff
 
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Looks like you have a lot of kids. How do manage so few pumpouts? When kids come on my boat, they are constantly in the head. They think it is a toy and keep flushing.
 
No flex is awesome, everyone should use it. I won't change because of that. I am now using it in my sump box as well to keep the float clean
 
In Two Deep said:
Looks like you have a lot of kids. How do manage so few pumpouts? When kids come on my boat, they are constantly in the head. They think it is a toy and keep flushing.
Click to expand...

LOL.......that is me and the Admirable with my son and his family this past July 4th......they live in Charleston, SC which is about a 3 hour drive away from us so we don't have them on the boat very often.....usually just a couple times each year......normally it is just me and the Adm. on the boat.....

cliff
 
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katricol said:
No flex is awesome, everyone should use it. I won't change because of that. I am now using it in my sump box as well to keep the float clean
Click to expand...

agree 100%.....I'm not suggesting changing how you treat the waste tank....both Noflex Digestor and Tank-Teria have the same bacteria.....the only difference is how frequently you treat the waste tank with the bacteria.....

cliff
 
CliffA said:
LOL.......that is me and the Admirable with my son and his family this past July 4th......they live in Charleston, SC which is about a 3 hour drive away from us so we don't have them on the boat very often.....usually just a couple times each year......normally it is just me and the Adm. on the boat.....

cliff
Click to expand...
OK That makes sense! Looks like we have the same boat except for the engines
 
I have been using No-Flex for a few years. It works. Just reordered more yesterday... Clubsearay should think about forming a buyers group so we can get common used items at a discount and other parts from sources at possibly a discount.
 
When this No-Flex topic came up I tried to source it and could only find a couple web sites that carried it. After min order qty and shipping it was way over priced. I ended up going to our local RV store and they had a number of brand names that used microorganisms like No-Flex. I tried Kronan Tank Treatment in liquid form...it also comes in powder and tablet. I am about 6 weeks in now and I am very pleased with the product. My waste level indicators all came back which was the reason I switched in the first place. It costs $19.95 for 64oz.... and Kronan has the cleaner that goes with it

http://www.generalrv.com/parts/sewer-sanitation Page 5
 
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Resurrecting an older thread to say we've switched to Noflex and Tank-teria and are very happy, so thanks to all who commented.

Starting point when I bought the boat in spring of '13: tank was practically opaque all the way to the top, waste level indicators were non-functional, and every flush generated huge stink in the cabin.

Earlier action: periodic soaks with detergent/water softener solution as recommended here and in some other boating forums, and lots of fresh water flushing (pumpout station, not overboard!). We saw some improvement in the tank--it became more translucent near the top, so we could shine a flashlight into it and have an idea of how full it was, and there was slightly less stink when flushing, but nothing dramatic. Our standard tank treatment was flushable pods.

Mid-summer 2017 we started using Tank-teria and Noflex. We:
  • Sprayed waste lines with Noflex solution, giving them a REALLY good soaking.
  • Poured the leftover Noflex solution into the toilet bowl and let it slowly flow into the lines (we don't have a perfect seal); leaving it alone for quite a while before flushing. Although First Mate is a biologist and believes in the concepts of organic waste management, he still was a bit skeptical....yet was pleasantly surprised and highly entertained when he saw all the bubbling action in there from what I call our "wee beasties."
  • Did lots of fresh water flushing on the tank to clear as much of the flushable pod chemicals as possible before starting the new treatment.
  • Used a Tank-teria tablet after each pumpout.
  • Dosed head regularly with Noflex per manufacturer instructions.

