sidemounting steel bottles

[Bowers]

Your steel tanks get floaty?

yes, even though the tank as a whole is negative, the bottoms start to lift. An LP50 or LP85 with low pressure remaining can be sat on the bottom and it will do a "head stand" even in fresh water. I used to just deal with my tanks being a bit out of trim if I dove them low (butts up when I had less than 1200 psi) but now that I use thicker loop bungees and treat the tanks like an aluminum tank, they can be in perfect trim start to finish. Just a couple days ago I did a dive in 41 degree F water (to grants point of using thick gloves) and ran my LP 85's down to just under 300psi each. They were in just as good of trim at the end as they were at the beginning.

 

[rjack321]

yes, even though the tank as a whole is negative, the bottoms start to lift. An LP50 or LP85 with low pressure remaining can be sat on the bottom and it will do a "head stand" even in fresh water. I used to just deal with my tanks being a bit out of trim if I dove them low (butts up when I had less than 1200 psi) but now that I use thicker loop bungees and treat the tanks like an aluminum tank, they can be in perfect trim start to finish. Just a couple days ago I did a dive in 41 degree F water (to grants point of using thick gloves) and ran my LP 85's down to just under 300psi each. They were in just as good of trim at the end as they were at the beginning.

Once you put mix in them they headstand full

 

[grantmac]

Continuous bungee as the OP describes will definitely not work with tanks that heavy. Needs loop bungee, probably 9mm but 6mm might work.
Bolt snap opposite the valve handle definitely won't work. Opposite the valve opening will be closer to correct.

 

[34109411]

so not related direct to this tread but just asking. Currently diving on full 7 mm using a back mount 80 al and 30 al for redundant air source. I need 12 pound of lead.(fresh water(

Going into sidemount with 2, 80 Al jow much weight will i need ? Just try to figure out.

Thank you

 

[inquis]

@34109411 - Ballpark from an AL plate, no change. Steel plate, add 5 lb.

 

[tursiops]

so not related direct to this tread but just asking. Currently diving on full 7 mm using a back mount 80 al and 30 al for redundant air source. I need 12 pound of lead.(fresh water(

Going into sidemount with 2, 80 Al jow much weight will i need ? Just try to figure out.

Thank you

With a single AL80 you might use about 5 pounds of air (63 cuft) during the dive; with two AL80 you might use twice that, but probably less (not likely to double your dive time!). So you want to be 5+5=10 pounds heavy at the beginning of the dive, so as to be neutral at the end. If 12 pounds is right for you with a single AL80, that's like 12=7+5 for air to be used; with two AL 80 it will be 17=7+5+5 for the air to be used. You are not using the pony now; ii it is dead weight, maybe 1 pounds full wirh a reg. So without the pony you need 18 pounds for your sidemount to start....adjust from there.....

 

[34109411]

With a single AL80 you might use about 5 pounds of air (63 cuft) during the dive; with two AL80 you might use twice that, but probably less (not likely to double your dive time!). So you want to be 5+5=10 pounds heavy at the beginning of the dive, so as to be neutral at the end. If 12 pounds is right for you with a single AL80, that's like 12=7+5 for air to be used; with two AL 80 it will be 17=7+5+5 for the air to be used. You are not using the pony now; ii it is dead weight, maybe 1 pounds full wirh a reg. So without the pony you need 18 pounds for your sidemount to start....adjust from there.....

ok so i will add up thank you for the info. most likely will put my hand on a hollis katana 2.

Thank you