Is old air safe?

[Milkman670]

I just bought a second hand Luxfer alum 80cf cylinder that had Hyro, visual inspections and fill 07/2014. 2800 psi in it.
Any concerns with using it up for pool practice?

 

[Basking Ridge Diver]

No - unless you were the one that filled it back then - I would run it in to get it tested - CO and O2 percentage.
There are several documented cases of divers diving unknown gas... Don't be a statistic - test it first.

 

[stuartv]

I don't know if aluminum has the same concern, but there is a story in Diver Down about a guy who used a steel tank that had been filled and then sat for a while. He died. The air in the tank had a bit of moisture in it. Over time, that allowed the inside of the tank to oxidize (i.e. rust), which uses the oxygen in the air. He was only doing a very shallow lake dive. When they analyzed his tank afterwards, I think the book said they found it to only have something like 5% oxygen.

I don't think aluminum oxidizes the same way steel does, so it's probably not nearly such a concern as if it was a steel tank. But, I would still at least use a regular O2 analyzer on it, to make sure it's breathable.

 

[northernone]

Analyze as usual... I've dove the air of the 70's in an al80 in 2015.

 

[Neilwood]

Personally, unless I know the source and trust it, I would drain it and refill it as even with an O2 and CO2 analyser you have no idea whether it was filled from a reputable source or whether it may be contaminated.

 

[Milkman670]

I know from the person I bought it from that it was filled at the time of the inspections and then never used. I'm sure I can get it tested at a oilfield safety place were I has another tank filled at the cost of $42.....our closest dive shop for $7.50 fills is 2 hrs away. I'll let you know the test fee.

 

[KDAD]

I have done it. Don't recommend it though. I didnt know what i didnt know.

Is your life worth a $6 fill and vis inspection? Drain it, get it vip'd, fill it up and dive it.

 

[BoltSnap]

I'd have it visually inspected at a qualified VCI facility and fill it before using it.

 

[joe10540]

The more important question I'd be asking is Is your life worth the $15-$20 it would take to make it right? If it were me it would be getting drained cleaned and VIPd before I used it. Just my $0.02.

 

[redacted]

The age of the fill is not an issue. I do not understand why some would question the air quality from Aqua Sport Scuba but accept the air quality from some other shop. I would dive it.