Black Water Tank gauge

[trailertrawlerkismet]

So after three years of use the black water tank on our Kismet seems difficult to see where the level of fullness is in the tank at times. Not wanting to overfill the tank but then again not wanting to just arbitrarily have the tank pumped out before it needs to be I'm wanting to find out of any Tugnut has a solution for reading the fullness of the tank that works well for them? Has anyone installed a gauge of any kind they have thoughts about?

Jim

 

[bbrh842]

I have the same question. Thanks in advance for any advice/suggestions.

 

[CaptMac]

I added the SCAD Technologies Solo Tank Monitor with external sensor to Passage Weaver (paid $170 at Defender last year) Easy to install, and seems to work much better than any previous product I've tried. I attached the strips behind the tank - accessed under the rear seat, and mounted the gauge in the mid station berth.
Mac

 

[TonyM]

I found this remedy on a trailer camping web site and it works
I had the same problem on my boat and this is what I did.
I started with a pump out then added fresh water about a 1/4 of a tank.
Through the head I added Calgon (water softener) and liquid Tide (low suds) with fresh water. I filled the tank about 3/4 full with more fresh water and took a little trip to Seattle to agitate the contents. I could see a slight difference almost immediately. I then brought the contents almost to the top with fresh water.
Since I was not going to use the boat for a weak I let it sit for a week.
Some people add bleach to the solution, since it worked I haven't used any.

If you are trailering your boat this works really well because of all the agitation.

 

[HRowland]

I add some Joy dish detergent to the first flush after pumping the tank. This was based on a tip from a web site somewhere, apparantly Joy is thought to work better with salt water than other dish deteregents. So far the tank level is still very easy to see but we do not use our R27 as much as you do.

Howard

 

[baz]

Jim:

My solution to this is to first ensure the tank is empty, then

1) Drill two holes; one half way up and the other near to the top. Holes made to comply with 3) below.
2) Buy a slender glass/plastic tube about the length equal to the distance between the two holes.
3) Using a 90º brass fitting that securely fits into the two holes, plug them in.
4) Using small piece of plastic hose attach it to the two 90º elbows and end of glass/plastic tube forming a sight glass.

You now have a sight glass showing tank's fill level for half full and full.

An added item might be a small colored bead that floats and place that into the plastic/glass tube before attaching it to the two 90º brass elbows, making sure it's large enough to not fall into and through the lower brass elbow. 😉

 

[Todd]

Check out TANK TENDER by Heart systems. Installed in my 29 as a backup to the unreliable electronic monitoring of the black water tank that came with the boat. It works great and I know the exact tank level any time I want.

The TANK TENDER I have can handle up to 4 fuel or water tanks. This works so good I am going to add the ability to monitor my water tank as that gauge tends to stay on full until it suddenly goes to empty. Check it out. This system really works and gives a foolproof accurate level to any tank.

 

[baz]

Just a small correction... "TANK TENDER by Heart systems" should be "TANK TENDER by Hart Systems". 🙂

 

[Dale777]

Jim,

On my previous R27, I used a flashlight held against the black water tank to help determine the water level. You might try that until you have one of the more permanent solutions in place.

 

[jroyle]

Check out TANK TENDER by Heart systems. Installed in my 29 as a backup to the unreliable electronic monitoring of the black water tank that came with the boat. It works great and I know the exact tank level any time I want.

The TANK TENDER I have can handle up to 4 fuel or water tanks. This works so good I am going to add the ability to monitor my water tank as that gauge tends to stay on full until it suddenly goes to empty. Check it out. This system really works and gives a foolproof accurate level to any tank.

Todd, How did you get to the tank? I am very interested in installing the TANK TENDER as a backup. I've witnessed what happens when the tank is over-filled and don't want to go there. Any helpfull hints on the install would be greatly appreciated
Jeff

 

[Todd]

My boat is a 2012 R29 so this will not be the same for all boats.

To install the Tank Tender a small air tube has to be installed into the tank such that the bottom of the tube is at the bottom of the tank. On my boat the tube was installed through the access panel beneath the forward berth. If you remove the panel there is just enough room to drill a small hole in the top of the tank using a right angle drill attachment. The hole was then threaded using a tap. The small tube provided with the gage is cut to length and screwed into the taped hole with some silicone sealant for extra protection. Thin flexible tubing, also provided connects the gage to the tank fitting.

On my boat the gage was installed in the electrical cabinet in the forward berth. Normally the gauge is installed in a cut out on some wall panel. I wanted it somewhere easy to access but out of the way so a block of wood was secured behind the door to the electrical access and the gauge mounted there.

I can't post photos here as I don't have an album set up but I could email to text one to you.

This works so well I am going to add the fresh water tank to the gauge system. I found I can access the top of the fresh water tank by removing the small wall panel that cuts a diagonal across the forward, starboard, end of the cave. It will be an easy install and I mention it because you should do both at the same time. My water gauge usually says full until it suddenly drops to empty and it means empty. Think it hangs up because the top of the tank flexes so much that the sending unit sometimes hits the side of the tank.

You could also add the two fuel tanks but they are not causing me any problems so I have no plans to do that. Nice to know I can at a later date.