Scuba Tanks.....

[Icarusflies]

I am ready to purchase my scuba tanks. My main motives are 1) get extra bottom time (I want to get 100 cuf) 2) get weight off my integrated bc (the tanks of the carters I go are usually 80 AL) 3) have the flexibility of shore diving or using a privately own boat.

I am 6'3 and weight 210 lb so that is the reason why I am looking at 100 cuft. Since I am new in the diving world (14 dives) I d like to have your opinion about a couple of things;

1) I guess that since I be diving 70% of the time in charters I should get 2 tanks, one per dive....right?

2) How about LP or HP tanks, which one should I get?

3) What brands should I ll be considering?

4) I am NITROX certified so I think I ll use NITROX in both tanks...any comments about this?

Thank you guys and for my fellow Miami residents.....watch out, ERNESTO IS COMING......!!!!!!

 

[The Kraken]

Given your size, I'd go ahead and get either 119's or 130's, you're certainly large enough to carry them.

Keep in mind you have to have Nitrox tanks O2 cleaned every year along with a hydro every 5 years.

You have to be careful of how you get your fills, also.

If you ever want to dive plain air, you'd have to get air from a shop that does partial pressure nitrox fills.

If you're going to buy tanks, you may as well go ahead and get two at the same time.

I feel reasonably certain that the prices won't be going down anytime in the near future.

the K

 

[JDostal]

The Pressed Steel E8-130's are sweet sweet tanks for singles. They are essentially a low pressure 104 that is rated for 3500PSI giving you 130CF.

Low pressure tanks are typically better as you get the full capacity at 2640PSI, whereas a typical HP120 only gives you a full fill at 3400PSI or whatever it's rated at.

If you buy an E8, think of it as buying a 104 that is full at 2640. Anything you get on top of that is just gravy.

I'm about your size/weight and dive those tanks both as singles and doubled up.

I'd lean towards steel tanks as opposed to aluminum. That's just personal preference.

 

[loosebits]

Yep, 130's or LP108's (there's no such thing as a 104 anymore). LP108's are slightly larger in internal volume than 130's (a HP130 is an LP100) but if you can't get an 108 overfilled to 3450 and you can get the 130 to that pressure, then the 130 is obviously going to give you more gas.

Pressed Steel (PST), Faber and Worthington are the steel tank manufacturers with various distributers (OMS, XS-Scuba).

There are basically two flavors of steel tanks. You want hot-dipped galvanized as opposed to the zinc coated. You can tell as the hot dipped tanks are going to be an unpainted (and fairly shiney) silver when they are new. As they get older, they will turn a dull gray. PST only makes hot-dipped. Wothington makes both. I believe Faber only makes zinc coated. The problem with zinc coated is if you scratch off the coating, they will rust.

Of course you could probably get 2 AL 80's for the price of a large steel. And remember, your SAC rate will fall as you get more dives in.

 

[BarryNL]

4) I am NITROX certified so I think I ll use NITROX in both tanks...any comments about this?

For the nitrox, find out what your local fill station does, membrane or partial-pressure. If its membrane there's not much point in getting nitrox cleaning as, in theory, filling from the membrane system will invalidate the cleaning. Of course, you could get a personal filter to keep them clean.

 

[loosebits]

Well, that really depends on the shop. The shop I use in FL does membrane fills and it's oxygen compatible whereas my local shop also does membrane but they've chosen not to pump OC gas (which pretty much negates me using them).

 

[mark99]

I'd recommend you get one Worthington HP130 tank to start. It'll give you plenty of air even when underfilled (say to 3000 psi instead of 3442). Given your size, you won't have any problem with the weight or size of the tank. It will come Nitrox ready and you can see how that goes. Many of the dive boats here in CA don't have Nitrox, and I haven't seen anybody bring multiple Nitrox tanks (everyone brings one tank and it's filled with air between dives on the boat). Eventually you'll buy more tanks (believe me!) but if you decide the 130 isn't for you for some reason, you'll only have one to sell/exchange.

 

[Icarusflies]

Thank you all

 

[Diveral]

What are the differences or advantages of LP 120's vs. HP 130's. I can get the 120's for about $150 less than the 130's.

AL

 

[Blackwood]

What are the differences or advantages of LP 120's vs. HP 130's. I can get the 120's for about $150 less than the 130's.

AL

One is LP and the other is HP

Really: physical size. The HP 130 is smaller (overall) than the LP 120. The 130 will be heavier. The 130 needs a high pressure fill for full capacity, so if you haul it on charters, you likely won't get 130 SCF.