Tank Upgrade?

[FFMDiver]

I have 20 dives under my belt. I love to obsess about equipment (to the girlfriends dislike) and I'm now using a FFM. Apparently I'm sucking gas more than most of my buddies. Should I get a bigger tank? If so, what size? I've already mounted a 19pony to my 80 AL.

p.s. not ready for doubles yet...
:hidputer:

 

[Don Burke]

bmuise once bubbled... I have 20 dives under my belt. I love to obsess about equipment (to the girlfriends dislike) and I'm now using a FFM. Apparently I'm sucking gas more than most of my buddies. Should I get a bigger tank? If so, what size? I've already mounted a 19pony to my 80 AL.

p.s. not ready for doubles yet...
:hidputer:

I'll not ask the obvious question about the difference between diving two tanks and diving two tanks.

Making a rash decision on gas consumption based on 20 dives is probably not in your best interests. The FFM might be the cause of your higher SAC.

I'd exploit the other options before I went for a bigger tank.

Putting the equipment obsession on the shelf for a while and working on your skills would be a good start.

 

[FFMDiver]

Thats the answer I was looking for.

 

[Wendy]

What made you get a FFM so early in the game?

 

[DA Aquamaster]

bmuise once bubbled...
I've already mounted a 19pony to my 80 AL.

It's generally considered bad form to carry a pony and then routinely use it. It's also bad form to drop below an acceptable reserve (500 psi for rec diving) in your main tank just because you have a pony to fall back on if you run the tank dry.

If you are using more air than your buddies you need to call the dive when you need to rather than breathe off a pony to keep up with them. If are not willing to do that, then it would be far better and safer to get a larger tank now instead of waiting for your air consumption to decrease.

I also agree the FFM mask could be increasing your air consumption, you may want to consider leaving it home for awhile.

 

[FFMDiver]

Sure, I understand the FFM is drawing more gas which is why I mentioned it. And is why I am considering the upgrade. (I moved to a FFM because I'm in cold quarries). Also, I never intend on relying on the pony to keep up with buddies. In fact I have no consistent buddies ever, and the majority of those I've managed to meet at the water's edge tend to take off once in the water. Sorry, I'm sure most would concur that a good buddy is hard to find - hence redundant air supply. Just wanted to hear if mounting a 19 pony (regardless of entaglement hazards) would cause balance problems on a larger tank. Sorry for the confusion.