Adding septic treatments, good or bad..?

rharkins · Jul 16, 2010

We pumped our tank for the first time in 8 years. Our Honey Wagon driver said the tank looked healthy and that there were almost no solids on the bottom. I asked him about the additives, and he didn't feel they were useful.

Since our leach field is surrounded by trees and brush, he did recommend using copper sulfate twice a year to keep the tree roots out of the laterals.

I found it interesting that none of the municipalities around here would take what he pumps. He has to maintain his own treatment plant, and has to meet all of the standards a city would. That might be why he's the only tank pumper in this area...

JL Sargent · Jul 16, 2010

I should have qualified that in my previous mentioned septic system the washing machine water had a separate field line and did not go to the septic tank. So bleach in the laundry not a problem. Also occasional cleansers apparently not a problem for the system. You can clean the house, but using DRANO once a week not acceptable.

I think some cleaners are labeled "safe for septic systems" or such. Look for those.

clemsonfor · Jul 16, 2010

I was reading the magazine "Living The Country Life" the August 2010 issue and there was a new treatement in it called Medow Springs. Its in there new cool country tools section. Its made with a dry yeast called ECO-Yeast, which it says differs from bacteria based products. ".. a 2008 study determined that septic tanks treated with MS incurred a volitile solids decrease of almost 70% when compared to untreated tanks. After 2 years of testing the product is now availible for customers " its $7.59 for 10 oz bag, $10.99 for 20 oz bag and $18.29 for a 60 oz bag..

Depending on the dosage rates thats as cheap or cheaper than Rid X.

No i am not a salesman for this stuff just read the article 10 mins before on line, then checked back with this thread and thought to post.

Link to article or product, i guess is here (listed in review)

www.livingthecountrylife.com/go/1213

Highbeam · Jul 19, 2010

Realize that any product you see written about or advertised in a magazine paid for the exposure so the "article" is likely biased. If you read the box of these products you will of course find that they claim all sorts of seemingly important benefits, just like that male organ enlarging cream you read about on the net.

You do not need anything added to your tank. It is a myth. All the bugs you need are in the first turd.

sweettractors · Jul 19, 2010

What does Copper Sulfate do to the septic system, Besides, eat out the tree roots? Any adverse side effects? Ken Sweet

captaincrab55 · Jul 19, 2010

sweettractors said:
What does Copper Sulfate do to the septic system, Besides, eat out the tree roots? Any adverse side effects? Ken Sweet

I make it a habit to only use Copper Sulfate past the Septic Tank, just in case....

Arky217 · Jul 19, 2010

If you have a problem with tree roots invading the line to your septic tank, and it's not completely plugged up yet, there is a product called RootX that appears to work well.
It is rather expensive, however, at about $45-$50 with shipping.

My line was completely plugged by roots under the slab at about 2 feet in from the edge. (many large oaks surround the house).
After initially cutting through with a drain cleaner machine, I've been treating the line every year for the last 5 years with RootX.
Unlike other treatments, it foams up to fill the pipe from bottom to top to contact all the roots.

Perhaps some day I will have to repair the line, but in addition to being 2 feet in from the edge of the slab, it is also under 15 feet of patio flagstone.
When the tank was put in 30 some years ago, the ground sloped away from the house quite a bit. Then one of the previous owners added fill and built the patio. Now the tank is buried 3+ feet down at the very edge of the patio, and to make it worse, a cleanout port was never installed when the system was put in.
I had to dig down and remove the tank lid to run the cleanout snake. (could not access it from the toilet as it makes a ninety under the slab in addition to the ninety under the toilet.)
It would be a real mess to fix properly, so I'm kind of clinging to the RootX for now.

smfcpacfp · Jul 21, 2010

I haven't had any problems either, but my wife and I travel alot sometimes for 3 weeks at a time so nothing is flowing into the system. I add a little Rid-X when we leave just to add a little extra action.