Looking at high capacity tanks (120cf) and have some questions

[Scott L]

I am 5' 10.5". I did try the dual tanks on w/ the BC it was attached to, it was a bit heavy. I wouldn't want to go for a long walk wearing it, though for just putting it on and going it seemed fine in weight and length. The store owner is also trying to sell the dual regs and BC to me as well for what he calls as a steal. He seems very fair and down to earth. He said some tech diver quit diving. I need to get more info on the BC and regs, though I don't really plan on attempting tech for a year or two.

Heavy is not really the big concern. That cylinder will collide with most diver's backside who is less than 5'11"+/- while in the horizontal trim position making diving miserable...

 

[asha]

I primarily dive HP120s (when diving single tank) and love them. The capacity is a little overkill for the recreational diving I do (silver lining: it's really easy to come out with thirds), but the size is really nice on me (I'm 5'10").

I can definitely see how they wouldn't work well for a shorter person, however. I dived HP80s for a while and they didn't touch the bench when I sat down. It was very awkward and uncomfortable, and they actually seemed "heavier" because I couldn't ever set them down without slouching significantly.

 

[Tigerman]

Yeah, 29" tall. I had a pair a couple of years ago and several charter boats hated them as they are difficult to secure onto racks, Etc. HP130's make more sense IMO...

Heavy is not really the big concern. That cylinder will collide with most diver's backside who is less than 5'11"+/- while in the horizontal trim position making diving miserable...

Being hard to secure onto racks can be a result of them being "thicker" than al80s though.
I have a 28" tall (including boot and valve) faber tank that as mentioned have an actual capacity of 122 cuft and Im 5'10" and change myself and I have no issue with the length of it, regardless of my trim (which varies from vertical to horizontal to vertical with my head down, depending on what I do). It never make my dive miserable.
And no, Im not one of those "lets wear the tank around my waist" divers..

 

[Scott L]

Being hard to secure onto racks can be a result of them being "thicker" than al80s though.
I have a 28" tall (including boot and valve) faber tank that as mentioned have an actual capacity of 122 cuft and Im 5'10" and change myself and I have no issue with the length of it, regardless of my trim (which varies from vertical to horizontal to vertical with my head down, depending on what I do). It never make my dive miserable.
And no, Im not one of those "lets wear the tank around my waist" divers..

It depends more on a diver's torso length as opposed to height. Another inch and your results may differ...

 

[Tigerman]

It depends more on a diver's torso length as opposed to height. Another inch and your results may differ...

Nope, I have plenty of space. But yeah, if I was a bit "shorter spined" that might of course pose a problem with a taller tank..

 

[herbdb]

My steel 120's have exactly the same outside diameter as most Al80s (7.25 in) and they are just 3.5 inches taller with the boot. Fitting tank racks has never been an issue. Some of the larger Aluminum tanks and some LP steel tanks are 8 inches in diameter and I have seen issues with those.

 

[Peter_C]

FWIW you can also put plugs in the side of the manifold and use the same tank valves for singles and doubles. Never know you might want to dive doubles again someday. I actually prefer a plugged manifold for picking up and carrying.

The BC he is offering is probably some kind of BP/W aka back plate and wing, and something many of us would highly recommend for recreational scuba diving. The regs also might be a worth while investment depending on what they are.

 

[Hostage]

Thanks for all the feedback, I think I am going to buy them. The scuba shop owner said he would plug the manifolds and I would need a donut to use it with my existing yoke reg.

The jury is still out on the regs and BC. It looks like it was left in someone's shed or garage for many years (had some leave biomatter in the velcro). It looks like a standard BC w/o intergrated weights and a red wing w/ bunji around it. The owner mentioned that the regs were about $600 each at the time.

 

[danvolker]

Thanks for all the feedback, I think I am going to buy them. The scuba shop owner said he would plug the manifolds and I would need a donut to use it with my existing yoke reg.

The jury is still out on the regs and BC. It looks like it was left in someone's shed or garage for many years (had some leave biomatter in the velcro). It looks like a standard BC w/o intergrated weights and a red wing w/ bunji around it. The owner mentioned that the regs were about $600 each at the time.

You should know that the 120's will ROLL you either left or right, constantly, if you slow down to look at small life, or if your are doing exploration level slow movement in a wreck or other area.....ie. they have terrible trim.....double 80's are so much better it is beyond belief.

 

[herbdb]

You should know that the 120's will ROLL you either left or right, constantly, if you slow down to look at small life, or if your are doing exploration level slow movement in a wreck or other area.....ie. they have terrible trim.....double 80's are so much better it is beyond belief.

I have never had this issue and I am an avid photographer. I slow down and look a lot.