recreational tank size survey

[Eric Sedletzky]

Steel 72's ( I have a lot of them because most were free)
HP 100
HP 120

I want another HP 120 - my favorite modern tank.

72's are great for quick shore dives. Light and very easy to handle.

 

[eelnoraa]

I have two single X7-100, one set of double PST LP80, a Luxfer AL80. I love X7-100, but I wish they a bit longer for double. I wanted Faber LP85, but I got great deal on PST LP80s, so I settle for this.

 

[diverrex]

I use an HP 100 or HP 130. I'd say in So Cal that the HP 100 is the most common tank. Whenever I buddy with someone diving an 80 the dive time is usually cut short. You use less air during tropical diving so using only an 80 in the tropics makes sense.

 

[socaljohn]

Great info from all Thanks so much.
To answer a couple questions-my buddy uses an HP 80 and though we were coming up about even at the end of the dive, he seems to be improving also (whats up with that?) Also, so far our dive plans are flexible in that we turn around at the Rock Bottom point per an article by Bob Bailey http://www.alohashoredivers.com/tweaks/understanding_gas_management.pdf I look forward to a time when I have multiple tanks and consistent and low gas use so I can also choose my tank based on anticipated need. But for now, being new and all I NEVER WANT TO COME UP!!!
I also appreciate the other article that the poster referred me to. Does Size Matter? Tank Size, That Is. « The AquaSub Blog
After all the input I think I am going to go with a HP 100. Lighter than the LP 85. The reason I was looking at the LP85 was that I was concerned about short fills but like several posters noted, with the HP 100-even with a 3000 psi fill I have almost 90cf and if I get a really short fill 2640 I still have 80cf.
Hope I can get it in time for Saturdays planned Laguna dive!!

 

[Colliam7]

Just wondering what capacity tank do you old-hands dive with recreationaly.

1. Single tank HP100 (preferred) or AL80
2. Double tank AL80s (back-mount) or HP 100s (sidemount)

 

[Shftrdog]

AL 80's, if im doing doubles im using 63's

 

[rongoodman]

LP85s for BM doubles, AL80s for sidemount with my Razor II. About the only time I'm in single tank gear is in the Caribbean, which is AL80 territory.

 

[scubadiver888]

Great info from all Thanks so much.
After all the input I think I am going to go with a HP 100. Lighter than the LP 85. The reason I was looking at the LP85 was that I was concerned about short fills but like several posters noted, with the HP 100-even with a 3000 psi fill I have almost 90cf and if I get a really short fill 2640 I still have 80cf.
Hope I can get it in time for Saturdays planned Laguna dive!!

This is many of the reasons the HP100 was my tank of choice. I had been renting an AL80 for years and never ran out of air. I always reached my NDL first or someone else ran out of air.

All local diving is fresh water. So I wasn't worried about salt water rusting a steel tank.

I do a lot of wreck diving and steel tanks seem more durable than aluminum.

Some shops only fill to 3000 PSI but that is 87 cu.ft. and an AL80 is 77 cu.ft.. So I still have more air even with a short fill. No one fills below 3000 PSI because EVERY shop around here does at least AL80. I only found one shop that had trouble filling beyond 3000 PSI and they went out of business. If someone did short fill me to 2650 PSI I'd complain. That would be less than an AL80 holds at 3000 PSI.

The length of the HP100 is shorter than an AL80. This means more of the weight will be above my lungs and wing went I'm horizontal. The diameter is the same as an AL80. Any boats who have racks for AL80s can accommodate HP100 as well.

Steel tanks are less buoyant than AL80 so I was able to remove almost 6 pounds from my weight belt.

One recommendation. There are three types of valves you can get. You can get a valve which is only for Yoke or A-Clamp first stage regulators. You can get a valve for DIN only first stage regulators. Or you can get a convertible valve. They come as Yoke valves but they have an insert you can remove to convert them to DIN valves. If you decide to get into tech diving you don't want to have to buy new valves. Or if you want to sell them later the convertible valves mean you have a larger potential group of people to sell to. I like the VA200 Pro Valve at XS Scuba Thermo Stand Alone Cylinder Valves. The VA100 is the Yoke only. The VA300 is the DIN only. They also have the VX series XS Scuba Valves but more moving parts means increased risk of failure and more things to replace during regular maintenance.

 

[Runtris]

I use 149, 133 and 120s depending on who I'm diving with and the dive plan. I always use the 149 with people I've never dove with before as on a couple of occasions you will get the 1700 psi from your new dive buddy only to find it was probably more like 1100psi and they are sucking down your air before you surface. I like the 120, the most air but still 7.25 diameter, less weigh and drag than my larger 8.00 diameter tanks.

 

[Eric Sedletzky]

I use an HP 100 or HP 130. I'd say in So Cal that the HP 100 is the most common tank. Whenever I buddy with someone diving an 80 the dive time is usually cut short. You use less air during tropical diving so using only an 80 in the tropics makes sense.

Making a trip down to Socal IS tropical diving to me!