I’ve never had a septic system in my life, and I must say this thread is...fascinating.
On Rid-X and similar products one needs to understand how a normal septic tank works. It is a settling tank. What is flushed in floats, stays in suspension for a while or sinks right away. The bacteria in the tank work on all three as best they can, with the residue setting to the bottom to become the black sludge.
Rid-X ingredients are bacteria cultures, enzymes, micronutrients and inert (non-active) ingredients. What percentage? Do this, put two ounces of Rid-X in a glass measuring cup. Add water to bring it to four ounces. Stir well and let contents settle. You will see Rid-X in probably 99% the inert ingredients, which look like fine sand to me. Those inert ingredients are flushed down, settling almost immediately and adding to the bottom sludge. (Thus, if you insist on using Rid-X put the quantity in say a quart plastic bottle, add water, shake, let settle and only use the liquid.)
Does Rid-X work such as their box claim “Scientifically proven to digest household waste? Yes, but the problem is in how it does it. It acts to keep organic material in suspension rather than letting them settle. With each flush these organic materials are washed through the leach field, which can eventually clog it up, requiring expensive repair or replacement.
Yep, you pay Rid-X now and then you pay someone to repair or replace your leach field in the future.
Your septic tank doesn’t need anything but good old human poo to work properly. What can kill bacteria in the tank are things like flushing down large quantities of bleach and some other cleaning products.
A garbage disposal can be a septic tanks worse enemy as far as sludge build up. Folks use them to get rid of things such as egg shells, citrus peels, coffee grounds, chicken bones and vegetable trimmings, most of which the bacteria won’t act on.
As far as possible nothing should go into a septic tank which hasn’t passed through the human body. This includes cigarette butts and filters, sanitary napkins, facial tissue and condoms.
Some folks go so far as to not flush down toilet paper. It is put in with their household garbage. However, if you will flush it, look on the package for ‘septic tank friendly’.
What about yeast? Think about it. Yeast is a fungus. It acts with sugar to create alcohol. Alcohol kills bacteria. Thus, it is counter-productive.
How long between pump outs depends on several factors, such as how many people are using it, how they use it and state laws, which may require pump out every couple of years whether it needs it or not.