Would YOU use these tanks?

[bjd001]

(Disclaimer... these aren't mine and I'm not thinking of using them...)

So if you had 2 steel tanks full of air sitting unused in a storage shed for a few years, would you use them or get them serviced first? One is out of hydro - was due March 2009 (and last viz was July 2008). The other is due for hydro June 2010 (and last viz was June 2006). So they've been sitting around full of air for several years... My buddy plans to use them and then get them serviced. Any reasons to do it the other way around?

I'd just be more comfortable getting the viz and hydro updated since they've been sitting around for so long.

Thanks.

 

[brucet]

Get the viz and hydro. Why find out the air is bad after you have loaded all your gear, and get to your dive spot?

 

[elan]

you should at least check the oxygen content of the tanks to see if any oxidation has occurred.
I doubt that a mouse has died in the tank spoiling the air but oxidation is a real concern.

Honestly I would just get them vised and hydroed first. those few bucks of the current air fills are not worth this test.

 

[tfsails]

Steel tanks can rust inside if the air they were filled with has any moisture in it, and that consumes oxygen. Obviously this can be quite dangerous. Your 21% air fill could be much lower in oxygen and 50 feet under water is NOT the place to find out.

Were it my option to dive these tanks I would not. The cost of hydro and VIP just isn't worth the risk to my life.

(Disclaimer: I work in a dive shop and do VIPs. I do not do hydros)

 

[Hoomi]

My thoughts are, if he's going to get the hydro and viz done anyway, it just makes sense to go ahead and do it BEFORE a dive trip. Sure, he ends up "throwing away" two fills, but after the tanks sitting around for a few years, I would consider it worth the cost of two fills to know I'm not going to be calling the dive after a few minutes because the air tastes "stale" or some other thing and I'm questioning whether I can trust it.

Pay now, and have better assurance the dive trip will go well, or pay later and take a greater risk that the dive trip is going to end up scrubbed. Either way, he's going to pay. What he should be asking himself is, "Do I feel lucky?"

 

[jefffalcone]

If he checks the oxygen content, then I can't imagine what could possibly be wrong with using the air. Then again, fills are pretty cheap.

 

[sabbath999]

I care more about my lungs than I do the cost of two fills.

Seriously, there's being a cheapskate and then there's being a RECKLESS cheapskate...

Get em hydro'd and get it done with, IMHO

 

[Mike Boswell]

Risk my life, or even a dive, for ten bucks worth of air?

 

[spectrum]

The safe bet of course is to get them recommissioned and I suspect I'd go that way just .... because.

Technically if you can do an O2 check and it's good then there is probably nothing serious going on.

 

[Jim Lapenta]

Just stick close to him. If he is that much for taking chances you will soon have more gear that he will not need six feet under.