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tapwater
Advanced Member
8018 Posts |
 Posted - 07/13/2011 : 1:36:05 PM
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...I use copper sulfate in my sump pump pits to keep tree roots from invading them. They run into field tiles. There is a row of willow trees at the edge of my septic field that I'm sure must be getting into the tiles. My question is, will copper sulfate kill the microbes that keep the septic tank working? I treat it with Rid-X or something similar on a regular basis, but I'd hate to kill off all the good bacteria.
...I can get copper sulfate at a decent price in 50# bags. Lots cheaper than buying the little bottles at Farm & Fleet. |
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Stress is when you wake up screaming, and realize you haven't fallen asleep.
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jeffb1911
Senior Member
USA
1761 Posts |
Posted - 07/13/2011 : 2:10:03 PM
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| Go to a professional plumbing supply store. They will have not only the proper copper sulfate crystal mix, but also a much better bacteria culture to deal with. I used to sell Microbe Lift, and that worked, there was a copper sulfate crystal mix that did not interfere with the bacteria that i sold also, but do not remember what it was. |
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Marc1301
Advanced Member
USA
29220 Posts |
Posted - 07/13/2011 : 2:14:26 PM
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I have a lot of oaks around here, and am on a septic system as well.
I put a riser in after the tank and the D box, but before the drain field.
That's where I put the copper sulfate in.
Just throwing an idea out there for you! |
 
"A government big enough to give you everything you want, is strong enough to take everything you have." Thomas Jefferson
"Beam me up Scotty. There's no intelligent life down here." William Shatner |
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Mr. Perfect
Advanced Member
USA
28951 Posts |
Posted - 07/13/2011 : 2:17:01 PM
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| you could always cut down the trees in your drain field area... just a thought. |
"When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace." -Jesus
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G1 |
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LesWVa
Advanced Member
6298 Posts |
Posted - 07/13/2011 : 2:42:49 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by Mr. Perfect
you could always cut down the trees in your drain field area... just a thought.
That will only cause the type of Willows he is speaking of to spread like wildfire. Cutting them will not kill of the root system and prevent it from entering a leach pipe.
If it is the type that I am thinking of that grows along the edges of swampy marsh land here. They only grow about 8 to 12 feet high and about the size of a 50 cent piece in dia. I have seen people use them to make crafts and furniture with such as chairs and tables.
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spasmcreek
Advanced Member
18065 Posts |
Posted - 07/13/2011 : 3:01:05 PM
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| does your leach field drain down or up??...at home in sandy soil it is down...at the lake place where we put a new & bigger system it is up due to a short depth of topsoil with grass & then impermeable clay on top of sandstone...now a willow tree that uses lots of water planted at the far perimeter should prove a benefit during growing season ..lake uses tall plastic domes, 4 rows off of a trunk line & i am not familiar with tiles |
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yoshmyster
Advanced Member
Yemen
9356 Posts |
Posted - 07/13/2011 : 3:36:22 PM
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| Copper will kill plants and microbes. Then it'll keep on killing in the tank and the lawn. |
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bayl778
Junior Member
USA
353 Posts |
Posted - 07/13/2011 : 4:11:54 PM
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| I put copper sufate in the pump (dosing) tank to the drain field. I have been advised that putting it in the septic tank does little good for root kill and may interfer with septic bacteria. I have a very large Bald Cypress 20 feet from the end of my drain field. |
You can't learn any younger! |
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tapwater
Advanced Member
8018 Posts |
Posted - 07/13/2011 : 4:41:42 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by Marc1301
I have a lot of oaks around here, and am on a septic system as well.
I put a riser in after the tank and the D box, but before the drain field.
That's where I put the copper sulfate in.
Just throwing an idea out there for you!
...I wish that I had that option. The only way to get the sulfate into the leach field is dump it into the tank or flush it down the toilet. The willows are a hybrid that can grow several feet per year. Not weeping willows or the hybrid that only lives 7-8 years. I had those and sure enough, they were dead in about 7 years. These are supposed to live 30+ years. They make a great wind break and snow "fence" in the winter.
...If the copper sulfate will keep on killing the good microbes, I don't know what option I have. I've been using the crystals dissolved in water, but I can get a feed grade powder. It may not sink to the bottom of the septic tank and keep on killing. Maybe add it and flush the tank with lots of water to move it into the leach field, then dose the tank with a fresh batch of bacteria? Just guessing here. |
The early bird gets the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese.******
Stress is when you wake up screaming, and realize you haven't fallen asleep.
