Want to buy a tank, but $$$

[paulwlee]

Sounds like a lot.

If you were looking for an AL80 tank, my LDS sells it for $150, and I believe they also include a fill card.
Also, you probably need two tanks since most people do at least two dives a day.

 

[jbichsel]

and even look on Ebay. I found two AL80' on Ebay in Denver for $170 for both. The hydro's had just expired and they needed vis. I had to drive 45 minutes and stop to have dinner with a friend on the way back.

So...

Two tanks - $170.00
Two hydro - $30.00
Two vis w/fill - $10.00

Total for two tanks - $210.

Being in the Houston area as your profile shows, you should be able to get some deals.

Otjer tanks I get are from my CD in Hillsboro, TX. $85 for AL 80 with two years left on original hydro, new or rebuilt valve, current vis.

 

[dnight]

my new steel tank from leisurepro with a VIP date of 4/03 came with a nice coating of rust inside. It had been left open for months. I have yet to use it, but the new one I bought locally was in use the day I got it, clean and full.

If you can get there, buy from a LDS in NH, no shipping or sales tax!

 

[jrg]

That's not a bad deal if the LDS throws in a bunch of air fills.

 

[Mo2vation]

Maybe its just the way I dive.

I can't imagine having 3, 4, or 10 cylinders sitting around the place.

I dive a single. I prefer steel 100, love my PST. No current incliniation to dive doubles. So what'e the deal with tank hoarding?

Is it a shore dive thing...load up the back o' the truck and rock? Are you diving on boats with no compressors? Are they just round beanie babys? I have my 1 cylinder. My wife has her one cylinder. Life is good. I guess I don't get it.

Maybe for different mixes? I mean, I try to dive 32 all the time...sometimes I dive air. I can see taking a beater on a boat with a questionable compressor - but if I won't put their gas in my "good" cylinder, why would I breathe it out of my back up?

What's the deal with the quiver o' tanks?

 

[pipedope]

I found that Bird's Underwater in Crystal River sells the AL80 for $130 new. That is less than the purchase and shipping from any online supplier that I have found.

BTW They barely make enough on a tank to cover their handling costs. so tanks are nearly a loss leader for them.

I always check my LDS first to see if I can get a good deal first before buying online. I don't even blink at 10-15% more at the LDS (considering shipping online) just for the service.

 

[scubafanatic]

"tank hoarding" is in the eye of the beholder.....I've got 7 tanks:

PST HP 120 ( 1 )....wanted the largest capacity tank avail with a max diameter of 7.25"......some charter boats let you (or even require you) to bring your own tank, but it must be no larger in diameter than an AL80.

PST HP 130 ( 1 ) wanted the largest capacity single tank available, regardless of diameter.

OMS LP 85 ( 1 ) wanted a 'petite' tank, to be able to dive remote, hard to access locations with minimal weight to carry.

OMS LP 85 ( 2 ) --twinset-- low pressure, easy to get good fills, decent capacity for longer/deeper dives, but small, light enough to be managable on land.

Faber LP 120 ( 2 ) my 1st 2 tanks, a bit heavy, but easy to get good fills anywhere, and great capacity, especially if overfilled.

Having 'extra' tanks helps if you dive remote sites with no dive shop for fills.......or if their on-site compressor is 'down'....and reduces the # of trips back and forth to the dive shop if you can fill several tanks on one trip.


Karl

 

[Bob3]

What's the deal with the quiver o' tanks?

Some folks have to drive a considerable distance to get fills.
I don't have any trouble going through 5 tanks /day if I'm in the water all day long. That's one of my main reasons for loving surface air [hookah], if 2 guys are diving all you need is an extra gallon of gas, otherwise it'd be a dozen tanks taking up room on the boat & another couple hours wasted getting them all filled every night.

 

[Genesis]

my Twinset (two HP100s), a HP120, and three AL80s.

The Twinset will do two dives of decent (100'ish) depth with light deco on the first.

The HP120 and AL80s are for if I want to go out the next morning and not be up mixing gas that evening.

Or, if my g/f wants to dive, and/or her daughter.

 

[FredT]

Mo2vation once bubbled...
What's the deal with the quiver o' tanks?

Simple math for an all day dive Sat followed by a Sun morning boat leaving before the shops open.

All day trip = 4 or 5 tanks per diver
Sun AM trip = 2 tanks
total 7 tanks/diver.

There are 4 divers in my family so I need at least 30 accounting for those in the service cycle.

Add to that a bottle of emergency O2 for each buddy pair

My MINIMUM required tank stock for a family weekend trip now becomes 34, without allowing for mix variations.

I hear my son in law is about to get certified now,,,,