Choosing tank 100, 119, 130

[JettaAsn]

I'm thinking about buying a tank. As I'm doing research it looks like the steel 100's are the most popular. I like the 119's because it's about the same length as the 100's but only with a bigger diameter. I was told it will be easy to get used to. Now when I compare the dimensions to a 130, it's only a few inches longer than a 119. I'm a nitrox diver and I'm planning on doing mostly shore dives with no double tanks in the future. Any thoughts? If 130s aren't inconvenient to dive with why don't more people use them?

 

[Saxatilis]

Some people do use them. However, the size and weight generally make the 100 and 119 models more popular.

 

[Bubbletrubble]

If 130s aren't inconvenient to dive with why don't more people use them?

I've seen a few HP130 tanks here in SoCal. They are in the minority, though. Probably because they're big friggin' tanks.
Who wants to be lugging around a fat HP130 that weighs approx. 53 lbs. (full) when a svelte HP100 weighs only 41 lbs. (full)?

Use the tank that has the right capacity for the dives you're doing. For the vast majority of my diving, a HP100 is the perfect size. YMMV.

Something to consider is that you're a fairly new diver. Most new divers have pretty high gas consumption rates. With experience, your gas consumption rate will improve and settle down to your long-term "natural" rate.

 

[Peter_C]

Who wants to be lugging around a fat HP130 that weighs approx. 53 lbs. (full) when a svelte HP100 weighs only 41 lbs. (full)?

That is just a few more pounds I get to take off my weight belt. I dive HP130's or double HP100's on every dive. I prefer to have the extra gas they afford, whether boat or beach diving, and don't find the weight a problem. Going back to the surface with a half filled tank doesn't bother me. I keep a pair of single HP100's as loner tanks, so not having them available has nothing to do with it.

Many folks that are taller, as in around 6'+, like the HP120's since they are skinny but long tanks with a nice air supply for most any dive a rec diver would want to do.

 

[Bubbletrubble]

That is just a few more pounds I get to take off my weight belt. I dive HP130's or double HP100's on every dive. I prefer to have the extra gas they afford, whether boat or beach diving, and don't find the weight a problem.

@Peter_C: I find your comment rather surprising. My weighting requirements are essentially identical whether I'm using a HP130 (Worthington X-8) or HP100 (Worthington X-7) since both tanks when empty are -2.0 to -2.5 lbs. buoyant.

 

[Linedog]

I went from HP100's to HP130's with no weight change at all. I like the extra gas and can pull just over a hour per dive/tank. I have a few friends that dive double 130's!

 

[Jax]

For me, a short person with a desire to put less weight on my back, the HP 100 weighs only one pound more than an AL 80 out of water, and has better buoyancy characteristics in water, than the AL80.

 

[Peter_C]

@Peter_C: I find your comment rather surprising. My weighting requirements are essentially identical whether I'm using a HP130 (Worthington X-8) or HP100 (Worthington X-7) since both tanks when empty are -2.0 to -2.5 lbs. buoyant.

To clarify I have H valves on my HP130's and convertible valves on the HP100's. Double HP100's let me take even more weight off.

 

[Teller]

Why do you want a HP cylinder?

 

[Ulfhedinn]

I use a Steel 130. Dropped 6lbs from my AL80. Yep its big and heavy <tell you enter the water> but I get about 80mins of dive time per tank in 30-50' of water.

I have also used it in two instances when someone I dove with ran low on air. Was nice to have the option of handing over my reg and not sweating it.