"Send lawyers, guns and money"
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we_dig_it
Advanced Member
Djibouti
6029 Posts |
Posted - 07/13/2011 : 4:48:23 PM
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Tapwater, I have installed septics for 24 years for a living.
Flush the copper sulfate down the toilet.
Dont waste your money on Rid-ex, the best thing to promote bacteria growth is plain old yeast. Flush it down the toilet as well.
Most septics should be pumped every 7 to 8 years. Very few need anything to "maintain" or promote bacteria growth. But there is nothing wrong with using yeast. Just dont waste your money on Rid-ex. |
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tapwater
Advanced Member
8018 Posts |
Posted - 07/13/2011 : 5:11:22 PM
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| ...Just got off the phone with the septic company that I've used for years. Lacking a place to dump the sulfate downstream of the tank, he said to go ahead and flush it down the toilet, then run LOTS of water to clear it from the tank. It's a 1,000 gal. tank, so I was thinking about running near that much water to clear it. Then dose the tank with microbes (yeast or Rid-Ex). we_dig_it, I will use yeast, but since I already have Rid-Ex and Roebic, I guess it can't hurt anything. |
The early bird gets the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese.******
Stress is when you wake up screaming, and realize you haven't fallen asleep.
"Send lawyers, guns and money"
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Barzillia
Advanced Member
18036 Posts |
Posted - 07/13/2011 : 8:04:42 PM
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Copper sulfate is toxic to all life and does not degrade.
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"Most people fancy themselves innocent of those crimes of which they cannot be convicted." Seneca
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Der Verzagten aber und Ungläubigen und Greulichen und Totschläger und Hurer und Zauberer und Abgöttischen und aller Lügner, deren Teil wird sein in dem Pfuhl, der mit Feuer und Schwefel brennt; das ist der andere Tod.
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allen griggs
Advanced Member
USA
23451 Posts |
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n/a
deleted
12321 Posts |
Posted - 07/14/2011 : 11:25:45 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by LesWVa
quote:
Originally posted by Mr. Perfect
you could always cut down the trees in your drain field area... just a thought.
That will only cause the type of Willows he is speaking of to spread like wildfire. Cutting them will not kill of the root system and prevent it from entering a leach pipe.
If it is the type that I am thinking of that grows along the edges of swampy marsh land here. They only grow about 8 to 12 feet high and about the size of a 50 cent piece in dia. I have seen people use them to make crafts and furniture with such as chairs and tables.
True. But if you girdle the trees, they wont grow runners. |
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we_dig_it
Advanced Member
Djibouti
6029 Posts |
Posted - 07/14/2011 : 9:34:47 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by tapwater
...Just got off the phone with the septic company that I've used for years. Lacking a place to dump the sulfate downstream of the tank, he said to go ahead and flush it down the toilet, then run LOTS of water to clear it from the tank. It's a 1,000 gal. tank, so I was thinking about running near that much water to clear it. Then dose the tank with microbes (yeast or Rid-Ex). we_dig_it, I will use yeast, but since I already have Rid-Ex and Roebic, I guess it can't hurt anything.
Tapwater, the Rid-ex will work, I didnt mean to imply that it wouldnt. There is just no reason to pay what they want for it when yeast will do the same thing for alot less money. |
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LesWVa
Advanced Member
6298 Posts |
Posted - 07/15/2011 : 10:19:04 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by we_dig_it
Tapwater, the Rid-ex will work, I didnt mean to imply that it wouldnt. There is just no reason to pay what they want for it when yeast will do the same thing for alot less money.
Add a little sugar to that yeast and by the time it runs out the end of the leach pipe you will be able to bottle something close to Budwiser or Coors Lite. |
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tapwater
Advanced Member
8018 Posts |
Posted - 07/15/2011 : 10:46:55 AM
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[/quote]
Add a little sugar to that yeast and by the time it runs out the end of the leach pipe you will be able to bottle something close to Budwiser or Coors Lite.
[/quote]
... I thought they just hold a funnel under the Clydesdales. |
The early bird gets the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese.******
Stress is when you wake up screaming, and realize you haven't fallen asleep.
"Send lawyers, guns and money"
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Root killer--copper sulfate...septic?
