Holding Tank Packets

Mittens

Mittens

Active Member
Mar 5, 2017
610
Huntsville, AL
Boat Info
2002 340 Sundancer, All Cherry Cabin, Black Canvas.
Engines
8.1 Mercs, V Drives, 4.5kw Westerbeke.
SO on my other boats always used liquid enzymes that ate the stuff. With this SeaRay it came with a bag of these packets that desolve.

SO i have been using them as well. My question...

Do you guys drop the packets down the pump out tube, or do you fill the bowl, and let it desolve in the bowl and then flush it.
 
if you are not satisfied with the performance of the packets many members (including me) use Noflex Digestor crystals.....this stuff is amazing when it comes to cleaning waste holding tanks and the floats inside the tank and the inside of the waste system pipes.....when I first got my boat the ER had a bad 'odor' which I assumed was coming from the holding tank.....I tried a couple different ordinary waste treatments but all they did was mask the odor.....I did some research and discovered Noflex.....so I ordered some and began using it....after about 2 - 3 weeks of use the smell was almost completely gone and I could tell by using a flashlight against the tank wall that the tank was cleaner and the contents were clearer....also the waste level indicator lights were not working at all when I got the boat....after a few weeks of using Noflex a couple of the lights started working again on their own so the Noflex cleaned the floats and shafts......there was still a faint odor in the ER so I mixed some Noflex in water and sprayed the mixture all over the waste system components....within a couple days the odor was completely gone....I won't use anything but Noflex now....it is more expensive than ordinary waste treatments but well worth the cost IMO.....lots of people have replaced the waste system pipes due to odor....over time the waste will penetrate the pipe walls and leach to the surface producing bad odor......this was happening to the pipes of my system....by using Noflex both inside and outside of the pipe I did not have to replace the pipes.....I have heard that is not a fun job and the pipe is expensive....

lots of archived info on the effectiveness of Noflex if you care to research it.....

cliff
 
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+1 Noflex is the ****..without the smell.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
CliffA said:
if you are not satisfied with the performance of the packets many members (including me) use Noflex Digestor crystals.....this stuff is amazing when it comes to cleaning waste holding tanks and the floats inside the tank and the inside of the waste system pipes.....when I first got my boat the ER had a bad 'odor' which I assumed was coming from the holding tank.....I tried a couple different ordinary waste treatments but all they did was mask the odor.....I did some research and discovered Noflex.....so I ordered some and began using it....after about 2 - 3 weeks of use the smell was almost completely gone and I could tell by using a flashlight against the tank wall that the tank was cleaner and the contents were clearer....also the waste level indicator lights were not working at all when I got the boat....after a few weeks of using Noflex a couple of the lights started working again on their own so the Noflex cleaned the floats and shafts......there was still a faint odor in the ER so I mixed some Noflex in water and sprayed the mixture all over the waste system components....within a couple days the odor was completely gone....I won't use anything but Noflex now....it is more expensive than ordinary waste treatments but well worth the cost IMO.....lots of people have replaced the waste system pipes due to odor....over time the waste will penetrate the pipe walls and leach to the surface producing bad odor......this was happening to the pipes of my system....by using Noflex both inside and outside of the pipe I did not have to replace the pipes.....I have heard that is not a fun job and the pipe is expensive....

lots of archived info on the effectiveness of Noflex if you care to research it.....

cliff
Click to expand...

Hey Cliff-

I see one on Amazon made by "Zaal" and another Noflex made by "UNique." Which are you using?

Thanks,
Bennett
 
bbwhitejr said:
Hey Cliff-

I see one on Amazon made by "Zaal" and another Noflex made by "UNique." Which are you using?

Thanks,
Bennett
Click to expand...

made by 'Zaal'......

cliff
 
Mittens said:
SO on my other boats always used liquid enzymes that ate the stuff. With this SeaRay it came with a bag of these packets that desolve.

SO i have been using them as well. My question...

Do you guys drop the packets down the pump out tube, or do you fill the bowl, and let it desolve in the bowl and then flush it.
Click to expand...

Stee6043 said:
I fill the bowl and flush...and then flush a couple extra times.
Click to expand...
Agreed: packets typically require a decent amount of liquid to dissolve them. The manufacturer instructions on mine call for flushing with 1 gal fresh water; yours may vary.

But I had forgotten about the NoFlex until Cliff mentioned it again. I see a 16.8 oz bottle on Amazon for $29.99/free shipping; same size on Marine Sanitation and Supply site is $19.99, with discount for 4 or more bottles (looks like $12+ for 4). Where do you buy, Cliff?

Anybody know how big a difference in effectiveness there is using these products with fresh water flush vs. raw water? Mine's raw lake water, bringing in its own slew of bacteria and other goodies!
 
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trflgrl said:
Agreed: packets typically require a decent amount of liquid to dissolve them. The manufacturer instructions on mine call for flushing with 1 gal fresh water; yours may vary.

