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Post Info TOPIC: Water tank cleaning


Member

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Water tank cleaning


we have just purchased a van thats sat idle for the past 18months, what solution or chemicals is good to give the 3 water tanks a good clean.

appreciate any feed back..



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Senior Member

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What are the tanks made of ? Mine is 200 L Pure Aluminum and is filled with a gluey oxide sludge. I cant vouch personally but my mate who is invariably right about these things gave me 375 ml of CLR which I will fill the tank up and add. Let it slosh around for a day or so , drain and flush.  

HTH

 

MZ



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The Happy Helper

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No way would I put CLR into a drinking water tank! ok in the grey water though. Have heard that cheap red cordial put into your drinking water tank, leave it to slosh around for a day or so, flush, and it will be fresh again. (At least three x 2 litre bottles. with some water)

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jules
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Gday...

Firstly, welcome to the forum Charlie

This is one source of advice ...

Water tank cleaning - click here

Cheers - John



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Chief one feather

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Welcome to the gang Charlie, enjoy here and out in the playground.

I only a few moons back put a bottle of Milton in the tanks and filled with water, I let sit for two days then drained and flushed. Normally you would drive around a bit to 'swish' it around but I was set up at the time.

Milton is used to wash out baby bottles so should be safe. I also don't drink the tank water and if I did, but I don't, it goes through a filter under the kitchen sink first.




Keep Safe on the roads and out there.

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Member

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Thanks for the tip....



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Guru

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A warm welcome from me also, Charlie

My second hand caravan, and then my motorhome, were in the same condition as your caravan, (not been used for many months, before I purchased them)

I drained the water from the tanks, filled them with fresh water, drove around a bit and emptied them, I did a few times, until the water became clear

Although I use bottled water for drinking, I (like many others on this forum), have a B.E.S.T. filter on my food grade water hose, when filling my tanks, (just in case)

I did read many years ago that some Australian Aid Organisations, used red cordial in the water, when they go to undeveloped countries, as it kills some bacteria

I have seen some sort of chlorine in some camping shops, to clean the water tanks, but have never used it

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Tony

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Yep I've added about 1/2 litre chlorine. Drove around and left overnight . Drained and filled with 2 cups of bicarbonate of soda . Drove around cycled through taps . Then drained the next day . Then 1/2 filled with tap water .. Drove around the block again . Then filled one last time with fresh filtered water . Did this when I bought motorhome. I havn't bothered doing any chemical cleaning the last 5 years . I just keep cycling fresh water through often . Enough chlorine in tap water to keep fresh . I hope ! Aha . Have double filters on main and another finer filter on seperate drinking water tap !

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Guru

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Yeah I don't like drinking water from the Van tanks and I don't like the rinsing the tank with chemicals ,the tanks are for showers washing up loo ect and we carry a supply of good quality drinking water in the car...



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Guru

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Me too ! It was on purchase and you don't know what was done before ? We put similar amounts daily in our pools . I don't add to drink . Just used chlorine to sterilise tank ., Most our drinking water is boiled anyway . Check the sodium / salt in some water bottles .

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Member

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Hi all, Just my 2c worth.
Chlorine is good, after all, I use it to kill bacteria in the pool and it's added to drinking water. But a cheaper alternative is white vinegar. Add a 1L bottle to your water tank, 1/2 fill with H2O then allow to sit and slosh as described above and then flush through pipes and drain out of tank. It's a nice friendly solution to both humans and the planet.


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Guru

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Perhaps try domestos. It's about 10% sodium hypochlorite. It's added to our water supply. I would add about 250ml and half to three quarters fill the tanks. Drive around and then rinse well. Will kill a NT Buffalo.

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Sta



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Believe it or not they use percarbonate of soda to clean beer lines in clubs,pubs etc

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Whats out there


Guru

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People worry a bit too much about some of these chemicals. Providing you wash/rinse the tank well after using it will be fine.

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Sta



Senior Member

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I remember reading that the ancient greek army used wine to purify their drinking water, worth a try anyway, and white vinegar seems in the same vein.
Also the Lions club I belonged to used vinegar to sterilise preparation utensils and cutting boards at their regular sausage sizzle.


"I contend we are both atheists, I just believe in one fewer god than you do. When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods, you will understand why I dismiss yours."
...Stephen F Roberts



-- Edited by jegog on Wednesday 27th of February 2019 08:08:30 PM

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Guru

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Heaps of salt,,,,,

fill tanks to say 25% with water go for a drive,,, empty and flush a couple of times.

 



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