water tank question

[hardee]

Sunbeam,

I like the tip about the "Baby Whale" foot pump. I currently have an electric pump with an on/off pull switch, and no momentary. Runs way more water than I usually need, splashes all over etc. Could be a good switch out, and use less electricity. Only time I really like the electric is when I am emptying the tank and doing winterizing.

As to the Black flecks. My bet would be dried algae or mold, unless you are pumping from a well. I found this in my sight tube. Cleaned out with some gauze and a long wire.

I use bleach in my tank, a good strong shock treatment in the spring, fill the tank and rock it around real well, then drain and use the weak bleach in the tank on each fill. (I only use that water for washing dishes, not drinking.) No more black stuff, and no bad smell or taste.

Harvey
SleepyC:moon

 

[C-Nile]

Harvey,
There were so many black flecks in the water that these would clog the faucet nozzle. It makes sense what you said about the problem being either algae or mold. I think I'm going to follow your advice and Bob's, and shock the tank early in the spring after it is well cleaned out. Then moving forward I'll just add eight drops of bleach per gallon of water that I put into the tank to ensure that it stays healthy.

Thanks for your advice.

Rich

 

[Sunbeam]

Harvey,
There were so many black flecks in the water that these would clog the faucet nozzle. It makes sense what you said about the problem being either algae or mold.

Although I never think of algae or mold being "flecks." Maybe that's because I think of flecks as being like little shards or flakes more than .... well how would I describe algae or mold... maybe more like little tiny soft blobs or shapeless particles? But I guess fleck can also mean spot or tiny particle, so I may have read more into it than you meant. Did it seem "gooey" like algae or mold? Did it cling to the pipe walls or did it all seem to come to the faucet? (I would expect mold to cling to the pipe walls.)

Sunbeam

 

[C-Nile]

Harvey,
There were so many black flecks in the water that these would clog the faucet nozzle. It makes sense what you said about the problem being either algae or mold.

Although I never think of algae or mold being "flecks." Maybe that's because I think of flecks as being like little shards or flakes more than .... well how would I describe algae or mold... maybe more like little tiny soft blobs or shapeless particles? But I guess fleck can also mean spot or tiny particle, so I may have read more into it than you meant. Did it seem "gooey" like algae or mold? Did it cling to the pipe walls or did it all seem to come to the faucet? (I would expect mold to cling to the pipe walls.)

Sunbeam

They were around 1/16" to 1/8", no more then 1/64" thick, coal black and firm like black paint chips. I'm confounded, which is why I will obtain samples in the spring and try to figure out its composition. I confess that after using the boat in October, 2011, we never did anything to treat the water. So after reading what others do to keep their water healthy, I have obviously been negligent. The odd thing is the homogenious black color that is somewhat shiny along with the firmness in texture. If I didn't know better it looked like plastic, but there was so much of it throughout the season. Is it possible that one of the marinas we had visited used black plastic water pipes and particles of glue were present? Again, this really bugs me, so I will obtain samples.

Rich

 

[Sunbeam]

They were around 1/16" to 1/8", no more then 1/64" thick, coal black and firm like black paint chips.

Okay, that's what I was envisioning. I'm no expert, but I don't associate that type of "chip" with mold or spores.

I'm confounded, which is why I will obtain samples in the spring and try to figure out its composition.

That will be very interesting. I'm curious now too!

The odd thing is the homogenious black color that is somewhat shiny along with the firmness in texture. If I didn't know better it looked like plastic, but there was so much of it throughout the season. Is it possible that one of the marinas we had visited used black plastic water pipes and particles of glue were present?

Just thinking out loud here: I wonder if there is anything in your system that is black plastic that could be the culprit? Maybe you've already eliminated anything aboard, and I have just forgotten what you said - or for some other reason it's obviously not that, but... I had a plastic garden sprayer once that had some plastic "swarf" in it that clogged a valve. I was able to figure it out and get rid of it (oddly it had worked fine for quite a while and the swarf had not been obvious before that time).

Sunbeam

 

[C-Nile]

Sunbeam -- the only black plastic is the pump housing that screws into the threaded water tank, and it is not shredded. Thereafter, it is all clear plastic hosing.

 

[hardee]

???? impeller, or Black plastic pipe parts (grinding). Good possibilities.

I was thinking that these were flecks that may have formed on the tank walls, dried and then fallen to the bottom. Agree, mold or algae would re-hydrate and become soft, slimy or gelatinous. Not likely to be hard, shinny or granular.

On to Plan C (my apologies to Dave), or maybe Plan D.

I would still treat the tank, but may want to wait until after the sorce of that black stuff is located.

Harvey
SleepyC:moon

 

[C-Nile]

???? impeller, or Black plastic pipe parts (grinding). Good possibilities.

I was thinking that these were flecks that may have formed on the tank walls, dried and then fallen to the bottom. Agree, mold or algae would re-hydrate and become soft, slimy or gelatinous. Not likely to be hard, shinny or granular.

On to Plan C (my apologies to Dave), or maybe Plan D.

I would still treat the tank, but may want to wait until after the sorce of that black stuff is located.

Harvey
SleepyC:moon

I looked and could not find anything -- even to the extent of taking apart the pump impeller housing. That is why I wanted to send the water through a filter screen when refilling the tank. I will initially thoroughly clean the tank of any residual particulate, do the initial chlorine treatment, filter the intake and see if the problem continues.

Thanks,

Rich

 

[jerry97230]

We have had this issue for years. I will clean the water tank in the spring and things are good but next spring there are usually some black flesxs in the tank.
We live on a floating home and the houses were originally fed with clear vinly hose from the city supply. After a couple of years the hoses were black inside. We have since changed the hoses to an opaque hoses.

Jerry