These are the tank options I'm considering - which should I go with?

[rverma]

Hey, long time lurker, but first time poster.

I'm a new sidemount diver, but I have drank the kool-aid and I'm fully embracing it. I have the stealth tec 2.0 and currently dive sidemount mainly in cold water with a drysuit year round.

I don't own my own tanks yet but I'd like to get some so I can have them on hand and go diving on a whim, buy a reversed tank valve and permanently mount the tank bands. I know that steels are preferred for drysuit diving, but used steels are very hard to come by in my area (Vancouver Island, BC, Canada). Here are the options and associated costs in CAD:

1) Faber LP85 - $450 each new +tax
2) Faber HP100 - $500 each new +tax
3) OMS (Faber) LP 112 - $250 each. Made in 1999 but have current hydro and vis
4) Worthington HP X7-100 - slim chance to get them, found on facebook but owner hasn't replied. First and last hydro in 2011. I've read good things about these, would consider if sold for $250ish.
5) AL80s - freely available. I'm the equipment manager for my dive club and don't pay for tank rentals or fills.

In my lurking, I have discovered that the LP85s are the preferred option for their buoyancy characteristics. However, I like that the HP100 has the same diameter as the AL80s. The extra gas is a bonus as well. If I go with new steels, for an extra ~$50, I'm thinking "why not?" I'm not extremely concerned about the extra on-land weight of the LP112, but they have a diameter of 8" and I haven't found any instances where people have commented on their use for sidemount. They're mainly in the running due to cost, and that I could potentially fill them with a modest overfill (maybe 3000ish) myself if I wanted.

I don't mind spending money on new tanks, but saving money is always nice as long as it doesn't result in having to replace the equipment.

Are either of those used steels a good option? Should I spend money on new steels? Or just continue to use free AL80s?
Thanks!

 

[shoredivr]

Hey, long time lurker, but first time poster.

I'm a new sidemount diver, but I have drank the kool-aid and I'm fully embracing it. I have the stealth tec 2.0 and currently dive sidemount mainly in cold water with a drysuit year round.

I don't own my own tanks yet but I'd like to get some so I can have them on hand and go diving on a whim, buy a reversed tank valve and permanently mount the tank bands. I know that steels are preferred for drysuit diving, but used steels are very hard to come by in my area (Vancouver Island, BC, Canada). Here are the options and associated costs in CAD:

1) Faber LP85 - $450 each new +tax
2) Faber HP100 - $500 each new +tax
3) OMS (Faber) LP 112 - $250 each. Made in 1999 but have current hydro and vis
4) Worthington HP X7-100 - slim chance to get them, found on facebook but owner hasn't replied. First and last hydro in 2011. I've read good things about these, would consider if sold for $250ish.
5) AL80s - freely available. I'm the equipment manager for my dive club and don't pay for tank rentals or fills.

In my lurking, I have discovered that the LP85s are the preferred option for their buoyancy characteristics. However, I like that the HP100 has the same diameter as the AL80s. The extra gas is a bonus as well. If I go with new steels, for an extra ~$50, I'm thinking "why not?" I'm not extremely concerned about the extra on-land weight of the LP112, but they have a diameter of 8" and I haven't found any instances where people have commented on their use for sidemount. They're mainly in the running due to cost, and that I could potentially fill them with a modest overfill (maybe 3000ish) myself if I wanted.

I don't mind spending money on new tanks, but saving money is always nice as long as it doesn't result in having to replace the equipment.

Are either of those used steels a good option? Should I spend money on new steels? Or just continue to use free AL80s?
Thanks!

I’ve been diving HP steel 100s since 2006. Sidemount and backmount. I’m in the Ontario, Great Lakes cold water drysuit diving.

If I were in your fins I would keep looking for used steels. You’re close to Seattle, you may find more used tanks across the border.

