Nasty smelling fresh water tank.

[SS MAYFLOAT]

What can I do. Get new? Is there a coating that they can be coated with? I've tried TSP (trisodiumphosphate) and other sanitizers, deoderizers, etc.<br /><br />I have 2, 16 gallon blue plastic tanks. They are in great condition except I can't use them for potable water. <br /><br />I've tried the Pur water filter, it still has a bad taste but it does take the odor out of the water.

 

[Drowned Rat]

Re: Nasty smelling fresh water tank.

Hi SS. Do they make the water taste like plastic or something else. If it's somthing else try adding about a quarter cup bleach to each tank and let sit for a few days. If they taste like plastic, add about a quarter cup of mouthwash to each one and let sit. (This really works well). If the tanks are old, the plastic is probably just degraded and you may not be able to get the odor out. Good luck.

 

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Re: Nasty smelling fresh water tank.

DR, these are the original tanks and the boat is a 77 model. The smell and odor is hard to describe. Sorta stagnant plastic smell and the taste is sorta like water run through a dirty sock. Thanks..SS<br /><br />I think I just need to invest in some new tanks, hey whaddaya know, iboats got em!

 

[crazy charlie]

Re: Nasty smelling fresh water tank.

SS,16 gallon is a big tank.Probably something you cant see growing in them.Had that in my water system of my current boat.You have to kill whatever kind of bacteria it is by first pouring straight bleach in it and moving it around in every possible angle so you dont miss anywhere with the bleach.This will kill just about anything in under 5 minutes,then fill it up with water to dilute the bleach and prevent it from damaging the plastic.Then completely empty the tank and let it dry out and then start fresh .I do this every spring except that I cant pick up my tank and move it around so you have an advantage if you can.Charlie

 

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Re: Nasty smelling fresh water tank.

Hi Charlie, When I first got this boat, I did remove the tanks and cut a hole in the top big enough to get my arm into. I scrubbed the heck out of it and did use bleach. I made a cover plate out of FRP panel to cover the hole. SO getting the tanks cleaned out inside wasn't hard with an opening to get into.<br /><br />Thanks.

 

[crazy charlie]

Re: Nasty smelling fresh water tank.

Sounds like you did a good job SS but the coating of full strength bleach on all surfaces allowed to sit for at least 5 minutes is critical to fully killing the bacteria as well as the drying out process.Otherwise it will just grow right back within a few days.Been there and had to do that twice to to say done that.Charlie

 

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Re: Nasty smelling fresh water tank.

Cool, I'll give it another try when the weather breaks. Cold and snowy again today. Thanks Charlie

 

[crazy charlie]

Re: Nasty smelling fresh water tank.

Cold and snowy...hmmmmmm...that does ring a bell.since Christmas,thats all we have had here on Long Island.The wife and I went to Pompano Beach for a few weeks to get some sunshine and got back the 22nd of Feb and have had 3 snows since.Yes I know what you mean.Charlie

 

[flashback]

Re: Nasty smelling fresh water tank.

SS, have you changed out the water lines? a lot of times they can cause the problem... That being said, I'm not sure I would want to drink water thats been sitting in a holding tank all week anyhow..I've only used tank water for washing..

 

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Re: Nasty smelling fresh water tank.

Yes Flashback, I changed the lines out last year. I used nylabraid tubing. The stuff we use for our drink systems in our stores. I'm going to change it again this year also. I get the line pretty much for free from Coke.<br /><br />The last couple of years we have just used the water for showers and wash down. We don't even like using it to do the dishes. Thanks<br /><br />A plumber gave me an idea, but he said it would probably cost as much as new tanks would. His idea was to get 4"PVC pipe and use street ells to make a storage system by making like a coil with it. Might be worth checking into.

 

[flashback]

Re: Nasty smelling fresh water tank.

Yep, you could pack the center of it with ice and have a lot of cold water ... then you don't need your frig...

 

[rwidman]

Re: Nasty smelling fresh water tank.

Originally posted by SS Mayfloat:<br /> A plumber gave me an idea, but he said it would probably cost as much as new tanks would. His idea was to get 4"PVC pipe and use street ells to make a storage system by making like a coil with it. Might be worth checking into.

Replacing the tank would be easier and probably less expensive. Check the aerators in the faucets, I found stuff growing in mine.

 

[prockvoan]

Re: Nasty smelling fresh water tank.

When you add the bleach to your tanks,make sure you run it thru the hold system.Flush out the system 3 or 4 times to get the bleach out.Add a cup of vinger when finish.

 

[Stratocaster]

Re: Nasty smelling fresh water tank.

This may help you:<br /><br /> http://p076.ezboard.com/fbocwebfrm36.showMessage?topicID=11.topic

 

[swist]

Re: Nasty smelling fresh water tank.

A couple of comments...<br /><br />1) Once your tank is old enough and you have run bleach and/or various other water tank treatments through, I would never drink the water - plastic absorbs all sorts of things and the only way around that is replacing the tank. The best you can hope for is semi-clean non-smelling water good enough for washing. Bottle water is for drinking.<br /><br />2) Use one chemical at a time and then make sure it is thoroughly flushed with several changes of water - some of them react with each other to create either deadly fumes or other toxic residue - the most obvious is bleach combined with anything that has ammonia in it (like Windex), but there are others.