Holding Tank Qestion

LLkidsRN · #1 (**permalink**) 07-23-2008

I'm looking to replace my holding tank. Two people have suggested a bladder tank. Others have shrieked at the thought and said to only go rigid. Yet neither camp has given me pros and cons. Does anyone out there have strong feeligs one way or another? Pros/cons?

Thanks!

sailingdog · #2 (**permalink**) 07-23-2008

I wouldn't recommend using a bladder tank for waste. Most will not aerate the waste properly, leading to a buildup of anaerobic bacteria and nasty smells. Bladder tanks need to be well supported and padded to prevent chafing.

A rigid tank, while probably more of a PITA to install, since they're rigid... generally will smell less and have less chance of leaking. Get the heaviest wall tank you can.

LittleWingCA · #3 (**permalink**) 07-23-2008

One of the nice things about a rigid tank is that you can add an electronic sensor that can tell you how full the tank is. This helps in determining when to visit the pump out dock. A bladder tank may not offer this type of capability to be added or it might not give you as accurate a reading and thus you might not know when you are approaching a "full tank". Not much more is as embarrasing as somebody pumping the head and the stuff coming out your vent openings.

I also am not so sure how easily you could pump out a bladder tank overboard using a macerator pump ( when legally allowed offshore ) since it might have a tendancy to collapse as the pump sucks all the stuff out.

wchevron · #4 (**permalink**) 07-23-2008

go with rigid for the reasons sd mentioned. try ronco plastics. they have over 200 sizes of tanks and you can customize the size, placement, and number of openings in the tank before fabrication.

SteveCox · #5 (**permalink**) 07-23-2008

To put more specifics on points already made, a bladder tank will be more permeable to odors than a rigid one (and that's bad

). Installation can be more of a problem since with bladders you need to worry about chafe. If all you do is sail for a couple of hours in nice conditions this might not be much of an issue but the more the boat tosses the more critical the installation becomes.

JimsCAL · #6 (**permalink**) 07-24-2008

My boat came with a bladder type holding tank. The vent was constantly getting plugged and the tank would blowup like a balloon. I was afraid it would burst from the internal pressure. Changed it out for a rigid plastic tank and am much happier.