I'm relatively new to pony bottles. I have a question regarding storage. ... Should I remove the regulator until I'm actually using it?
dallaskincaid,
I was taught in my first open water class (1986) to thoroughly clean the reg (including its hoses) while it is connected to the cylinder and pressurized. Then remove the reg, carefully dry and put the dust cap in place, and then hang the reg (by its first stage, hoses hanging straight down if possible) to dry, away from direct sunlight. After you're sure the regulator is dry—be sure to check for pooled water—then inspect the regulator before storing the regulator out of direct sunlight either hanging as before (if all the hoses hang straight down) or flat with only maximal-radius bends in the hoses.
I still use this approach with all my regulators, including my pony bottle regulators.
When my pony bottle regulator is mounted on my pony bottle ready to dive, the 2nd stage hose has a very tight, narrow-radius, 180 degree turn in it. I wouldn't store my pony reg with this tight turn in the 2nd stage hose.
Also, one of my pony bottle regs has a 6" HP hose that is rigged the way stage bottle regs are rigged. So, the HP hose, too, has a very tight, narrow-radius, 180 degree turn in it. I wouldn't store this pony reg with this tight turn in the HP hose.
Safe Diving,
rx7diver