capfoley
New Member
I have a slimy sediment in the fresh water holding tank which often clogs the water pump filter. I have tried to flush it out with no success. Any ideas?
sediment in fresh water holding tank
- Thread starter capfoley
- Start date
- Oct 3, 2006
- 4,404
- Boat Info
- 280 Sundancer, Westerbeke MPV generator
- Engines
- twin 5.0's w/BIII drives
Add 1 quart of bleach to 25 gallons of water. Let it sit in the water tank over night.
I would remove the inline screen water filter attached to the low pressure side of the water pump, connect a garden hose to the high pressure side of the fresh water pump then with the hose exiting over the boat turn on the fresh water pump until the tank is empty.
Repeat this multiple times until the tank is clean.
Once clean, fill tank with fresh water (no bleach) and empty twice. Clean and reinstall the inline screen filter by the fresh water pump.
Start from scratch again, this time following the Peggy Hill and Sea Ray endorsed fresh water reconditioning steps:
1. Use a solution of 1 pint Purex or Clorox bleach to 25 gallons of water). With tank empty, pour chlorine solution into tank.
2. Complete filling of tank with fresh water. Open each faucet and drain cock until air has been released and the entire system is filled. Do not turn off the pump; it must remain on to keep the system pressurized and the solution in the lines
3. Allow to stand for at least three hours, but no longer than 24 hours.
4. Drain through every faucet on the boat (and if you haven't done this in a while, it's a good idea to remove any diffusion screens from the faucets, because what's likely to come out will clog them). Fill the tank again with fresh water only, drain again through every faucet on the boat.
5. To remove excess chlorine taste or odor which might remain, prepare a solution of one quart white vinegar to five gallons water and allow this solution to agitate in tank for several days.
6. Drain tank again through every faucet, and flush the lines again by filling the tank 1/4-1/2 full and again flushing with potable water.
An annual or semi-annual re-commissioning according to the above directions is all that should be necessary to keep your water tasting and smelling as good as anything that comes out of any faucet on land. If you need to improve on that, install a water filter. Just remember that a filter is not a substitute for cleaning out the system, and that filters require regular inspection and cleaning or replacement.
I do this and I drink from our taps on the boat.
I would remove the inline screen water filter attached to the low pressure side of the water pump, connect a garden hose to the high pressure side of the fresh water pump then with the hose exiting over the boat turn on the fresh water pump until the tank is empty.
Repeat this multiple times until the tank is clean.
Once clean, fill tank with fresh water (no bleach) and empty twice. Clean and reinstall the inline screen filter by the fresh water pump.
Start from scratch again, this time following the Peggy Hill and Sea Ray endorsed fresh water reconditioning steps:
1. Use a solution of 1 pint Purex or Clorox bleach to 25 gallons of water). With tank empty, pour chlorine solution into tank.
2. Complete filling of tank with fresh water. Open each faucet and drain cock until air has been released and the entire system is filled. Do not turn off the pump; it must remain on to keep the system pressurized and the solution in the lines
3. Allow to stand for at least three hours, but no longer than 24 hours.
4. Drain through every faucet on the boat (and if you haven't done this in a while, it's a good idea to remove any diffusion screens from the faucets, because what's likely to come out will clog them). Fill the tank again with fresh water only, drain again through every faucet on the boat.
5. To remove excess chlorine taste or odor which might remain, prepare a solution of one quart white vinegar to five gallons water and allow this solution to agitate in tank for several days.
6. Drain tank again through every faucet, and flush the lines again by filling the tank 1/4-1/2 full and again flushing with potable water.
An annual or semi-annual re-commissioning according to the above directions is all that should be necessary to keep your water tasting and smelling as good as anything that comes out of any faucet on land. If you need to improve on that, install a water filter. Just remember that a filter is not a substitute for cleaning out the system, and that filters require regular inspection and cleaning or replacement.
I do this and I drink from our taps on the boat.
Last edited:
stevea661
New Member
- Oct 2, 2008
- 260
- Boat Info
- 268 sundancer, humminbird 797c fish finder / chart plotter /gps combo, lowrance lms 400 with np-60 f
- Engines
- OMC Cobra 1.41 final drive ratio. 5.7 rebuilt to 300 hp 11/ 08. Hustler 15. x 15 prop. reman quadraj
I don't drink the water from my boat, or my travel trailer. Just say'n:huh:.
- Oct 3, 2006
- 4,404
- Boat Info
- 280 Sundancer, Westerbeke MPV generator
- Engines
- twin 5.0's w/BIII drives
You don't, I do.
That does not make either one of us ‘good’ or ‘bad’ it’s just what we do.