What is your favorite tank for singles??

[mwilding]

I was thinking about buying 1 or 2 tanks and am wondering what the prevailing preferences are. I can get a great deal on a couple of LP95's from Piranha Dive Manu. and am wondering how you divers feel about that (and other) tanks.

[msg]

I have two LP95's and love them. Great buoyancy characteristics. They allowed me to remove 8#'s from my weight belt.

:popcorn:

[TSandM]

I dive LP95s. For me, it's a pretty useful tank. I can do just about any dive to NDLs and maintain a safety reserve with them. I would prefer to own the HP 100s that my husband used to have, because they are lighter for the same gas volume and buoyancy characteristics, but they are much more expensive. We also have no trouble getting good fills on HP tanks around here (no compressors on our charter boats, either).

He has gone to HP 130s, because he's a bigger person than I am, and needs more gas to do the same dives. 130s are nice tanks -- they trim out very well, and hold a ridiculous amount of gas. They are also BEASTLY heavy to manhandle around, and are expensive.

[ronbeau]

I was thinking about buying 1 or 2 tanks and am wondering what the prevailing preferences are. I can get a great deal on a couple of LP95's from Piranha Dive Manu. and am wondering how you divers feel about that (and other) tanks.

I have Worthington X7-100 HP 100 cylinders and I really like them. For a difference of 2 pounds I get 25% more air than with an aluminum 80. The cylinder is 2.1 inches shorter and I can drop 5 to 6 pounds of lead.

The comparison between a Worthington LP 95 and an HP 100 is shown below

Air capacity LP 95 = 93.3 FT3 HP 100 - 99.5 FT3
Weight empty LP 95 = 41.9 pounds HP 100 = 33 pound
Buoyancy Empty LP 95 = -3 pounds HP 100 = -2.5
Buoyancy Full LP 95 = -10.1 pounds HP 100 = -10.0
Length LP 95 = 23.7 inches HP 100 = 24 inches
Diameter LP 95 = 8.0 inches HP 100 = 7.25 inches

Given the above characteristics I much prefer the the Worthington HP 100.
For the same weight and diameter as the LP 95 you can get and HP 119 and have 123 FT3 of air instead of 93.3 FT3. That amounts to almost 32% more air for for the same size cylinder.

Of course, all of the above analysis ignores the price differential between the deal you are getting on the LP 95s versus the cost of the Worthington HP 100 or HP 119 cylinders.

[JBRES1]

I have both HP100's and LP98's.
I like the way the hp100's trim out a little better than the 98's did.
So I turned the 98's into doubles, and dive the 100's as singles.

How much are the 95's that you are looking at ?

From time to time you can get hp100 fabers for about $250.00 from Divers Direct.

Jim B

[mwilding]

How much are the 95's that you are looking at ?

From time to time you can get hp100 fabers for about $250.00 from Divers Direct.

Jim B
$245 a piece

[Xaryo]

I have a pair of worthington X7-100 HP 100 and I love them!

So great compared to the evil 80 alu.
Plenty of air, super caractéristiques of buoyancy, plenty of air

[mwilding]

Even cheaper than the LP95 is the MP120 ($211)
# 3180 +10% overfill rating = 3498 PSI
# DIAMETER: 7.2 inches
# LENGTH: 28.5 inches
# WEIGHT EMPTY: 45.3 lbs
# BUOYANCY FULL: -15.58 lbs
# BUOYANCY EMPTY: -6.53 lbs

My aversion (perhaps too strong of a word) to HP is just that getting a good fill can sometimes be a challenge and certainly costs more.

[Docc]

Worthington X8 HP130 is my favorite. As others have so correctly stated, those babies hold lots of air. I got mine for $360 apiece with PRO valves.










.

[SparticleBrane]

Even cheaper than the LP95 is the MP120 ($211)
# 3180 +10% overfill rating = 3498 PSI
# DIAMETER: 7.2 inches
# LENGTH: 28.5 inches
# WEIGHT EMPTY: 45.3 lbs
# BUOYANCY FULL: -15.58 lbs
# BUOYANCY EMPTY: -6.53 lbs

My aversion (perhaps too strong of a word) to HP is just that getting a good fill can sometimes be a challenge and certainly costs more.

I'm not sure I'd get that cylinder -- it is CRAZY HEAVY in the water. :shocked2:


Not getting a "good fill" on a 3442 cylinder really isn't a big deal unless you need the gas. For someone with <50 dives, you don't need anywhere near 130cf of gas for a dive, anyway...

