Info on large tanks

[NudeDiver]

Oh yeah - I had another thought that does not seem to have been discussed here yet (please bop me on the head if it has). If you do drysuit diving, or plan to in the future, you might want to get a tank that is negative when empty. I've noticed that it seems to help me with buoyancy control, and of course, allows wearing less weight.

Cheers!
nd

 

[fyrdyvr]

I guess that I am lucky enough to have access to a compressor to fill my own, that is as long as I am just diving the quarries around where i live and I am only diving air. I bought AL 80's because I got a good deal on them, but I will get HP 100's eventually. The bottles that we use at work are filled to 4500 psi, so I don't think getting a full fill on a HP tank would be a problem. Dive SAFE!

 

[Puffer Fish]

I am surprized at how strong an opinion some people have on this issue.

I would think it was pretty clear that if you are filling your own tanks with a small compressor... LP's are nice.

I would also think it would be easy to understand that a HP tank, not completely filled might have equal to or more than a LP, depending on the actual volume in the tank.

I own all HP Faber tanks... most of their sizes. But it is because they are easy to get deals on....don't see that many LP tanks of huge discounts.

I would hope the everyone can understand that what is best for one, may not be best for everyone else.

PS. If you live near Fill Express, you can get a really good fill, even on 3,442 tanks.

 

[ucfdiver]

I am surprized at how strong an opinion some people have on this issue.

I would think it was pretty clear that if you are filling your own tanks with a small compressor... LP's are nice.

I would also think it would be easy to understand that a HP tank, not completely filled might have equal to or more than a LP, depending on the actual volume in the tank.

I own all HP Faber tanks... most of their sizes. But it is because they are easy to get deals on....don't see that many LP tanks of huge discounts.

I would hope the everyone can understand that what is best for one, may not be best for everyone else.

PS. If you live near Fill Express, you can get a really good fill, even on 3,442 tanks.

Here's the thing...If I had a compressor that was ONLY good for 2442, it would make no difference if I owned HP130's, or LP104/108s. Since all my fills are done in cave country, I fill my LP tanks to 3600psi every time, just as I would if I owned HP, so for me, buying doubled up LP108's for $600 was a great deal, since for most all of my diving, HP/LP makes no difference at all.

HOWEVER, as I've grown accustomed to having my 108's essentially be 140's with that huge overfill, if I head out of town to the keys for a weekend where they don't overfill, my tanks will have 40% less gas.

If I were buying new, I would buy a HP tank that when filled to 2442 (as low as I've heard any compressor going these days), would hold enough gas to do the dives I wish to do. Then, when I'm somewhere that has higher pressures, I can ALWAYS get more gas, not worrying about that shops overfilling policy.