advice needed: wich tank should i get hydroed alumminum or steel scuba tank

[livinthedream]

I'm about to leave for the dive shop and get one of the tanks hydro ed I'm not really sure which one would i benefit more from the steel or the aluminium scuba tank any help would be greatly appreciated

[Mod90]

Either one is gooe as the other, w/o current hydro & inspection they won't fill either.

But if I were you, I'd make my decision depending on which one can provide more fills.

[RatRacer]

The biggest one!

[condor22]

Aluminum tank will fail catastrophically before the steel, IMHO keep the Aluminum in hydro! Steel doesn't fragment like aluminum, it cracks, why take the any chance with aluminum. 

http://www.deir.qld.gov.au/workplace/publications/alerts/alloy_cylinders/index.htm#.U_YrOU3QfGg

[Tommy]

I would check to see if they do a 2 for one or the 2nd one discounted.
Tommy

[Norton1]

$40 bucks a pop for that here. No discounts. And either one is fine. So like the rest? The biggest one!

[RayK]

I'd do the one that has the higher fill pressure.  Some steel scuba tanks can be filled to 3500 and will generally give more fills than one that only fills to 3000 psi.  And of course, size is also a factor.

You can use this to calculate how many fills each will get you  http://www.americanairrifle.com/tank.htm

Ray

[Bullit]

Since you were heading off to the Shop, I guess you've already seen what they had for sale.
I hope they educated you on the lifetimes left with the ones they were selling.  That's a prime motivator for the pricing of "used tanks".   I hope you got a good deal.

[livinthedream]

I went with the aluminum tank but the guy at the dive shop told me he would sell me a brand new aluminum tank for $150 filled

[DONTdoIT]

Qustion. Do they ask for a scuba license? ??

I've been told by afew shops I need a license to fill im like come on grrrr

License cost $650

[livinthedream]

No they didnt ask me for one but i had mine on me just in case they did

[Bullit]

I don't know what size tank you're talking for $150.00   but that's very cheap for a new one.

[livinthedream]

I dont know the exsact size but its a regular size scuba tank brand new he showed me the born date and it was this june 2014 im getting one next week ill put some pics up

[mobilemail]

Qustion.

I've been told by afew shops I need a license to fill

Every time I go into the dive shop I have to explain, so I (hopefully) made my job easier by painting "FOR AIRGUN ONLY" in huge letters around the top.

[Pellgunfun]

I'd Hydro both tanks.
The hydro test is good for 5 years.  The tank must also pass a Visual inspection once per calendar year.  The visual inspection is usually done onsite at the dive shop, while the Hydro testing has to be shipped out to a test facility.

Technically they are supposed to ask to see you scuba cert before filling.  I am a cert scuba diver, so don't have an issue either way.  There are times when shops will ask, and times when they don't.  It all depends.  You can always take the rifle, and fill adapter with you to prove your case.

Are both tanks the same cubic foot capacity?

As far as the new tank is concerned, it's probably an Aluminum 80.  As in 80 cubic feet of air at 3000 psi.  The High Pressure Steel tanks are usually 80 cubic feet and 3500 psi.  I prefer the Steels for diving cause they are smaller and lighter, but still have the same capacity at the tall aluminum 80s.
Many dive shops push the Aluminum 80 as a better tank, which isn't true.  They want to sell you a tank that they are able to refill, which in most cases would be the aluminum 80 at 3000 psi, cause their refill compressors can't reach 3500 psi.
If your local shop is able to refill to 3500 psi, the steel tanks are always better in my opinion.

[Norton1]

Here they can apply a sticker that says it is not to be used for diving - and that covers it. Still has to be certified and inspected. Even though I fill my own I'll still have mine certified every 5 years. $40 is cheap insurance on one that is about to go bad.