Results so far:
  • Tank has much less sludge--it's translucent about a third of the way down now.
  • Visible section of drain pipe in head is CLEAN--as in, we had no idea the components were white pipe until the beasties did their thing!
  • After the waste line treatment and for many months after, there was no cabin stink while flushing--NONE. Recently we noticed we're starting to get some odor again, so I'll retreat soon, which to me is WAY better than considering replacing the lines.
For this season we'll continue the double whammy of tank tablets and crystals--I did figure it would take some time to clear however many years of sludge from the lines and the tank--but there's been an appreciable ROI on the investment!
 
glad it worked for you.....since this post was started I have gone back to using both the tablets and the crystals.....just for piece of mind...they continue to work well.....

you mentioned you have started get a little odor again recently after flushing....I would try changing the tank filter....I would doubt that the odor is coming from the lines since you successfully cleaned them before and have continued to use Noflex afterwards....

cliff
 
Cincy Aquaholic said:
Interesting thread. Does anyone have any experience with Unique Digest? It seems to be the same concept but half the cost with Amazon Prime.

https://www.amazon.com/Unique-Marine-Digest-Holding-Treatment/dp/B007JNYH5K/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1525364284&sr=8-2&keywords=noflex+digestor&dpID=41d0HWRZl%2BL&preST=_SY300_QL70_&dpSrc=srch
Click to expand...

We actually backed our "new to us" 44DB into our slip on 9/1/2017. I started immediately with the Tank Teria at every pumpout and the Norflex Digestor as the directions indicated. After 6 months of use, I pulled the level indicaters and cleaned them myself. However, there was "0" smell in the bilge when I removed them and left the hole open in the top of the tank while I cleaned them. Pumpouts had turned into what looked like stained water. Continued on until around 4/15/2018. Since then, I am using the Tank-Teria following pump out and using the Marine Digest-It. I also purchased the Marine Digest-It toilet bowl cleaner which is also a "tank enhancer." So far, nothing has changed-no odor no nothing. Will post more later.

Bennett
 
I might switch to the Marine Digest-it when I run out of Noflex due to the cost difference and shipping time reduction with Amazon Prime....I can't imagine there is a lot of differences in the enzymes used in both products....

thanks for the idea and link.....

cliff
 
I started using both last season when the boat was new to us and continue to do so now. Tablets go in right after pumpout and the Noflex goes in daily as we use the boat.
The cleaner the better.
 
CliffA said:
glad it worked for you.....since this post was started I have gone back to using both the tablets and the crystals.....just for piece of mind...they continue to work well.....

you mentioned you have started get a little odor again recently after flushing....I would try changing the tank filter....I would doubt that the odor is coming from the lines since you successfully cleaned them before and have continued to use Noflex afterwards....

cliff
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Vent filter is new and there's no stink other than in the head, so if treating the lines doesn't improve the situation I'll investigate whether we may have a clog of some sort in the ER side of the system. (Or maybe First Mate will, since he fits down there better than I do!)
 
I buy the noflex from fisheries supply. If you buy 7 bottles it’s 115 bucks with free shipping.
 
Just did our 3rd pump out today since using Marine Digest It along with Tank Teria. I am sold! No smell anywhere!

Dissolve one Tank Teria tablet and put down the head after pump out. Add 2oz of Marine Digest It down the other head after pump out. This is all after cleaning things up with the Norflex.

I just ordered more Marine Digest It.

Bennett
 
Just ordered more Noflex and Tank-Teria. This is the second season that I’ve been using both and no odors so I don’t want to mess with a good thing. Nothing worse than a smelly boat.
The Noflex is fantastic for clearing drains in the shower too. I noticed the drain was slow this weekend, poured a teaspoon of Noflex in to it, and it started to flow quickly.
 
Noflex has no bacteria in it. It is essentially an oxygenator that helps the good bacteria thrive. Tank-Teria contains the good bacteria. I use Tank-Teria at the beginning of the season and after every pump out to introduce a good dose of bacteria to the system. Combined, the two products do an excellent job. Just keep the blue stuff out of the tank as that will kill the good bacteria you are trying to help out with the Noflex.
 
BlueYonder said:
Noflex has no bacteria in it. It is essentially an oxygenator that helps the good bacteria thrive. Tank-Teria contains the good bacteria. I use Tank-Teria at the beginning of the season and after every pump out to introduce a good dose of bacteria to the system. Combined, the two products do an excellent job. Just keep the blue stuff out of the tank as that will kill the good bacteria you are trying to help out with the Noflex.
Click to expand...

How do you put the Tank-Teria in the tank? I’ve been dilluting it in a bottle of water and then pouring it in the head. But I’ve been thinking that it might work just as well if I drop a tablet in the tank through the pump out opening.
 
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