water softener septic tank?

One thing can do periodically, water softener or not, occasionally add "Ridex" and/or raw beef liver to feed the bacteria. Hey, I hate beef liver too, so in the septic tank it goes (RAW). I've always done quarterly, is not expensive insurance. The truth be told, really shouldn't send soapy water (washing machine, dishwasher, etc) down into it either, but the trap is supposed to catch that. I've run the washing machine out a hose onto the lawn - it has to go somewhere, and since soap emulsifies (breaks down) dirt, may as well put it on the lawn/bushes.

Ramrod

Salt is a purifier, sodium chloride, and it's the chloride salts that effect your septic tank, much like dumping chlorine into the septic, as it stops (kills) the bacteria from doing it's thing.

We use alot of vinegar as that helps the tank contents keep the bacteria active. We use vinegar in our RV tanks for odor control and the first stage of composting. We do not use commerical chemicals.

Salt and vineger will off gass as hydrogen gas. This shouldn't be a problem with a tank of 1000gal or so, or about the size of a septic tank.

I personally would drain any water softner into a settling tank before dumping into my septic tank. This way the heavy salts would collect in the first tank and could be removed (pumped).

T_Bone

I use 1cup/25gal with 2gal water precharge for the black tank and 1cup for a 44gal grey tank (no precharge) when I think about it. Gray water tank only needs it for odor control.

You will smell vinegar when you first dump it in, maybe for 1hr but not strong just a wiff. Sure beats the smell of the blue chemicals tho.

This holds us for 7days without any odor problems but we don't have any gray water running into the black tank. If I have to hold the BT longer then I add 1 more cup of vinegar. About 7days is max without dumping the tank for total odor free.

We boondock camp 100% for 6mths at a time. With this method, TP and solids disolve in 48hrs, ambiment temperature dependant, and this starts the first stage of composting. I use a compost pit, add green pine needles for odor control, leafs and dry grass to each dump cycle. When done with the compost pit then cover with earth.

This method will produce a compost plant food for trees and shrubs with-in 60days for a complete compost cycle.

T_Bone