Aqualung Legend Octo Question

[czwong]

Hi all, I am thinking of purchasing the Aqualung Legend LX for my upcoming dive trip. Checked with my LDS and got the usual 10% off MSRP deal.... they said I can either go with the Legend octo or any of the apek octo but not the AL ABS (trying to save a few bugs here since the Legend itself is quite pricy....). They then offer me 40% off list on XTX50 octo if I get it with the Legend (well... of course still only 10% off list on the Legend reg itsself).

I just want to check if there is any problem for pairing Apek octo (esp. XTX50) with Legend? Should I just cough up the extra 50 bucks and get the matching one?

Thank you for all your help in advance!!

 

[DA Aquamaster]

There won't be a problem mixing an Apeks octo with an Aqualung Legend regulator. Both operate in the same IP range (as do just about all octos) but more importantly any Aqualung dealer can get Apeks parts as Apeks is a wholly owned subsidiary of Aqualung. So even if an Aqualung dealer elects to not deal Apeks regs (which many choose not to do) they can still get parts, and the designs are virtualy identical, so you can still get service for both reg and octo at the same dealer.

Personally, I prefer the inhalation adjustment of the ATX 50 or XTX50 compared to the more XTX/ATX 20 or 40 non adjustable design of the Legend LX Octo.

The XTX is reversable meaning you could have the hose enter the second stage from the other side, but I don't see the need for this nor do I think it is advisable, so I'd opt for an ATX50 Octo.

 

[czwong]

Thank you! I just want to make sure the setup will work and performance won't be compromised. From what you said, seems like the XT50 is even slightly preferred over the Legend Octo itself. At 40% off list on the XTX50, think I will get it and pair with Legend ACD LX, save about 50 bucks compared to Legend ACD LX + Legend octo setup All in, I am going to pay around 685 pre-tax for this, I know there are much better deals out there on the web, hopefully the warranty is worth the difference....

 

[stoddu]

Why did they say you could not use the AL ABS with the Legend? That is the octo I use on my Legend and would like to know what compatability issues might exist.

 

[oxyhacker]

The Legend, like the all the double-sealed Apekes, increases the intermediate pressure as the reg goes deeper, and some feel this means you must use a balanced octopus with one, or the increased pressure may cause the non-balanced 2nd to leak eventually at depth - a balanced 2nd would automatically compensate. Probably as a result, all Apek and Legend 2nds are balanced. The ABS, like most cheaper 2nds, is (best I can recall) not.

Other say that in real life it just doesn't matter, and use non-balanced 2nds with the overbalanced 1sts, and don't seem to have problems. I talked about this with Apeks once, and was told they had never seen it to be a problem, and that if it did, it would manifest itself by slight leaking rather than violent freeflow.

Why did they say you could not use the AL ABS with the Legend? That is the octo I use on my Legend and would like to know what compatability issues might exist.

 

[stoddu]

Thanks! I've had mine down to 100 fsw without problem.

 

[Skinsfan1311]

The Legend, like the all the double-sealed Apekes, increases the intermediate pressure as the reg goes deeper, and some feel this means you must use a balanced octopus with one, or the increased pressure may cause the non-balanced 2nd to leak eventually at depth - a balanced 2nd would automatically compensate. Probably as a result, all Apek and Legend 2nds are balanced. The ABS, like most cheaper 2nds, is (best I can recall) not.

Other say that in real life it just doesn't matter, and use non-balanced 2nds with the overbalanced 1sts, and don't seem to have problems. I talked about this with Apeks once, and was told they had never seen it to be a problem, and that if it did, it would manifest itself by slight leaking rather than violent freeflow.

In real life, the ABS works fine with my Legend LX. I've made several dives below 90' and free flow, or even slight leaking, was not an issue......