Does Nitrox in tanks go bad (36%)?

[2divers_20]

Just wondering how long 36% nirtox in tanks will be good I'm going on 10 months and am going to go diving for a weekl?

 

[Web Monkey]

Just wondering how long 36% nirtox in tanks will be good I'm going on 10 months and am going to go diving for a weekl?

There's no way to tell without analyzing it, which you should do anyway, before using any tank.

The nitrox won't "go bad" all by itself, however if the tank was contaminated, it's possible that it no longer contains what you thought it did.

Terry

 

[ApexLongimanus]

if its in a steel tank, you have a good chance that there is rust in your tank. thanks to the higher o2. the mix itself does not "go bad".

 

[deco_martini]

If there was a leak in the tank allowing the gas inside to leak out, the pressure on the inside of the tank would equalize with the pressure outside. The tank would basically have to become almost empty for the pressure inside to be low enough to take air back inside the tank.

Like the previous poster said, always analyze before use. However, if the tank still has air in it, it should be the exact same mix as the day it was filled. If it its a 36 fill and it analyzes at 30, its a bad fill.

 

[DA Aquamaster]

Higher O2 won't cause rust in a steel tank unless there is also significant moisture present. And it would take a lot of oxidation to use up a significant amount of O2.

Nitrox also stores well in a tank. I had a set of doubles with nitrox in it filled over 2 years ago that still analzed at the same percentage a couple weeks ago when I used it prior to taking the tanks in for a hydro test.

 

[rawls]

There's no way to tell without analyzing it, which you should do anyway, before using any tank.

The nitrox won't "go bad" all by itself, however if the tank was contaminated, it's possible that it no longer contains what you thought it did.

These are my thoughts. As long as the cans are kept in dry normothermic climate then a period of 10 months with out using them shouldn't be a problem, but why not simply get them refilled.
The question is why don't you just get them refilled the next time you get ready to go diving.
It seems a pretty moot point.

 

[DA Aquamaster]

Draining the tank and refilling it is a pain - and a waste of gas. I'd go dive it, and if there is any doubt analyze it first.

 

[Bob Vincent]

WELCOME TO
:sblogo::colouredsmilies::colouredsmilies:
The word is ANALLYZE, for safety. As long as the tanks are in good shape and up on VIP's and the tank has never been run out it should be fine.