Mark Vlahos
Contributor
Hi,
I am getting ready to purchase some tanks that will do double duty. I am planning on purchasing 2 AL80's and 1 AL40. The AL80's will be used as back gas for recreational dives and deco bottles for decompression dives. The AL40 may be used as a pony for recreational dives when required by some area dive boats, and will be used as an oxygen bottle for deco dives.
The tanks will be purchased new with O2 clean cylinder, valve, and lubricants and will have a VIP sticker to confirm this. I plan on always using O2 compatible air or partial pressure blended NITROX.
My question is about the long term costs of tank ownership.
If I have been vigilant and NEVER used "dirty" air will Visual Inspections be any different, either in the work performed or the cost, on my O2 clean tank than they would be on a normal air tank? What about Hydro on this tank?
If I have been vigilant will I need to do any special inspections to maintain the O2 clean nature of the tank? I understand that when the valve is maintained it needs to be done with oxygen compatible parts and lubricants.
I expect that when it comes time to fill the 40 with oxygen as a deco gas the tank will need to be emptied, and then refilled with oxygen so the nitrogen content is next to nothing. Are there any inherent problems with my plan?
Tanks are expensive and I don't want to spend the money for dedicated tanks for each of the purposes if I don't need to.
Many thanks,
Mark Vlahos
I am getting ready to purchase some tanks that will do double duty. I am planning on purchasing 2 AL80's and 1 AL40. The AL80's will be used as back gas for recreational dives and deco bottles for decompression dives. The AL40 may be used as a pony for recreational dives when required by some area dive boats, and will be used as an oxygen bottle for deco dives.
The tanks will be purchased new with O2 clean cylinder, valve, and lubricants and will have a VIP sticker to confirm this. I plan on always using O2 compatible air or partial pressure blended NITROX.
My question is about the long term costs of tank ownership.
If I have been vigilant and NEVER used "dirty" air will Visual Inspections be any different, either in the work performed or the cost, on my O2 clean tank than they would be on a normal air tank? What about Hydro on this tank?
If I have been vigilant will I need to do any special inspections to maintain the O2 clean nature of the tank? I understand that when the valve is maintained it needs to be done with oxygen compatible parts and lubricants.
I expect that when it comes time to fill the 40 with oxygen as a deco gas the tank will need to be emptied, and then refilled with oxygen so the nitrogen content is next to nothing. Are there any inherent problems with my plan?
Tanks are expensive and I don't want to spend the money for dedicated tanks for each of the purposes if I don't need to.
Many thanks,
Mark Vlahos