Clearly, I’m no expert...what is the difference if the bottom of the holding tank is exposed to air rather than the top? Do the microorganisms only live on the top of the waste product?
The difference is, opening the deck pumpout fitting doesn't expose any of the tank contents to ANY air 'cuz ambient air doesn't fall.
Get a drinking glass that you can put a lid on and stick a straw into the glass via a hole in the lid that goes all the way to the bottom...you can cut the straw off even with the top of the lid if you want to, but it won't make any difference. How will any air outside the glass get into it unless it's blown in (which is how an aerator works)? Which gives me an idea: Try sticking a blow dryer nozzle into the pumpout fitting...that would "bubble" the bottom creating enough pressure to push accumulated gasses above the surface out the vent. Blow dryer would have to be plugged in and running of course.... Should be highly entertaining to your dock mates who watch you do this....
The issue is that you're only exposing a very small amount of waste to air. In the case of my tank, it would be just the top surface of the waste in the 1.5 inch diameter dip tube for pumpout.You wouldn't be exposing ANY waste to air unless there's a hole in your pickup tube.
--Peggie
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