Tank boot may have saved my tanks.

[swimmer_spe]

I have 2 steel 120s that I store in my basement.

I noticed that my concrete floor had effervescence. (basically salt coming out off the floor)

My steel tanks have plastic boots. I noticed the salt on the floor, but looks like there is none on the tanks.

That would have been a bad thing.

 

[elmo]

Are you suggesting salt destroys my steel tanks? Tell my mum I dive the freshwater caves for my own safety.

 

[swimmer_spe]

Are you suggesting salt destroys my steel tanks? Tell my mum I dive the freshwater caves for my own safety.

Yes, salts are what corrodes metals, inducing steel. That is why rinsing tanks is important.

 

[Storker]

All steel tanks I've seen have been painted. As long as the paint isn't chipped, standing on a salty surface shouldn't damage the tanks. And if the paint is chipped, you should do something about it, no matter if your tanks have boots. If the chipping is under the boots, it's IMO even more important to fix it...

 

[Bert van den Berg]

My LDS removes the boots and inspects the entire tank as part of the test when doing the hydro. The annual requirements here are a visual one year and a hydro the next year.

 

[swimmer_spe]

All steel tanks I've seen have been painted. As long as the paint isn't chipped, standing on a salty surface shouldn't damage the tanks. And if the paint is chipped, you should do something about it, no matter if your tanks have boots. If the chipping is under the boots, it's IMO even more important to fix it...

My tanks are not painted. I have never, nor will ever paint them. So, I lovingly clean them and make sure they are dry and free from things that could corrode them.

 

[swimmer_spe]

My LDS removes the boots and inspects the entire tank as part of the test when doing the hydro. The annual requirements here are a visual one year and a hydro the next year.

Vis every year, and hydro ever 5 for us in Canada.

 

[Storker]

My tanks are not painted. I have never, nor will ever paint them.

Steel tanks without a surface treatment? Seriously? Who makes those?

 

[swimmer_spe]

Steel tanks without a surface treatment? Seriously? Who makes those?

Surface treatment, yes, painted, no.

 

[Storker]

The "surface treatment" used by e.g. Faber is primer, then paint. When my tanks are chipped, I sand and repaint the damaged area. If I don't, they will rust.