But I had forgotten about the NoFlex until Cliff mentioned it again. I see a 16.8 oz bottle on Amazon for $29.99/free shipping; same size on Marine Sanitation and Supply site is $19.99, with discount for 4 or more bottles (looks like $12+ for 4). Where do you buy, Cliff?
Click to expand...

usually from Marine Sanitation to take advantage of the volume discount.....I believe they are in Washington state so the delivery takes several days....

cliff
 
I will keep that Noflex Digestor crystals in mind I have not had a issue with bad sensors, or smells. But may try some just to clean it all good ayway. BUT do you flush the crystals, or drop down the pump out tube?

and only one person answering and they flush the packets too? noone tried putting chemical into the holding tank directly?

againthanks for all the replys
 
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trflgrl said:
But I had forgotten about the NoFlex until Cliff mentioned it again. I see a 16.8 oz bottle on Amazon for $29.99/free shipping; same size on Marine Sanitation and Supply site is $19.99, with discount for 4 or more bottles (looks like $12+ for 4). Where do you buy, Cliff?
Click to expand...

$30????? Isn't it cheaper just to get pumped out??? Hmmm....I must be missing something. I only use the $6 packets to survive between pump outs. If I had to spend $30 to reduce the stink I'd pump out every weekend I think...
 
Yea I dont have a smell problem, and it all works, I was just curious on the packets did most flush them once desolved or drop in to the pump out tube.

that stuff does look like it will clean the system good. so may do it a time or to for good messure but for normal use after go back to cheap stuff that works still.
 
amazon is 29.99 free shipping, the other place is 18.99 but 12 in shipping so 31 total....
 
Marine Sanitation will give a volume discount so the overall price per bottle including shipping is cheaper than Amazon.....

I use the Noflex a couple different ways.....usually when I first get to the boat I will insure there is a small amount of water in the toilet bowl and pour a normal dose of Noflex in the water.....then we gradually fill the bowl with 'liquids' and flush as the level nears the full mark....by this time the Noflex has dissolved and gets flushed into the tank.....another way is to flush the toilet and hold the foot lever down to keep the ball valve open and pour the dose of Noflex directly down into the open toilet.....the next time the toilet flushes the water will flush the Noflex into the tank.....I have found if you pour the Noflex into water in the bowl and don't give it enough time to fully dissolve and flush some of the crystals can get trapped in the seal around the ball valve causing a temporary leak around the seal....this is easily corrected with a quick cleaning of the seal with a toilet brush.....

cliff
 
Stee6043 said:
$30????? Isn't it cheaper just to get pumped out??? Hmmm....I must be missing something. I only use the $6 packets to survive between pump outs. If I had to spend $30 to reduce the stink I'd pump out every weekend I think...
Click to expand...

The $30 container of No Flex last a long time. You use a teaspoon a day for every person on board. It creates a bacteria that combats the waste and odors. Marine San has a special for the No Flex and a bowl cleaner. http://www.marinesan.com/Noflex-Biotal-Combo-Special-p/noflex-biotal.htm.

I also recommend the Tank Teria to get the bacteria started. I started using this stuff two seasons ago, and am very impressed. Way better than the formaldehyde chemicals that most people use.
 
Stee6043 said:
$30????? Isn't it cheaper just to get pumped out??? Hmmm....I must be missing something. I only use the $6 packets to survive between pump outs. If I had to spend $30 to reduce the stink I'd pump out every weekend I think...
Click to expand...

one bottle of Noflex will last a long time.....a pump out for me requires an hour cruise one way and a $20 tip to the dock hand.....so I try to stretch out the time between pump outs as far as possible....

as I stated earlier I have personal experience comparing the effectiveness of the $6 packets against Noflex....the $6 packets did nothing to dissolve the build up in the tank and clean the floats and shafts and pipes.....this was in a waste system that had probably been neglected prior to me buying the boat.....but the Noflex did an excellent job of cleaning out the tank sludge and the pipes and the floats and shafts....this was enough to convince me of the superiority of the Noflex compared to ordinary waste treatments....so like most things I chose to use the superior product....the extra cost is not going to make me chose between getting some medication or buying the Noflex....I mean we are not talking about a lot of money here.....I had to replace the duck bill valves and manually clean the floats in my system once and I don't want to do that again....i'll gladly pay a little more for the waste treatment that will hopefully keep me from doing that task again in the future....

if you have a well maintained waste system perhaps using the $6 packets is adequate but why gamble?

cliff
 
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"... I only use the $6 packets to survive between pump outs ..."

There is the difference. Surviving vs enjoying. LOL But to each his own, do what works best for your situation.
 
Hah...okay, I thought you guys were dumping a whole bottle in each tank. This makes a lot more sense.

I get no odor from my tank but we also never use it for anything other than # 1. I use the packets just for kicks, mostly. I'd say twice a year something other than fluids will go into my black water tank....max.
 
Yes I would agree. A whole bottle at one time would be a lot! I also put a tablespoon in the bowl when I leave the boat at the end of the weekend. I have no scum growing in the bowl when I return the next week. I have also used it in my shower sump and the drip pan of my ac unit. It helps keep the scum factor down.
 
Just found it on this website for 19.99 vs. Amazon 29.99. Looks like it's the same sized bottle but can't be certain

https://www.marinesan.com/Noflex-digestor-p/noflex.htm

Thanks Mittens for mentioning this as my guages don't currently work and was probably going to be dismantling the senders soon to clean, but if you say this stuff will work on it's own, I may go ahead and get ordered and try this out.
 
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