New big tank questions...

[WOODMAN]

Okay, I am going to invest in a new large capacity (120-130 cf.) steel tank for salt water use, and I have been going nuts trying to digest all the info about this that I am finding. I tried searching this forum, but all relevant data I found was way old. So here I am, with my hat in my hand, asking for advice. Here is what I have to input so far...
Pressure- I have choice of hi pressure or low pressure. The guy I am buying this tank with says he prefers not to have to fill much beyond 3200 psi, which obviously argues for a low pressure tank. But then I almost never see them, and am wondering why. ???
Finish- This is pretty much dependent on manufacturer, from what I can see, but basically boils down to galvanized versus painted exterior. Comments?
External size- Again, this seems to be dependent on manufacturer. Some are larger in diameter, some are taller, etc. I am a big guy, and can adapt to almost anything, but...
Weight- This seems to be mostly tied into the tank size, but not always, it seems. A slightly negative empty buoyancy would be nice, I think, unless others differ?
Valve- This tank is for use mostly in Florida, and probably by several different divers, so a yoke valve is pretty much the ticket here. Although I see a few that have convertible DIN/yoke. Worth it or gimmick?
Price- This tank is being shipped to my friend in south Florida, so free shipping is a big plus here. I am seeing prices of right around $400 for these tanks (new), and new is what he wants, as he doesn't trust used tanks. (I don't blame him)
So there you have what I have been able to come up with. My friend has really left it all up to me, so here I am, seeking wisdom. Thanks for your help. Woody

 

[WOODMAN]

Update: My friend now says he is willing to accept a tank in the 3400-3500 psi range, and was just worried that I might come up with a 4000 psi tank or something.(!) This opens things up fairly dramatically, I would say. Lots more options in the high pressure range, from what I can see, but I still sorta lean toward low pressure... What do you say? Woody

 

[Scuba Ken]

The Worthington/XS SCUBA are great. You can't go wrong there. There is some good info on tanks here"

X-Series Steel SCUBA Tanks by Worthington Cylinders - Dive Gear Express

 

[Onewolf]

I have been tank shopping recently and it came down the the Worthington X8-119 or the Faber Blue Steel FX117. Both are 8" diameter HP tanks. I opted for the Faber simply because I could get instant gratification buying at the local Divers Direct.

 

[mike1010]

I love my x8 130s they aren't that much bigger than the 119 and I'm a big guy too so no big deal carrying them. The din convertible valves are very nice and worth three money on a new tank.

 

[spectrum]

For the volume you want HP is the way to go. XS Scuba has the X8-119 8 inch / 119 Cf which is nice for the stouter diver. They also make the X7-120 , a 7-1/4 inch cylinder which trims better on taller divers. The X8-130 is the big boy for insatiable divers. At some point doubles begin to make more sense. Long shallow shore dives are one thing. As you go deeper doubles offer a good form of redundancy.

The convertible valves have become virtually standard on the HP cylinders. With a pool of users I would certainly get this option. Even if all are yoke today migrating to DIN is not uncommon.

I bet the competitive market in Fl would make it easier to just buy locally. That way the VIP will be clean and you may score some free fills as part of the deal.

A hot dipped galvanized finish is tough to beat. It wears nicely and can even heal minor breaches. The Faber finishing process is adequate for most.

Pete

 

[CPH]

I love my 300bar tanks but people say "But you can not always get 300bar fills".
So what. I like the weight, means I carry none on a belt and if I can not get 300bar then you can still get it filled to 235bar. That does not work the other way round.
We all make a choice based on how we dive and what we want to do. Some even decide because others tell them what to chose.

 

[Peter_C]

The X8-130 is the big boy for insatiable divers. At some point doubles begin to make more sense. Long shallow shore dives are one thing. As you go deeper doubles offer a good form of redundancy.

I have HP130's and use them for most shore diving, and often for boat diving. I put H valves on them to give me redundancy and simplicity swapping between single and double tanks. Getting to the water carrying a scooter over slippery grapefruit sized rocks is harrowing, doing it in doubles is treacherous. Done both, but much prefer single tanks for less weight.

 

[elan]

I love my 300bar tanks but people say "But you can not always get 300bar fills".
So what. I like the weight, means I carry none on a belt and if I can not get 300bar then you can still get it filled to 235bar. That does not work the other way round.
We all make a choice based on how we dive and what we want to do. Some even decide because others tell them what to chose.

I have some doughts you can fill the tank to 300 bar on a normal basis here in north america. Hp tank here is 3442 psi. Which is around 240 bar

Lp is 184 bar

In many cases they do not differ much in terms of buoyancy for example x8 130 and lp108

 

[elan]

Okay, I am going to invest in a new large capacity (120-130 cf.) steel tank for salt water use, and I have been going nuts trying to digest all the info about this that I am finding. I tried searching this forum, but all relevant data I found was way old. So here I am, with my hat in my hand, asking for advice. Here is what I have to input so far...
Pressure- I have choice of hi pressure or low pressure. The guy I am buying this tank with says he prefers not to have to fill much beyond 3200 psi, which obviously argues for a low pressure tank. But then I almost never see them, and am wondering why. ???
Finish- This is pretty much dependent on manufacturer, from what I can see, but basically boils down to galvanized versus painted exterior. Comments?
External size- Again, this seems to be dependent on manufacturer. Some are larger in diameter, some are taller, etc. I am a big guy, and can adapt to almost anything, but...
Weight- This seems to be mostly tied into the tank size, but not always, it seems. A slightly negative empty buoyancy would be nice, I think, unless others differ?
Valve- This tank is for use mostly in Florida, and probably by several different divers, so a yoke valve is pretty much the ticket here. Although I see a few that have convertible DIN/yoke. Worth it or gimmick?
Price- This tank is being shipped to my friend in south Florida, so free shipping is a big plus here. I am seeing prices of right around $400 for these tanks (new), and new is what he wants, as he doesn't trust used tanks. (I don't blame him)
So there you have what I have been able to come up with. My friend has really left it all up to me, so here I am, seeking wisdom. Thanks for your help. Woody

I was recently in the same position. I finally decided to go with worth/xs lp108
Its a bit longer than Hp130 so its better for a taller person. Although its not as tall as hp120
If you are a big guy i would stay away from hp100 hp119 and lp 95
All those tanks are short.

I found lp is better for me as it is easier to blend and a regular fill that i get here in all my lps is 3000psi cooled down so it gives me 120 cuf in the tank. Getting a full fill in hp tank here was always an anoyance. No shop would pump the tank to over 4000psi so it gets cooled to proper hp fill so they will always have to top it up which takes more time. I was always ending up with a short fill in the water.

What you have describe in terms of fills pretty much asks for an lp tank.

Pro valves are great and pretty much a standard now