Attack of the Blob!

[BrentB]

I know there are many threads about how to sanitize tanks, and I have done that, but I still have a problem. While using my water pump, water would flow ok for a while, then slow to a trickle and stay there. I finally discovered that the pump filter was clogged with algae. I cleaned the filter, but the same thing happened again, so I decided to take a look in the tank and the result is what you see in the photo.

This gunk is not fazed by bleach, even at 200 ppm, and is too big to drain through the tiny 3/8 inch drain hole. I would love to scrape and scrub the inside of the tank to get rid of it, but of course the problem is gaining access. My first thought was some kind of access port, but I am having difficulty finding something that I think would work.

I found this, but it seems too small: https://www.marinesan.com/Holding-Ta.../307238685.htm

I found this, but it seems too large: Access Panels|tank|hatch|boat|water|TCL4

And I’m not sure if either will withstand the pressure of being submerged. (There is no access to the tank from above.)

I also thought of installing a larger drain fitting, hoping that the gunk will drain out, but I see that the spin weld fittings require a router, not a drill, and I don’t want to buy one of those. The only access to the tank is from the bottom or one end and the tank is about 4-5 feet long.

I just ran across this, not sure if it would work to build a larger drain: https://www.usplastic.com/catalog/it...x?itemid=89951
I really want to clean the gunk out without removing the tank as that is not easy to do.

Does anyone have any other solutions that I haven’t thought of?

[DocBrown]

When you sanitize, how long do you leave a tank full of water with bleach in before draining?

[BrentB]

In the past I left it about 8 hours, but the last time for 24.

[DocBrown]

OK, that should be sufficient. I usually leave it overnight.

[Jopopsy]

How is that growing in there w/o sunlight? Sure there will be passive light from under the coach, but enough to get an algae bloom? And 200 ppm of chlorine should kill anything ... weird.

[Ace]

that would be new tank time if it were mine.....gross.....no cleaning would ever be sufficient to get my wife, or me for that matter, to use that tank again. I'd even have a hard time trading the thing in that way knowing that.

[1carguy]

My tank would be pretty easy to drop to install a larger marine fitting for access but I would be concerned that it would happen again and wouldn't want to drop the tank each time. Do you treat your tank routinely? Is it an older trailer or fairly new? From where you took the picture, could you wet-vac it out?

[WeRJuliian]

If you can remove the tank, drop in some medium weight chain and then add
a few inches of your bleach solution. Agitate the tank very thoroughly, rolling or tumbling it if you can, for as long as you can stand it... Rinse and repeat.

The chain will act like a scrubber, and, hopefully, break up the gunk.

Or, buy a new tank :-)

[carloss]

Since algae is organic, this bacteria should be able to digest it. I would drop one packet in the tank, fill with enough water, and drive the trailer around to agitate. Wait a few days and check progress. If it works, drain the tank and then sanitize with bleach to kill the bacteria. I use this product on my septic system, that is how I came up with this crazy idea. I think it is worth a shot.

[Seann45]

A wet/dry vacuum with a hose jury rigged to the intake hose on the vac, the hose being just small enough to go down the fill tube and then vacuum the water (and gunk) out

[travelingjw]

I would consider a bleach solution, boiled (then cooled for about 5 minutes) and pour it into the tank. If you have a paint mixer, attach to your drill and "stir" the tank. You can then either vac it out with a wet vac or try to drain. I would try this once, drain the tank, and see if any broken pieces have come out. Another idea, you might also attach a hose to your house water heater drain, and try spraying directly into the tank.

[Duke4857]

Try Hydrogen Peroxide to see if it kills the blob. Less work than droping the tank.

https://www.amazon.com/Grade-Hydroge...de%2Caps%2C236

[BrentB]

According to my calculations, it will take 4 gallons to fill my tank to a depth of 1 inch. Would it work to add 1 gallon of hydrogen peroxide to 3 gallons of water, or would that dilute it too much?

[OldSoldier_5]

Jopopsy- there is a variety of algae that will grow in a metal diesel tank and in engine fuel lines. That is ONE, not the only, reason the military, all branches, switched to JP8. Algae are remarkably adaptable.

[RetiredOne]

My suggestion is to go with a lot higher bleach mixture than 200 ppm to kill that stuff. I'm thinking the mix I use when killing mold and mildew of 1 part bleach to 4 parts water. Then take a ride to shake up the mixture.

Even a 1000 ppm mix would be 1 part bleach to 9 parts water.

Also, if the sludge clogs up the drain valve, you might need to actually take the drain valve off to eliminate the restriction and run a small wire up the tube to help keep it clear to drain.

[Duke4857]

Originally Posted by BrentB

According to my calculations, it will take 4 gallons to fill my tank to a depth of 1 inch. Would it work to add 1 gallon of hydrogen peroxide to 3 gallons of water, or would that dilute it too much?

I would think that would be just great!!

You could also try RetiredOne's idea and increase the bleach.