 

[Jim Lapenta]

108s, 112s, 95s, etc are pigs to dive with sidemount unless you are a big guy. In the water they are ok but on land? Just moving them around is a biatch.
LP85s and HP100s are favored for very good reasons for cold water diving. Their size and buoyancy characteristics are excellent.
Another option for recreational dives that is cheap and easy to get full fills are LP72s. they behave like al80s once they get low and you have to move them on the waist drings like 80s but they are small and easy to handle.
My absolute favorite cylinders are the old LP75.5s that sometimes turn up. They are like LP85s buoyancy wise, smaller diameter, and filled to 3200 give you over 90 cu ft of gas. I just sold my only set because I'm not diving enough to warrant keeping them. I have one set of 72s that will be fine for any dives I do from here on.

 

[billgraham]

I've dove with all of these tanks, and recently sold the LP 95's and 121's. The LP 112's and 98's are similar, kind of big to push through the water. I kept a pair of Genesis HP 100's but I prefer the Faber 85's for cave diving in fresh water. The 100's are pretty similar but it's sometimes hard to get a 3500 psi fill.

 

[lostsheep]

I've dove with all of these tanks, and recently sold the LP 95's and 121's. The LP 112's and 98's are similar, kind of big to push through the water. I kept a pair of Genesis HP 100's but I prefer the Faber 85's for cave diving in fresh water. The 100's are pretty similar but it's sometimes hard to get a 3500 psi fill.

I find cave filled LP85s in freshwater to behave very similar to my hp100s in saltwater and those are my personal preferences.

 

[NYCrecdiver]

Based on input thus far, I'm leaning toward staying with AL80s and keeping an eye for great deals on used steels.

There is no such thing as great deals on used steel.
I'm starting with sidemount also and called around dive shops to ask if they're looking to move inventory. Picked up two LP85s in really good shape. I paid a bit too close to new price to my liking but they came with recent hydro, VIP and oxygen cleaned. So happy about my find. Now I need two more for 2-dive boat outings!

 

[lostsheep]

There is no such thing as great deals on used steel.
I'm starting with sidemount also and called around dive shops to ask if they're looking to move inventory. Picked up two LP85s in really good shape. I paid a bit too close to new price to my liking but they came with recent hydro, VIP and oxygen cleaned. So happy about my find. Now I need two more for 2-dive boat outings!

BS, my first set of pst100s cost me $50 each and my last set cost me $80 each. They are out there, you just have to know where to look, be patient, and pounce as soon as you find what you’re looking for.

 

[NYCrecdiver]

BS, my first set of pst100s cost me $50 each and my last set cost me $80 each. They are out there, you just have to know where to look, be patient, and pounce as soon as you find what you’re looking for.

Wow! What is that place to look then?

 

[lostsheep]

Wow! What is that place to look then?

Certainly not the dive shop’s used inventory lol.

I watch the classifieds , Craigslist, FB marketplace , offer up , local dive clubs, et.al.,

You have to be patient and you have to be quick when you finally find a deal. Only drawback can be hydro , viz, and o2 cleaning. Find a hydro tester locally and cut out your LDS, I’m in sillycon valley and my hydro guy is $35 / cylinder. I tumble my own tanks and I consider viz to be a wash (I’d do that myself too but a lot of shops want to see a known shop’s sticker)

 

[Cio]

ALU 80s
Cheapest to obtain and own
You don't need more than 2 x 80s for a while and at the prices you listed you can spend that cash on diving and have a good time with maintenance free tanks that are easy to handle.

 

[rverma]

Single Al80s suck , AL80s in SM with a drysuit are just straight up terrible from all the extra lead you need. It’s not like we’re handing off bottles so incorporating the ballast isn’t a big deal.


Edit : FWIW I’ve owned and locally sidemounted PST HP100s, Faber LP85s, LP 76s, LP95s, LP50s, HP120s (don’t ask) HP40s, and AL80s. HP100s are my favorite. When I am elsewhere my opinion changes depending on fresh v salt and exposure protection.

I'm usually around 26-28 lbs in my single tank setup (drysuit+undergarments), so I've been going with 32-34 in my sidemount setup with AL80s. I need to do a proper end of dive weight check because I think I can likely shave some weight, but either way, the central pocket isn't big enough on the stealth. Using a weight belt is too much bulk around the hips and the harness doesn't sit properly, so reaching the dump valve becomes impossible.

In a use case where one is diving AL80s AND a drysuit necessitating extra lead, is the best course of action to get some trim pockets and affix those to the waist band of the harness itself?