Four New Tanks - Do I make them all Nitrox or 2 air?

[OE2X]

I just bought a PST E7-119 and got it Nitrox stickerd. I now have two E8-130's and another E7-119 on order. I do some of my diving in B.C. and in places where I can't get nitrox or hyper-air.

Should I make the 119's for Nitrox?
Should I make the 130's for air?
Should I make all of them Nitrox?

Thanks.

 

[Genesis]

How do the shop(s) where you get your Nitrox mix it? Do they use a membrane or banked system, or do they PP mix?

It matters greatly to how you handle this.

 

[pt40fathoms]

Make them all Nitrox, and after you return from a trip where the fills may have been suspect for O2 clean tanks, just clean them up again. You can also purchase a hyper filter or even a "personal filter" from Coltri Sub or some other manufacturer. The only place I have seen a "personal filter" listed is with Coltri Sub out of Italy. Its a small grade E filter that attaches to your tank on one end, and the fill whip connects to the other. It's about 12 to 14 inches long. You'l have to check on how many fills its rated for, as I have not seen one in person, and have no specifications for it right now. I just sent an Email to them asking for further info.

There may also be some members on this board who are dealers for a like product who may be able to respond. This "personal filter" in my estimation would be great for keeping the O2 clean status of your tanks while traveling.

 

[pt40fathoms]

Here's the page on their web site that shows the "personal filter".

http://www.coltrisub.com/e_access1.htm

 

[Uncle Pug]

Since you need to have them nitrox sticker around here to get store bought fills I would get them all sticker... and as has already been suggested if you are getting *dirty* fills in BC then clean them on return.

If you really want to have two dedicated to nitrox and two dedicated to air only them I would use the larger tanks for the nitrox since you will have more bottom time using nitrox an hence might be more likely to use that much gas.

 

[OE2X]

Excellent advice. Thankyou.

Genesis - one shop does their nitrox banked and another shop that I use does theirs PP.

PT40Fathoms - Thanks for the link to coltrsub. I want to find out more about this product, but at first glance this looks like an excellent solution.

UnclePug - Many thanks again. I like the idea of getting it checked after coming home. This jibes with what Bud from Bubbles Below in Woodenville WA. said. He was able to get me the two 130's.

 

[Genesis]

Excellent advice. Thankyou.

Genesis - one shop does their nitrox banked and another shop that I use does theirs PP.

PT40Fathoms - Thanks for the link to coltrsub. I want to find out more about this product, but at first glance this looks like an excellent solution.

UnclePug - Many thanks again. I like the idea of getting it checked after coming home. This jibes with what Bud from Bubbles Below in Woodenville WA. said. He was able to get me the two 130's.

Eeeeek.... those "personal filters" aren't what I'd use. I have a portable Hypefilter; its Lawrence Factor's, and its expensive. Unless you're going to use it a LOT, its probably more than you want to spend (about a kilobuck) - I have a compressor, so it makes sense for me to own one.

If you have a shop that PP blends, then you need the tanks you will fill there O2 cleaned, and you CANNOT fill them with Grade-E anything, or you void the O2 certification by doing so.

With that said, a lot of people "cheat" on this - but I don't and wouldn't recommend you do. High pressure O2 is something to treat with respect; you can get away with a lot of things you shouldn't do with it a hundred or even a thousand times, and then have it blow up in your face - literally - on the 1001st.

 

[sharkmasterbc]

If you are comming into Vancouver, PM me and I will let you know the best place to fill nitrox (PP, cont. flow and banked) in town. They have modified grage e, argon, and He if you need it as well.
Are you heading to the island or diving around town ?
Unless your tanks are O2 cleaned they will not fill PP, only cont flow or banked. I would just get all your tanks O2 cleaned and make sure to get those viton o rings...