Can someone run down which tanks work best for DIR style stage bottles?

[rlynch]

i'm even wondering on the AL80's

I have one of each Luxfer and Catalina and the both dive the same - could be the way i am weighted as well
my config..
AL backplate, 6lb keel weight, 2 trim weights with 2lbs each, and 2 lbs in weight pockets (about to be ditched in favor of a light on the belt) - all halcyon, on a 30lb wing with no add on's other than mentioned above. 7mm wet suit, oms slipstreams

i actually thought i was going to feel a bigger difference but so far i have not (only 6 dives on the 2 of them)

the real reason i have 2 different tanks... thats what they had in stock and i wanted to see which one to mate up with a second for my doubles set. the loser becomes part of my pool rig.

 

[beanojones]

Well, feeling a difference of two pounds on your back is hard (if you have a wetsuit for exposure protection), but the difference between a stage bottle dragging and floating along behind is noticeable anytime.

(which is why I am asking in he DIR section about this since before DIR, we did our deco dives surrounded by tanks, so I have no idea how different 80's ride.)

 

[elan]

Hymark al80 i a good replacement for luxfer it rides the same. My buddy has a hymark stage I tried it many times and cannot tell the difference

 

[beanojones]

As I am tuning this up, as someone mentioned, the stage reg is figuring in strongly on how the tanks ride.

Does anyone have enough experience with different first stage to give any feedback that might save me having to test dive a huge range of first stages?

SO far what I have found is that USD Cousteau are no go, they severely affect the trim of any tank. SP Mk2's are nice, but hose routing is not ideal. The lack of a swivel steals a few inches off the hose length.

Apeks DST is nice with the swivel, but it is on the heavy side. Is there a lightweight swivel first stage out there?

 

[elan]

I cannot see how the reg will affect it significantly the lever between the valve and the rope is so short.

I personally dove al80 with apeks ds4 zeagle fh vi and sp mk 17. I cannot tell the difference although the difderence between catalina and luxfer is easy to see

 

[Aqua-Andy]

Can you really tell a difference with a catalina vs Luxfer AL40 ???

Yes you can!!!! A year a so ago I did two dives back to back the first using a borrowed Luxfur 40 and the second using my Catalina 40. I have been trying to get rid of my Catalina ever sense. The butt of the Luxfer will always float high and pull the tank back, but the Catalina always rides low.

 

[Lobzilla]

Agree with Andy's observation.

It may be OK with one bottle but if you plan to have several bottles on a leash later, the Catalinas do not appear to be the best choice. (Sentiment confirmed by GUE instructor).

 

[ajduplessis]

Only Luxfer's!!!! ALI40 for deco and 80's for stages, unless you want more deco gas ALI80. The 80's are very heavy, but "float" nice.

 

[beanojones]

Yes you can!!!! A year a so ago I did two dives back to back the first using a borrowed Luxfur 40 and the second using my Catalina 40. I have been trying to get rid of my Catalina ever sense. The butt of the Luxfer will always float high and pull the tank back, but the Catalina always rides low.

So the Luxfer's 40s ride nice from the beginning to the end?

The Cat 40 ride fine from about 1500 PSI down. Interestingly, the Cat 30's seem better from the beginning than the Cat40's.

 

[beanojones]

Agree with Andy's observation.

It may be OK with one bottle but if you plan to have several bottles on a leash later, the Catalinas do not appear to be the best choice. (Sentiment confirmed by GUE instructor).

Got any pictures of floating several Lux 40's or 80's on a leash? (A picture being worth a thousand words and all.)