If you own a 130 and get a fill to 2700psi, you essentially have an LP104.
If you have a 119 and get a fill to 2700psi you essentially have an LP95.

etc etc..

[mwilding]

I'm not sure I'd get that cylinder -- it is CRAZY HEAVY in the water. :shocked2:-15 lbs full is kinda insane - especially with my steel BP and STA...

[John_B]

PST E7-100s if you could find any, second choice would be Worthington X7-100s, third choice would be Faber LP85s.

[Peter_C]

I own 4 Worthington X7-100's, with one pair as a set of doubles. My gal has two Genesis HP100's as singles. The HP100's work for us.

Worthington being one of the USA's largest cylinder manufacturers is a more solid company than PST these days. DOT standards were questionable there for awhile. I would use either brand though.

[Stu S.]

.From time to time you can get hp100 fabers for about $250.00 from Divers Direct.

The FX-100. Easy to dive with. Another favorite is the Faber LP-85. Filled to 3,000psi, it is about 100 cu.ft. The overfill is becoming less available in my area, however.

[Scubastud16]

HP100's are great tanks. I can use LP 95's, but they are pretty short, and it takes some work to keep myself in trim (I'm 6'1''). My next set of tanks will be 130's.

[Narced141]

HP 100's

[Luis H]

My favorite tank = a rental aluminum 80 down in the warm water of the Caribbean. :D


I do dive steel normally and I dive in Maine. :rolleyes:

[The Kraken]

HP100 steel.

the K

[pescador775]

When looking at these comments I have to keep reminding myself that most of you are using heavy accessories like steel plates, otherwise the comments about buoyancy don't make sense. I mean, I consider the HP100 to be a very light tank, best for tropical diving. Of course, if the diver is coming from a past history of very heavy, but buoyant, aluminum tanks that HP100 must look miraculous in comparison.

[Stu S.]

As far as buoyancy goes, the FX-100 or Worthington is just as favorable to a Florida diver as the LP-95, if not better. I've had both 95's and 100's and my preference is more about the on-land weight and size.

As for the really negative cylinders, why would you want to have so much weight that you can't ditch?

[deepstops]

For boat diving, E-series 130s are my choice.

[pescador775]

"Ditching" was the primary survival technique taught in the 1950's. The later adoption of buoyancy compensation devices was (presumably) the answer to negative buoyancy emergencies where formerly the diver would be prompted to dump weights or even the entire compressed air apparatus. Moreover, as a backup or alternative to these potential problems the tanks themselves were made in such a way as to be positively buoyant when empty. That was considered to be a significant safety advantage. The day has arrived when extremely high quality and partially automated BCD's are in almost universal use. These devices are not only tools of convenience which removes some of the idiot factor in the need for dive planning but also act as safety back ups for surface flotation. Additional devices like pony bottles, "octopus" systems and various gauges provide the diver with continuous information and back up to support planning and eliminate panic situations. With all this, we are still hearing the litany about possible emergencies or "incidents" requiring the possible need to dump weight. This is getting a little crazy and it's "deja vu all over again".

[Peter Guy]

Favorite tanks:

#1 -- HP 100's -- mine are now doubled and are great as singles and even better doubled

#2 -- HP 130's -- more gas than my doubled 72's, good weight and balance characteristics which are important for the cold water diving I do

Absolutely HATE AL 80's!!!!! What an evil tank.

[Teamcasa]

Favorite tanks:

#1 -- HP 100's -- mine are now doubled and are great as singles and even better doubled

#2 -- HP 130's -- more gas than my doubled 72's, good weight and balance characteristics which are important for the cold water diving I do

Absolutely HATE AL 80's!!!!! What an evil tank.


Wow! That’s a powerful emotion to have towards a tank! A tank I’d gladly strap on in Hawaii!:D

I too use a HP100 and love it.

[The Kraken]

I prefer the HP 100's, but usually dive HP 119's just in case someone does something stupid and needs gas.

the K

[mikeguerrero]

I own two X7 HP 100 and also mounted the 13 cf steel pony, for added safety in dives to 100 feet. I do a lot of shore diving in Monterey.

MG

[Dive Right In Scuba]

With students or local diving with most people, HP71s...nice and small and more than enough gas

With people with same breathing or close, or not with students....HP100 :D
Depends on the dive time though and depth

[evil_xander]

15L 200/232 bar steel tank. Plenty of air, nice weight.

