Holding tank vent filter

[rondds]

Several years ago I made one myself - we all know how - PVC, charcoal from a pet store, blah blah. It was sitting in my basement capped on both ends for a few years and I finally installed it on this boat last summer. I took the one I removed, cut it open, put in fresh charcoal and put it on the shelf for future use. The one I had made years ago wasn't doing such a great job so this spring, I installed the newer home-made one, figuring that maybe over the years, the older home-made one absorbed moisture and the charcoal was all out of "filtration capacity."

BUT, the new one isn't doing such a great job either. Maybe my home-made technique isn't so great, or my excrement is unlike that of any other boatowner. I have owned a Sea Ray since 2004 and only had to replace one on the previous boat in 2005, and this one now.

SO, the plan now is to cave in and BUY one. There's the "Big Orange" filter at about $125, the Dometic Sealand ($80), and the Voker, at around $50. Any preference?

 

[electricaldoctor]

You could be right about your special excrement, because my home made fart filters have been holding up nicely. Perhaps, you should see a doctor. I think that they can fix that, but you may have to bag it and tag it on your own.

 

[Mike Blake]

IMHO I found that the original filters work the best. What I do is have my coffee in the morning and search EBay. I have found them as much as $45.00. I also have found March A/C pumps as low as 35.00. I have both in stock for later . As far as the pump go's now that I have a spare it has been working for like 3-4 years.

 

[northshore]

... or my excrement is unlike that of any other boatowner.

Geez Ron what have you been eating? :grin:

Seriously, I'm with Mike on this, I think I got my SeaLand for $55 on ebay last year

 

[ph321]

I had the same issue and it was fixed by finding a better quality activated carbon to put in the filter. A few months later and no smell at all compared with the generic pet shop carbon which didn't usually last a weekend.

Might be worth trying some different brands before you give up?

Paul

 

[fwebster]

What ruins the life of the holding tank vent filter is moisture. If your filter stopped working, it is because waste has gotten in the filter. Take the time to re-engineer the filter mounting location and raise it as high as possible in the bilge as you can. When we bought the 450, I moved my filters to the very top of the bulkhead against the cockpit deck and as far outboard as possible. That was 18 years ago and I am still on the same filters I installed in 1997. Sealand/West Marine isn't going to hurt me with their pricing……………..

 

[HUMPH]

They got it wrong when they mounted the filter right on top of the tank! I am going to cut a hatch in behind my transom door to hang dock lines and mount a filter there so I don't need to go into the engine room to service it. The big orange might be perfect for this location.

 

[Mike Blake]

Mine is mounted way above the tank behind the mirror in the rear cabin. I'm on my 3rd year with this one.

 

[wjglampe]

I have the "big orange". Noticed "the smell" after flushing last fall. Worked great until it got wet. Also noticed after pumping the head, the holding tank was hard to fill with water to rinse the tank. Had to go real slow and it would back up. I put 2 and 2 together (pretty good with math huh) and it dawned on me that the vent filter is plugged or semi plugged causing the foul Oder when flushing and tank not wanting to take rinse water after head pump. Bought the $20 charcoal replacement package from big orange, and we're back in business!

 

[rondds]

I ordered a Sealand filter. The filter is mounted on top of the tank. Neither of the homemade filters ever got wet. I never even got close to filling up that tank before a pumpout, though I will shoot water on there every second pumpout or so. I always put the chemicals which are probably a waste of money.

Interestingly, the filter on my 340DB was mounted about 12" above the tank. I replaced it with a SeaLand in the 1st or 2nd year of ownership and didn't need to touch it again (7 or 8 years). And that tank was only 20g.

We'll see how the $80 version works when it arrives.

 

[HUMPH]

I would still try to locate it as high above the tank as possible Ron. Should be fairly easy and they come either with or without a mounting bracket.

 

[rondds]

I'll take a look at the possibilities. Makes sense Ken.

 

[Jimmy Buoy]

I always make sure that the "rinse" part of the pump out procedure doesn't cause an overfill and ruin the charcoal in the filter. That being said, it is possible if you are travelling and find yourself with a holding tank that's somewhere between 1/2 and full (without visually inspecting the tank you can't really be sure) there is a possibility of the contents sloshing about and forcing its way into the fart filter. That is, for others like mine with the filter mounted on the top of the tank itself. Maybe its time to move my fairly new Big Orange stock replacement to a remote location??

 

[The Bill Collector]

Upper right hand corner of pic....

 

[Alegria]

Interesting I never gave it much thought but replaced mine 3 seasons ago and no issues. Oddly enough mine is mounted way up high under the gunnel. What a chore to change it but thankfully no ordors so far. So I am in the mount it high camp!!! Got a Sealand online thanks to a fellow CSR post for around $60.

 

[rondds]

Thinking about what everyone is saying about mounting higher up - the boat never left the slip and I haven't had a spring pumpout/rinse yet so this latest filter installation hasn't had a chance to get wet yet. And the tank has had maybe 10 flushes at this early point in the season so it can't be filled up yet.

 

[mistercomputerman]

Your $%^& just stinks. Are you using any liquid treatment?

 

[oceanpearl]

Found on Ebay. Looks like what you need.
Mouse over image to zoom

[h=1]Details about AirForce Holding Tank Vent Filter Direct Replacement 5/8”[/h] [h=2]Direct Replacement for Dometic SeaLand & SaniGard OEM[/h]

 

[rondds]

Are you using any liquid treatment?

Why thank you very much!
See 5th sentence in post #10 above.

 

[mistercomputerman]

Do I have to read EVERY line of your posts?