First Steel Tank - Single LP85 or HP80

[98TJ10]

Looking to buy my first steel tank for New England diving and am going back and forth between an LP85 or HP80. What are your thoughts on the two? I'm 5'11'' but relatively thin. The HP80's look great from a transport/storage standpoint. Also open to other (cost conscious) suggestions.

 

[formernuke]

HP 100 or LP 85 would be my recommendation

 

[Marie13]

You’re too tall for a HP80. They’re best for us shrimps. HP100 for you.

 

[rob.mwpropane]

I am 5'11.5" (shush, I'll hang onto my 1/2" as long as I can!!)

I dive both HP100's. and LP 85's.. they're basically the same damn tank. I also own 2 HP 80's.... way too small on my back. I keep them for the smaller kids.

 

[formernuke]

Up here places won't overfill the lp ones. Hence why I recommend a hp 100. Great bouyancy characteristics and a little more gas.

 

[rob.mwpropane]

@formernuke lives in your area... I'd go with his recommendation of HP100.

Here I can get higher fills, so LP85's are great.

 

[johndiver999]

The lp 85,s have a lot more air if they will fill them up toward 3000. Also the buoyancy charteristics of the two tanks are quite different if I remember correctly.

 

[rob.mwpropane]

The lp 85,s have a lot more air if they will fill them up toward 3000. Also the buoyancy charteristics of the two tanks are quite different if I remember correctly.

I have both... PST HP100's and Worthington LP85's. They are identical in every way except the 85's are like 1/2" longer and hold just a hair more air at the same psi.

In reality I can't tell the difference on my back and that hair more air doesn't do anything.

If I didn't have a compressor and could only get LP fills then I'd choose HP100's all day long.. the biggest advantage for me using LP 85's is not having to run the compressor so high for the same(ish) cf. I'll take them to 3300 vs 3900 for the HP100's.

 

[formernuke]

The lp 85,s have a lot more air if they will fill them up toward 3000. Also the buoyancy charteristics of the two tanks are quite different if I remember correctly.

Correct however as I stated up here your only getting 2650 in them unless you have your own compressor

 

[98TJ10]

and I assume its not evening worth looking at (new) painted tanks? Galvanized is the way to go?