[DryGear]

Bought my HP130 used and love it, on the prowl for another one. Know lot's of people with HP100's and they love them as well.

One thing to consider is if you are thinking of turning them into doubles down the road (which I am not) HP100's may be a good choice, I know a couple people about my size (5'10'/160lbs) who use double HP120/130s and the setup is soo heavy they really have no releasable weight! Myself I'm nowhere near experienced enough to feel the least bit comfortable with that idea.
:shakehead:

[WD8CDH]

With students or local diving with most people, HP71s...nice and small and more than enough gas


Nice tank, but hard to find.

Unless it's a really really good deal, I won't buy a LP tank. It's a lot safer to underfill an HP tank than it is to overfill a LP tank. Over the life of a tank, the cost differance between, for example, an LP95 and an HP119 is insignificant and they both hold the same amount of air at he same pressure.

[divinginn]

love the hp 100,would like to try some 130s though.

[ssidiv3r]

Like a lot of others here I've got a Worthington X7 HP100. I've used LP95's and HP120's before and must say for singles I prefer my 100, with the 95's coming in second place. I think the 100's would probably make nice doubles but they are great as singles

[DA Aquamaster]

I have steel 72's, LP 95's and HP 100's, all of them doubled.

In order of preference:

1. Steel 72's due to the light weight - when I don't need more gas (130 cu ft when doubled at 2250 psi, 144 cu ft at 2475 psi, 160 cu ft at 2800 psi)

2. the HP 100's when I need more gas (an honest 200 cu ft at 3442 psi), when I have to haul them up a pitching boat ladder and/or when I am in an area where I can't get a 3600 psi fill in an LP 95

3. the heavier LP 95's when in North Florida where I can get a 3600 psi fill (258 cu ft).

I do like single AL 80's for stage bottles.

[ssidiv3r]

I've heard that a lot of people sling AL40's for stage/deco bottles

[Jimmer]

I've heard that a lot of people sling AL40's for stage/deco bottles

Sometimes 40 cubic feet isn't enough gas for that particular stage of the dive.

[Jimmer]

I have 3 personal favourites. Steel 72's, HP100's, and lp104/hp130.

They also happen to be my 3 favourites for doubles as well.

[tflaris]

Steels tanks have benefits from Al in that they do not become positively buoyant when low or empty. Using a Steel high pressure 80 rated at 3442 you can remove approx 6 pounds from your weight belt.

Steel tanks have the drawback of rust if they become contaminated with water. therefore VIP's are extremely important.

Tanks size would depend on your type of diving.

For example boat diving a steel HP 100 would be about the size of an al 80 but would have 2 cubic feet more gas. Unless your SAC rate was extremely poor the benefits of going much larger would not be increased. The boat schedule or No-stop time limits would dictate bottom time more so than your tank size.

But while as a Spear fisherman you underwater activity would be greater therefore a higher SAC rate and therefore a larger size tank would be beneficial.

Hope this helps

[ssidiv3r]

Sometimes 40 cubic feet isn't enough gas for that particular stage of the dive.

I can understand that


For example boat diving a steel HP 100 would be about the size of an al 80 but would have 2 cubic feet more gas. Unless your SAC rate was extremely poor the benefits of going much larger would not be increased. The boat schedule or No-stop time limits would dictate bottom time more so than your tank size.

Even though boat schedules might come into play, it would still be benificial to have extra air in case of an emergency towards the end of the dive (such as an air-hog buddy that didn't monitor his guages or a regular diver that had an equipment malfunction). I'm sure the charter sets specific times with these possibilities in mind but I believe in "better safe than sorry". They don't know how much air you are going to use.

just my 2psi on that

[PvtStash]

so it must suck... , I have an LP 121 ...

I'm 6' 3" , 265lbs.

I live in the Great Lakes area and thought an LP 121 would be a great compromise to doubles...

I'd like to dive some of the wrecks in the 80'-160' range , but feel an 80 wouldnt give me enough gas (or margin of error) and was not ready to go the doubles route just yet and so the LP 121 ... Also I think I'll be able to get Two dives out of it when diving the quarries and thus save a couple bucks on airfills..

Or at least thats the plan... we'll see how it all pans out...

