Just bought my first tank

[Moby Dickins]

Just bought a steel HP 100 from Faber, and now realize I don't know a single thing about tank ownership. I'm guessing I should keep some spare o-rings around and that hook tool to take them out?

Storage in a cool dark room should be fine? Also removing the boot the rinse off the saltwater? These are all thoughts just entering my head now that I am responsible for my own air cylinder.

In any case, feels good owning my own tank. I feel like there is nothing standing in the way of me going on a dive.

 

[TravisD]

Now that you have a cylinder of your own, take advantage of that and get two-for-one with your rinses. Get a tub or bin big enough to fill with water and put the whole cylinder in with your regs connected, and soak them under pressure after salt water dives - good for the regs and the cylinder (no need to remove the boot really).

Know when you're due for hydro and vip, so there's no surprises when you go in for a fill. While there's nothing wrong with storing in a cold dark room (just don't trip over it in the dark!) there's really nothing that's going to wear out if you store them out in a garage, or even leave them in your vehicle (the math for what "closed vehicle in hot sun" does to temps works out that you are not in danger of any sort of overpressure in that situation.)

Most valve rebuilds are pretty cheap and easy - if the valve doesn't operate smoothly and seal reliably, get your LDS to service the valve. Consider doing it proactively at Hydro time.

Biggest downside is that now that once you feel the convenience of owning your own, you're going to want to own more. I mean, do you only do one dive per trip? It takes the same time and gas money to go fill several as it does to fill one, and if you have enough to do multiple dives then you don't need to make a trip for a fill as often. It's a slippery slope for sure....

 

[Moby Dickins]

Now that you have a cylinder of your own, take advantage of that and get two-for-one with your rinses. Get a tub or bin big enough to fill with water and put the whole cylinder in with your regs connected, and soak them under pressure after salt water dives - good for the regs and the cylinder (no need to remove the boot really).

This is a really good idea

 

[Divin'Papaw]

Now that you have a cylinder of your own, take advantage of that and get two-for-one with your rinses. Get a tub or bin big enough to fill with water and put the whole cylinder in with your regs connected, and soak them under pressure after salt water dives - good for the regs and the cylinder (no need to remove the boot really).

Know when you're due for hydro and vip, so there's no surprises when you go in for a fill. While there's nothing wrong with storing in a cold dark room (just don't trip over it in the dark!) there's really nothing that's going to wear out if you store them out in a garage, or even leave them in your vehicle (the math for what "closed vehicle in hot sun" does to temps works out that you are not in danger of any sort of overpressure in that situation.)

Most valve rebuilds are pretty cheap and easy - if the valve doesn't operate smoothly and seal reliably, get your LDS to service the valve. Consider doing it proactively at Hydro time.

Biggest downside is that now that once you feel the convenience of owning your own, you're going to want to own more. I mean, do you only do one dive per trip? It takes the same time and gas money to go fill several as it does to fill one, and if you have enough to do multiple dives then you don't need to make a trip for a fill as often. It's a slippery slope for sure....

I soak mine as well. Whether just rinsing or soaking or both, the key thing is to get all of the salt off after salt water use.

Storage is really irrelevant to the life of the tank. I have always stored mine in the garage. When I lived up in the Midwest, the garage would get hot in the summer and very cold in the winter. Now I live in Florida and the garage is pretty hot year round. It’s really irrelevant to the life of the pack.

As suggested you also definitely want to track your VIP and Hydro. Easy to do with one tank but when you get more, it’s helpful to create some sort of a spreadsheet or document where you can keep tabs on when VIP and hydros are due.

 

[Subcooled]

Just bought a steel HP 100 from Faber, and now realize I don't know a single thing about tank ownership. I'm guessing I should keep some spare o-rings around and that hook tool to take them out?

Storage in a cool dark room should be fine? Also removing the boot the rinse off the saltwater? These are all thoughts just entering my head now that I am responsible for my own air cylinder.

In any case, feels good owning my own tank. I feel like there is nothing standing in the way of me going on a dive.

Pressure vessels require regular inspections.

