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Topic ClosedI've been SLIMED!!!!!!!
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Direct Link To This Post Topic: I've been SLIMED!!!!!!!
    Posted: 12 Sep 2011 at 4:49pm
Yes, I've been slimed....worse than Bill Murray in the original Ghostbusters movie! Cry
 
It started Labor Day weekend when I noticed my water pump acting strange.  On the last day, luckily, it wasn't pumping much water at all...just a periodic "spurt".  Yet, I could see (looking at the tank, along with my monitor panel) that I had plenty of water in the fresh water tank.
 
So, as I am packing to go home, I'm thinking: "Great...I've lost a water pump".  Oh well, when I get home, I'll get online and order another one.  This, I did, without looking any deeper into the matter.  In a couple of days, I had an exact duplicate of the original.  A quick swap of the pumps and my troubles will be over!  Or will they????
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Joined: 25 Jul 2011
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Posts: 6128 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 12 Sep 2011 at 4:55pm
Hmmm.. large bit of algae find it's way into the intake?

Confused 
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 13 Sep 2011 at 4:45pm

So there I was, laying on my back underneath the camper. I see dark matter floating about in my fresh water tank. (Ooooo…this is not good!) I unscrew the water intake hose to the inside water pump and get just a dribble. (Ooooo….this is not good!)  Cry

Out comes the needle-nosed pliers to remove the inlet screen; it’s covered in green goo. This is followed by a rush of water and more of the ectoplasmic green slime/goo - some of which needed to be coaxed out with the pliers. Along about this time, on of my 5th wheel neighbors comes over to see what I’m doing. Neither of us had ever seen algae quite like this!   Dead

Anyway, the tank has been taken care of and the whole fresh water system severely sanitized, repeatedly.

I can honestly say I have never had an issue with algae before. However, in retrospect, the situation was ideal to have an issue with algae. (Though this was surprisingly BAD) (1) The camper had sat for about 3 weeks between trips, (2) we had approx. 30 days straight of 90+ degree days - with some over 100, (3) this year, I had taken to filling my tank at home - which is untreated well water (other than passing thru a water softener), and (4) the “bulge” - which I’ll address in the upcoming “Battle of the Bulge”
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Posts: 112 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 13 Sep 2011 at 5:21pm
OMG , you certainly scared me with your post, until you got to the part about well water. So sorry for you problem, but it does bring up a good point, we have stayed at camp grounds that were on well water so I guess it pays to ask the attendant before you top off your tank. Good luck with finding a solution. Clark
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Posts: 9059 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 13 Sep 2011 at 6:49pm

Wow, that's certainly one way to go green.  Dead

Glad you got it all out.  Now you have me worried, we have a well and I always keep some water in the tank all summer so we have water to wash and flush with on the road.
Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ Pod instruction manual
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Posts: 95 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28 Sep 2011 at 1:49pm
OK, if you empty the tank after each trip, will you still get algae? I've been wondering about this. We empty it and refill for each trip, but don't sanitize between trips. What do you think? Are we going to start becoming pod-people with things growing in our tummies from the water?
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Posts: 9059 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28 Sep 2011 at 2:51pm
Normally you shouldn't have to sanitize more than once a year.  There is also the argument that RV antifreeze is in the alcohol family and therefore everything but your fresh water tank is naturally sanitized all winter long.  And if your tank is dry all winter even that shouldn't be growing anything (same goes for between trips to answer your question).
Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ Pod instruction manual
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Posts: 6128 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28 Sep 2011 at 4:47pm
I'm going to "sanitize" my fresh water tank with Jim Beam.. cut out one step in the evenings...
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28 Sep 2011 at 5:46pm
Originally posted by cgarb

OK, if you empty the tank after each trip, will you still get algae? I've been wondering about this. We empty it and refill for each trip, but don't sanitize between trips. What do you think? Are we going to start becoming pod-people with things growing in our tummies from the water?
 
I can honestly say I have never had an issue with algae before. However, in retrospect, the situation was ideal to have an issue with algae. (Though this was surprisingly BAD) (1) The camper had sat for about 3 weeks between trips, (2) we had approx. 30 days straight of 90+ degree days - with some over 100, (3) this year, I had taken to filling my tank at home - which is untreated well water (other than passing thru a water softener), and (4) the “bulge” - which I’ll address in the upcoming “Battle of the Bulge”
 
Normally, I just sanitize twice per year and that has always been fine. 
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Posts: 17 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28 Dec 2011 at 10:58am
I can say that I have never had an issue with green stuff in my fresh water tanks. I have had travel trailers from 16' to a 30' fifth wheel. In this new single lifeI went with the R pod. Between one and two week long trips, from Feb. in Florida to October in the Great Smokies, I leave the tank empty. I never haul with fresh water tank containing any water. As far as flushing on the road I keep a couple of one gallon milk jugs full of tap water. Use enough to "dump the pot". I then fill up fresh water tank at the campground. I never drink campground water and use only bottled water when I am settled.
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