[spoolin01]

No one's talkin' about my tank... so it must suck... , I have an LP 121 ...
Faber LP 120s. Love all that air. Through some underappreciated anomaly in gas physics, they actually hold more than the HP120s!

They're e-normous, they're h-h-h-heavy, they're floaty when empty - but they pack a lot of air!

[spoolin01]

$245 a pieceA couple weeks back somebody online had the Faber FX-100s for $260. Can't seem to locate them now...

[Dive Right In Scuba]

The Faber 100s are actually bigger than the worthington 100s. Both great tanks though, but if length is an issue, its something to keep in mind ;) We have 2 worthing HP100s that are only 2months old for $269 ;) with convertible valves...

[Fishpie]

My everyday boat diving tanks are the (slightly) older 3500 DIN only pressed steel 120's. Here in S Florida I do not need anything heavier under the water. I never have a problem getting a full fill. When diving with students I do both dives on the one tank.
Other favorites are 3300psi Catalina Al 90's and for beach diving regular 72's.
All these have pretty much the same buoyancy characteristics which means with my 5mm wetsuit and steel plate I don't need a weightbelt and am neutrally buoyant at the end of the dive with no air in the wing.

[KY_BOB]

The Faber 100s are actually bigger than the worthington 100s. Both great tanks though, but if length is an issue, its something to keep in mind ;) We have 2 worthing HP100s that are only 2months old for $269 ;) with convertible valves...

If you were close, I would take one of those off of your hands but I'm sure the shipping would be rough.

[Dive Right In Scuba]

Only about $20 or less to you ;)

[rongoodman]

Worthington LP 85s for me, singles or doubles. If I needed more gas I'd probably consider a stage before going to the 130s, as I'm not that big.

[drbill]

HP120's if they wouldn't fail hydro, the Catalina 3300 psi 90's otherwise

[Trimix2dive]

Heiser 140 with a hydro fill.

[redrover]

Wow! ThatÃÔ a powerful emotion to have towards a tank! A tank IÃÅ gladly strap on in Hawaii!:D

I too use a HP100 and love it.
LOL, I detested the AL80. Love my HP80ÃÔ but then I am short.

[buknbull]

I've no issues with AL 80 when I'm on vacation down in Mexico or Hawaii.. But in New England I use the LP 120.. I've not seen the HP 130's yet, but I hear they hold a TON of air not to mention the added bonus of not having to add quite so much weight to my BC. With the AL 80's I have to add around 30 lbs of weight when I'm diving the back yard. it's just a lot of stress to put in those little pockets of my BC..

[SparticleBrane]

But in New England I use the LP 120.. I've not seen the HP 130's yet, but I hear they hold a TON of air

...only 10cf more than your LP120, at the rated pressure of both (2640psi for your LP120, 3442psi for a 130). Note that if each cylinder were filled to the same pressure, your LP120 would hold more.

[ShagMan]

Like most others here, I prefer the Worthington X7-100's, a great alternative to an AL80, more gas and less weight on the belt when diving.

If I was gearing up for cave/tech diving, I'd invest in Worthington HP119's or HP130's depending on which diamater/length I wanted.

[Underwater Ogre]

I have a LP 121 and a HP 120...both great tanks. The HP is nicer when I can get a decent fill.

[nashirak]

[QUOTE=DA Aquamaster;4055320]

3. the heavier LP 95's when in North Florida where I can get a 3600 psi fill (258 cu ft).

QUOTE]

I agree with this. I love the LP95's when I can get a good fill (3400-3500). But that's getting harder to find outside of north Florida or the shop where I work.

I may end up being forced to go with a HP119 eventually just so I can get the volume of air. With a good fill on the 95 I can do 2-3 OW cert dives without having to refill my tank. Very nice.


ON EDIT: Damn, I just noticed how old this thread is. I feel like a dumbass now...HAHA

[Splitlip]

I have both HP100's and LP98's.
I like the way the hp100's trim out a little better than the 98's did.
Jim B

Ditto and what Ronbeaux said.

A short (3000psi) fill with an HP steel, still gives more tha 10% of what an AL 80 gives.

The HP100 has the best buoyancy charactersitics around.

[mustang_5l]

130cf Works for me.

[halocline]

I like steel 72s. Only 26 lbs, and neutral empty. If you can get them slightly overfilled to 2700 PSI they hold as much as an AL80 on a typical fill.

[dori fish]

What about hp steel 120's for both single and double