What Color Tank Should I Buy?

[Ez E]

Im just going to get brushed. This has been a fun thought experiment!

 

[dfad]

A point of view from a beginner: so you follow a group in algae rich fresh water, at distance of 2-3 m, but all you see are a few pairs of fins and one or two tanks. Who is who there? It's much easier to identify people in fresh water when they have some 'color code' within a group. Whether a tank is painted, dressed in a neoprene sleeve, or just has a ring of colored electric tape. Not so critical in salted water, but still useful, isn't it?

 

[Litefoot]

A point of view from a beginner: so you follow a group in algae rich fresh water, at distance of 2-3 m, but all you see are a few pairs of fins and one or two tanks. Who is who there? It's much easier to identify people in fresh water when they have some 'color code' within a group. Whether a tank is painted, dressed in a neoprene sleeve, or just has a ring of colored electric tape. Not so critical in salted water, but still useful, isn't it?

Good thought. I’ve been thankful for my buddies white tanks in the cold murky water we dive.

 

[Belzelbub]

A point of view from a beginner: so you follow a group in algae rich fresh water, at distance of 2-3 m, but all you see are a few pairs of fins and one or two tanks. Who is who there? It's much easier to identify people in fresh water when they have some 'color code' within a group. Whether a tank is painted, dressed in a neoprene sleeve, or just has a ring of colored electric tape. Not so critical in salted water, but still useful, isn't it?

Yeah, good point. I don't do much diving in freshwater, but the same concept could apply. My most recent instructor has "Instructor" and "Follow Me" painted on the fins he uses for class.

Most of my tanks are galvanized steel. I do also have a black AL80, a blue AL80, and a yellow AL19. Paint on both the AL80s is all scratched up and mostly looks terrible. I'll probably strip them when they are next due for a VIP. All of them, however, have a Cthulhu symbol sprayed on them positioned so it would be visible directly behind me between the two tank straps. I bought a stencil for that purpose so can re-spray it when it gets scratched up.

 

[ReverendAnthony]

Im just going to get brushed. This has been a fun thought experiment!

You'll be glad you did in about 5 years. I hate tank paint flaking off all over the shop. Once seawater gets under the paint and it starts to oxidize, it bubbles up like Chernobyl.

 

[CT-Rich]

If you want color, go for color. Too many divers go with black everything. Safety yellow is good for visibility on the surface. Colors that are identifiable at depth (like yellow) will make it easier for your friend (and possibly enemies) to find you. My tanks are galvanized steel. MY daughters are blue and black because I bought them second hand.

Sometimes you pick the color and sometimes the color picks you.

 

[Ez E]

Tank is supposed to arrive today. I assume the valve isnt installed? My local shop wants to do a visual on the tank before they fill it? Is that normal? I think it costs like $10 but the tank should be brand newish. Anyway, I was going to have them install the valve and the insert for the yolk set up.

 

[tmassey]

Ah, the joys of tank ownership. (ETA: It’s really more accurate to say: Ah, the joys of your average local dive shop…)

It’s traditional that if a valve is removed from the tank that you need a new visual inspection. Do you really need a new inspection? Well, seeing as there are no legal rules surrounding said inspection, it is up to the shop to determine what they want to do.

If you’re buying the tank from DGX, it’s going to come with a visual inspection sticker with it. Put the valve on, you’re good to go. Again, whether the dive shop is going to accept that or not, who knows?

If you’re going to get the tank filled at the dive shop, I would spend the $10 and put their sticker on it. I wouldn’t spend $20 or $40… But $10 isn’t bad at all. Especially because it sounds like you’ve had a conversation with them, telling them you’re buying this tank online, etc. If you show up with the new tank with the new sticker they’re going to know the valve was off and wasn’t actually reinspected. $10 for a smoother relationship is probably worth it.

By the way, all of the nonsense that I’m describing is why I own my own compressor…

ETA: And if that $10 includes them putting the valve on, putting the yoke insert in, etc — and it very much should —it’s clearly worth it. Ask them to watch how it’s done, so you will feel comfortable doing yourself next time. It’s trivially easy. Just remember it’s made out of soft brass and there is an O-ring to do the sealing so it only needs to be tight enough to hold itself in place. You’re not trying to seal the tank/insert by tightening it: the O-rings do that.

 

[CT-Rich]

Tank is supposed to arrive today. I assume the valve isnt installed? My local shop wants to do a visual on the tank before they fill it? Is that normal? I think it costs like $10 but the tank should be brand newish. Anyway, I was going to have them install the valve and the insert for the yolk set up.

They want to make sure all the drug packets were removed....

 

[Belzelbub]

Tank is supposed to arrive today. I assume the valve isnt installed? My local shop wants to do a visual on the tank before they fill it? Is that normal? I think it costs like $10 but the tank should be brand newish. Anyway, I was going to have them install the valve and the insert for the yolk set up.

Yeah, that's pretty normal. Depending on where you got it, new tank may not have a VIP done. Not really a big deal, especially on a newer tank. When I last bought a tank from my LDS, the price for the tank included a VIP and Nitrox fill.