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We've generally used Thetford Blue and Pink.  Had some black bits once in a much older caravan (and they seemed to go away on their own) but have never had any in the new van.  Once used green (can't remember the make) but wasn't impressed by the smell or the look of it.  At present we are using Jackson's own brand (of bothe blue and pink).  It seems very thin (especially the pink - so you tend to put in more than normal).  Have now got a very small bottle of green in case we come across a site that says we must use it.  I was thinking of changing to an 'all in one' fluid - perhaps I will give it a go, but I'm now not absolutely convinced.

We just empty our toilet when it gets full.  The bottom tank in our current caravan seems smaller than the last one - 2/3 days and it's full

Never had a real problem with smell (except when we used the green stuff), but I do open the window frequently.

we use thetford blue and pink  tried the green stuff but didnt like the smell  i did try blue blocks in the flush tank it worked well but after a while it coated the inside of the flush tank with a blue waxy film  which flaked off and came out in bits when we flushed the toilet   i had to take it all apart and clean it out  

Quote: Originally posted by Viggo on 16/8/2010

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I've understood the "black bits" to be algae or mold which has grown in the flush tank. One of the jobs of the chemical flush additive is to kill off algae/mold which can, eventually, block tubes and pipes in the system.

Who were these "scientists", Alan?

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Quote: Originally posted by Zorro on 16/8/2010

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What are these `black bits' people are referring to ? Are they `jobbies' or bits of the seals being broken down ?

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 'jobbies'. I've never suffered from the black bits yet - feeling left out. 

Quote: Originally posted by happywalker on 17/8/2010

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Quote: Originally posted by Zorro on 16/8/2010

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What are these `black bits' people are referring to ? Are they `jobbies' or bits of the seals being broken down ?

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 'jobbies'. I've never suffered from the black bits yet - feeling left out. 

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no need - me neither  Don't use any of the strong chemicals either.

Quote: Originally posted by johnks on 17/8/2010

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Quote: Originally posted by Viggo on 16/8/2010

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I've understood the "black bits" to be algae or mold which has grown in the flush tank. One of the jobs of the chemical flush additive is to kill off algae/mold which can, eventually, block tubes and pipes in the system.

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Who were these "scientists", Alan?

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We only get the black bits if we put anything other than clean water in the tank. So the scientist (whoever they are) are correct.

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Quote: Originally posted by Viggo on 17/8/2010

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Quote: Originally posted by johnks on 17/8/2010

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Quote: Originally posted by Viggo on 16/8/2010

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I've understood the "black bits" to be algae or mold which has grown in the flush tank. One of the jobs of the chemical flush additive is to kill off algae/mold which can, eventually, block tubes and pipes in the system.

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Who were these "scientists", Alan?

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We only get the black bits if we put anything other than clean water in the tank. So the scientist (whoever they are) are correct.

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Or, rather, the mold isn't killed off by clean water and so remains growing in your flush tank.

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But can't you remove & clean out the flush tank ? If so then at least those black bits won't be running round your pipes and blocking them up like they apparently can.

We don't know much about all this, our caravan doesn't have a flush tank - that's way too luxurious for us !

Quote: Originally posted by Zorro on 17/8/2010

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Quote: Originally posted by Viggo on 17/8/2010

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Quote: Originally posted by johnks on 17/8/2010

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Quote: Originally posted by Viggo on 16/8/2010

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I've understood the "black bits" to be algae or mold which has grown in the flush tank. One of the jobs of the chemical flush additive is to kill off algae/mold which can, eventually, block tubes and pipes in the system.

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Who were these "scientists", Alan?

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We only get the black bits if we put anything other than clean water in the tank. So the scientist (whoever they are) are correct.

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Or, rather, the mold isn't killed off by clean water and so remains growing in your flush tank.

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But can't you remove & clean out the flush tank ? If so then at least those black bits won't be running round your pipes and blocking them up like they apparently can.

We don't know much about all this, our caravan doesn't have a flush tank - that's way too luxurious for us !

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It's a bit difficult to remove the tank when it is all one piece. The black bits don't appear if you just use water.

Quote: Originally posted by doit on 17/8/2010

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i tried an all in one chemical once - a 'top n tail' type and it smelt horiffic - just masked smells instead of combatting them! We use the thetford blue and a weak mix of pink in the flush tank. Agree pink is nasty when strong, but quite nice when weak. I also empty the tank quite regular for fear of full tank weight and smell but seems to be not too bad considering what goes in the tank.... At the end of the day it is a loo and what comes out of the tank is amazingly unsmelly considering what it is full of  - imagine that waste in a box without chems for even 1 day in warm summer sunshine! Plus caravan club sites sell thetford stuff and i am way too lazy to buy and carry bottles of heavy and strong chems when i can buy them on site. Convnience is sometimes more important than cost hehehe

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