About steel tanks and rigging in general

[NYCrecdiver]

If you have sliding Drings, why are you reclipping them? Can’t you just slide the D rings?

When my LP85s have 3000 psi in them they're too negative and I need them as far back as possible. Clipping them more forward on the sliding D-rings gets them too low. Around 2000 psi they're ready to be moved to the sliding D rings.

 

[lostsheep]

When my LP85s have 3000 psi in them they're too negative and I need them as far back as possible. Clipping them more forward on the sliding D-rings gets them too low. Around 2000 psi they're ready to be moved to the sliding D rings.

Just move them to fixed D's when they get floaty?

I know lp85s are a fan favorite but I think HP100s are a better choice for cold saltwater.

 

[NYCrecdiver]

Just move them to fixed D's when they get floaty?

I know lp85s are a fan favorite but I think HP100s are a better choice for cold saltwater.

Why do you prefer hp100 over LP85?
I been thinking indeed to replace the sliding D rings with fixed ones. I like the idea of being able to slide them forward as they get floatier. I don't have enough time with them in the water yet to decide.

 

[lostsheep]

Why do you prefer hp100 over LP85?
I been thinking indeed to replace the sliding D rings with fixed ones. I like the idea of being able to slide them forward as they get floatier. I don't have enough time with them in the water yet to decide.

I prefer the HP100s because I dive in Monterey Ca, our water is typically 48-52F at depth, so I need the weight to offset my exposure protection. They do not get floaty even at 500psi. FWIW, I dive PST HP100s which are even more negative than current hp100s if recall correctly.

 

[grantmac]

When my LP85s have 3000 psi in them they're too negative and I need them as far back as possible. Clipping them more forward on the sliding D-rings gets them too low. Around 2000 psi they're ready to be moved to the sliding D rings.

Which rig and sliding Ds are you using?
I run LP72s which are almost identical to LP85s in dimensions and trim, they run on the sliding Ds just fine.
I'm NOT a fan of really heavy tanks. I'd rather be carrying a bit more lead and the lightest (out of the water) tanks possible.

 

[NYCrecdiver]

Which rig and sliding Ds are you using?
I run LP72s which are almost identical to LP85s in dimensions and trim, they run on the sliding Ds just fine.
I'm NOT a fan of really heavy tanks. I'd rather be carrying a bit more lead and the lightest (out of the water) tanks possible.

XDeep BCD and UK sump Dring clones from Piranha. I tried clipping off full LP85s on the sliding Drings and they clearly were hanging too low below my side profile. Not very streamlined.

 

[grantmac]

XDeep BCD and UK sump Dring clones from Piranha. I tried clipping off full LP85s on the sliding Drings and they clearly were hanging too low below my side profile. Not very streamlined.

You should be able to slide those rings way back near the drop-Ds? How long are the tails on your boltsnaps?
My sliders never go further back than just behind my hips with very similar tanks.

 

[Redleg0811]

I have both HP100 and HP80 and I find the HP100 have an easier length. I did change the location of the bolt snap on the HP80 to put them higher into my arm pits. With the those steel tanks I use a fixed position D-ring on my Nomad Ray and have no problems as they stay streamlined. I have not used aluminum 80s yet with it, but will use the sliding D-ring then.

 

[Scuba fryd]

Welcome to sidemount diving! On your last question, I added 2 small paracord loops to my bungees. Keep them in place with a cabletie. This allows me to put my thumb in those as I pull my bungee over my valve post. These added loops also makes it easier to unbungeeing at end of dive.
On your regs: I would not dive sidemount w/or regs with a 5th port.
I dive with steel LP85s. Clip them off on my xDeep drop rings all the way back. When they start to float a bit at the back, I reclip them on sliding D rings.

wtf dose steel tank float?