Psycho Tank - What did I buy?

[sramekon]

I just bought this crazy tank...I can't find anything about it online.

MFG: Beuchat it says 106 CFT 2900lbs

It's this huge tank that weighs 60+ LBS. It has a current hydro and viz. I thought it may be cool since I'm a big guy (6'2" 270lbs). But I weighed it empty and it's 60lbs.

Does anyone have any idea what this monster is? Also - when I fill it with air what will happen to my buoyancy? I normally dive a steel 100 with 30lbs (Californina 7mil suit).

Is this tank going to drag me to a watery grave?

Thanks - Dave

PS - I got a great deal on it.

 

[Saltwater Junky]

With my steel hp119, which weighs 54lbs, I was able to drop 10lbs from my weight belt. You should be able to drop about 5lbs from your weight belt, given your current dive gear.

Happy diving.

 

[widget]

I really enjoyed the humour in your post, but, yeah those tanks were crazy heavy.

The tanks were made by Jos Heiser in Austria and I can only imagine Beuchat didnt check the production schematics very well when they signed off, and accepted these cylinders for production, as they are really just too heavy for the average scuba diver.

If memory serves me I think manufacture was around 94?, and obviously they were never re-ordered - Beuchat really,really struggled to get rid of these monsters and ended up dumping them on the international market for the price of the valve and some small change - I guess if are big enough to be able to handle the weight of these cylinders on land you could possibly use them, but even with a 7 mm suit I still think you are going to be seriously heavy in the water and "oh-boy," I think you also gonna lose a few friends trying to get those things back into the boat after a dive.!

 

[ams511]

Try here: Scuba Cylinder Specifications from Tech Diving Limited - 928-855-9400

 

[Scared Silly]

Heiser 104 cuft 2400 +10% 8.00 dia 27.36 height 47.4 lbs -7.46 empty -15.26 full
Heiser 120 cuft 3190 8.03 dia 25.8 height 55 lbs -17.82 empty -26.4 full

 

[oxyhacker]

The Beuchat/Heisers are spun tube tanks, meaning they are made from drawn (seamless) tubing and the closed end spun-welded shut. Since the welded bottom isn't as strong as non-welded bottom (such as PST, Faber and Worthington use), it has to be made extra thick, hence some of the extra weight.
BTW most of the Beauchat/Heiser tanks were 3AA tanks eligible for the 10% "+" overfill rating, but did not always come from the factory with it, but it can be done next time they are hydroed.

 

[scubafanatic]

I can't even imagine diving one of those tanks! I used to have a pair of Faber LP 120's, which were bad enough, those Heisers are insane ! Be careful to do weight checks in a pool before hitting open water, make sure your BC has PLENTY of extra lift, and be prepared to answer the question 'What the h*ll was I thinking?' everytime you try to get back on board a tossing/heaving dive boat or make a rough terrain shore entry/exit. There IS a reason you got a 'good' deal on that tank...ah, to be a newbie again!

 

[McCainiac]

I just bought this crazy tank...I can't find anything about it online.

MFG: Beuchat it says 106 CFT 2900lbs

It's this huge tank that weighs 60+ LBS. It has a current hydro and viz. I thought it may be cool since I'm a big guy (6'2" 270lbs). But I weighed it empty and it's 60lbs.

Does anyone have any idea what this monster is? Also - when I fill it with air what will happen to my buoyancy? I normally dive a steel 100 with 30lbs (Californina 7mil suit).

Is this tank going to drag me to a watery grave?

Thanks - Dave

PS - I got a great deal on it.

WOW!!! I think the guy that got the great deal is the one that sold it.

 

[Dr Wu]

At your size and with some decent lift you will be fine with the tank. But it really is absurdly heavy. I have several of the 120's and believe it or not they were doubled when I bought them.

As singles they are ok.

The nice thing is you will need no added weight to dive. The con is fairly obvious.

One additional thing I can tell you is they make excellent wind chimes.

 

[sramekon]

Went in a pool yesterday and got it neutrally buoyant in fresh water with 6lbs.

I dove Malaga Cove in Palos Verdes CA today with the tank. Used 10 lbs - my buoyancy was great.

I'm guessing that full its about 20lbs negative. I usually dive with 30 lbs using an aluminum 80.

The cool part - it's 106 cft and can be filled to 2900 lbs. Tons of air. I dove with one of my usual buddies that always has more air than I do...we ended the dive and I still had 1000lbs.

I'm not saying that this tank is great - but I'll keep using it and see how I do.

Thanks for all of the input - ds