Aluminum Hydro Problem

[Groundhog246]

the lds owner told me alumminum tanks were far more reliable, and the longevity is far superior to steel.

There's only one reply to that. BS The major issue with steel tanks is clean, dry air. Any moisture and they'll rust. But aluminum will pit if there's water in them (just not quite as rapidly perhaps) and you'll have problems with your regs freezing (free flows). So as long as your gettin good air which should always be dry, rust is not an issue. Along with the old USD AL80 I previously mentioned, I've 2 LP steel 72's from the mid 70's. No problems passing a recent hydro and I've seen the insides and they're nice and shiny, not even flash rust.

I would suspect any other "advice" from an LDS that would claim Aluminum tanks will outlast or are better than steel.

I wouldn't necessarily call buying an Al100 a mistake, but if I were to buy anything larger than another 80, I'd definitely consider steel (actually I'll have a good hard look at steel for any future tanks). A steel tank of similar capacity would weigh less and require you to carry less lead.

 

[rbeck]

Wow, this is a GREAT board!! Thanks for all the info and suggestions. Our dive shop has offered to discount new tanks for us and we've decided that driving to our dive site (Tucson to San Carlos, Mx.---6 hours in 100+ temps some times) with suspect tanks probably isn't the brightest course of action. At one time we owned 7 tanks (great when the kids were home diving with us) and now we're down to 1-----it passed hydro this time, but I'm sure it's time is coming too. Makes you wax nastalgia.
Enjoy the day!

 

[scubapro50]

HELLO ........ how many people here remember the reason we switched to alumminum from steel ...... STEEL RUSTS ..... and have a 1000/1 failure rate compared to alumminum. I seen steel tanks that were in hydro and had a VIP sticker on them blow up ..... that was one reason we started filling tanks in cement block horsetrofs to keep the damage down at the dive shop .............

 

[padiscubapro]

HELLO ........ how many people here remember the reason we switched to alumminum from steel ...... STEEL RUSTS ..... and have a 1000/1 failure rate compared to alumminum. I seen steel tanks that were in hydro and had a VIP sticker on them blow up ..... that was one reason we started filling tanks in cement block horsetrofs to keep the damage down at the dive shop .............

If you get gas from a reputable source with clean dry gas, rusting is a non issue.. I have steel tanks that are over 20 years old that look as good as the day they were purchased.. I also have a few steel 72 from the 60s and early 70s that are still in perfect shape.

Also when steels fail in general they CRACK, when al tanks fail its a usually an a big BOOM and parts of the tank are everywhere.

AL tanks are cheaper to produce and sell, thats the primary driving factor for their popularity..

If your shop doesn;t produce dry gas rusting is a possibility but its at least visable and can be treated and solved (stop using the shop thats poumping "wet" gas), other than pitting damage on al tanks isn;t as easy to spot because it forms aluminum oxide which is not as visable as rust (ferric oxide).

If steel tanks are cleaned and treated with blue gold the ability for the metals to form rust are reduced since it contains a good rust inhibitor.

 

[hecker-the-wrecker]

I guess the lds owner who told me aluminum was more reliable than steel has only been in, "the business" for the last 40 years, and rust IS a major problem in this area. Why do they put ALL tanks in a bunker when they fill them here?? Which one do you want on your back at depth?? I think i'll be allright with my choice, (brand new al100 & a used al80 as a second tank) what did you choose??

 

[AADiveRex]

These tanks do not have to be condemned, they need to be tested. That's right, I didn't say "examined", I said tested. There is a device that screws into the neck of the tanks and uses electronic pulses to check for stress fractures. Many such fractures can occur and go visually undetected, even to the best trained tank inspectors. Better dive shops test ALL aluminum tanks with these devices when visually inspecting tanks. If they aren't, they are running a huge risk.

I'm willing to bet those who are saying the tanks must be condemned simply don't have the propper equipment to test them.

Dive Safe,
Adam

 

[pasley]

I guess the lds owner who told me aluminum was more reliable than steel has only been in, "the business" for the last 40 years, and rust IS a major problem in this area. Why do they put ALL tanks in a bunker when they fill them here?? Which one do you want on your back at depth?? I think i'll be allright with my choice, (brand new al100 & a used al80 as a second tank) what did you choose??

Steel Tank:
http://www.diveshop-pr.com/pages.dir/engl.dir/tankexplosion.html

AL Tank of suspect metal:http://www.scubabomb.freeservers.com/

What ever is purchased must be properly maintained and tested.

 

[DoubleDip]

Please, someone find one article in the last decade were a Luxfer Cylinder went boom and sent pieces everywere..I double dare you to find one!

 

[padiscubapro]

Please, someone find one article in the last decade were a Luxfer Cylinder went boom and sent pieces everywere..I double dare you to find one!

The steel tank referenced is mostly intact also judging by the pics it was one of those tanks that had an internal coating that was well know for hiding problems! The tank didn't break into several pieces like usually happens with Al tanks it became a projectile.

Here are some al failures
http://www.scubabomb.freeservers.com/Scubadag.htm
http://www.scubabomb.freeservers.com/Cscuba.htm
http://www.connected.bc.ca/~baquatics/explode.html (luxfer - also below)
http://www.airsource-one.com/rupture1.html (several pages of photos)
http://www.airsource-one.com/beaver.html (this is a luxfer)

 

[padiscubapro]

I guess the lds owner who told me aluminum was more reliable than steel has only been in, "the business" for the last 40 years, and rust IS a major problem in this area. Why do they put ALL tanks in a bunker when they fill them here?? Which one do you want on your back at depth?? I think i'll be allright with my choice, (brand new al100 & a used al80 as a second tank) what did you choose??

If rust is a major issue you need to find shops that pump drier gas.. There is NO reason for a steel to ever rust.. Steel tanks are durable as hell why do you think most industrial cylinders are steel.. they last forever.. Its not uncommon to see steels in service that are 50 years old or more..
I'll take a steel cylinder anyday... There have been more catostrophic failure of al cylinders compared to steels..