There are two types of inspections:

1. visual inspections (someone certified looks into the cylinder)
2. hydrostatic pressure tests to see if the cylinder has kept its elasticity; if it stretches and does not revert to original dimensions, there is a problem

These inspections typically need to be done every X years. X varies from 2 to 10, depending on jurisdiction (referreing to european standards here).

I have never had to replace a cylinder neck o-ring (I use DIN valves, so I don't know about those yoke adapters and their o-rings; my o-rings are on the 1st stage instead). Those o-ring failures tend to happen at the 1st and 2nd stage instead.

Steel cylinders are painted, all of mine are. They are resistant to rust. It would nonetheless be prudent to store them dry and to wash off salt water.

My steels do not have boots. I cannot comment much on "boot maintenance", but entrapped salt water is not good, ok?

 

[happy-diver]

In any case, feels good owning my own tank. I feel like there is nothing standing in the way of me going on a dive.

This is fantastic news, your enthusiasm, has rubbed off on me, and I will be smiling for the rest of the evening
and into tomorrow when I remember as I am quite busy preparing for a month long trip and taking ten tanks

Best of the best wishes with your diving

 

[Johnoly]

....bought a steel HP 100 from Faber

Paint scratch rust inhibitor-cheap/fast

 

[Belzelbub]

Just bought a steel HP 100 from Faber, and now realize I don't know a single thing about tank ownership. I'm guessing I should keep some spare o-rings around and that hook tool to take them out?

I'm guessing from this that your regs are yoke. I'm fairly certain that your HP100 came with a convertible valve. Looking at the valve, is the air hole hex shaped? If so, you've got another o-ring in there. Find the appropriate sized Allen wrench, and unscrew the yoke adapter. Even if you just use yoke regulators, it's a good idea to unscrew this adapter from time to time. Otherwise, it can get good and stuck.

And yes, an o-ring kit would be a good idea. Look for Diver's kits. They often have the o-rings you'll likely need. Including the Yoke and DIN o-rings that you'll need for the tank.

One piece of advice. You want the hook tool you use to be softer than the material that the o-ring is sealing against. Mine are a soft brass, so unlikely to do any damage to the metal surfaces, but I often use a toothpick. Pierce the old o-ring with the toothpick and pull it away.

Storage in a cool dark room should be fine? Also removing the boot the rinse off the saltwater? These are all thoughts just entering my head now that I am responsible for my own air cylinder.

That should be fine. I store my tanks in my garage. Often dark, but as I live in FL, not what I'd call cool for most of the year. Unless it gets really hot (like in a fire) you don't really need to worry about tank storage too much.

After every dive, I soak my tanks in a large bin I have filled with water, and some Salt-Away solution. One tank will have the regulator attached and pressurized. This helps to keep both the tank and regulators cleaned. If you do decide to soak your regs, be sure to pressurize as this will ensure that water doesn't get to where it shouldn't be in the reg. Once a year or so, I may knock off the boots to make sue there isn't anything needing attention.

In any case, feels good owning my own tank. I feel like there is nothing standing in the way of me going on a dive.

That's how it begins.
I started with one tank. A few years later I realized that having a second would be good so I can do a couple dives a day. Then they reproduced. I know have 8 main tanks (3 different sizes) and a pony.

 

[Edward3c]

That's how it begins.
I started with one tank. A few years later I realized that having a second would be good so I can do a couple dives a day. Then they reproduced. I know have 8 main tanks (3 different sizes) and a pony.

Yes, they do breed. I’ve now got 2 x 12Lt 300bar, 3 x 12.2Lt 232bar and 2 x 10Lt 232bar, plus a 3Lt 232bar pony. Give options for different dive types.

 

[CT-Rich]

When you rent tanks you need to plan ahead. When am I going to go diving next? if you arrive at the beach and conditions are sh*tty, you've still rented the tank. I fill my tanks after diving, so getting them filled for the next dive is never an issue. If I don't know how good conditions are, it costs nothing extra to drive out and look or take last minute invitations.

You should always have a save a dive kit. In the last month I replaced a mask strap that broke when I was knee deep the water and a missing tank o-ring (on friend's rental tank).