Looking for steel tanks - Orlando Area

[cyberfed]

Hey folks,
I need some help, I am looking for a dive shop in the Orlando area that sells good quality low pressure steel tanks. I want to pick up two. I would consider used tanks too but they must come from a dive shop that has inspected them.
Any body know a good place to find em?
I am willing to drive out of Orlando to a neighboring city if need be.

Thanks!

 

[DIVERDANFOWLER]

Try CN Divers in Mount Dora.
(352)7355040

 

[ucfdiver]

I have a set of Faber 108's, they're doubled currently, but I would split them up. What price would you be willing to offer? They were Hydro'ed/Vip'ed earlier this year (I think may) by Cave Excursions East. They've never had gas in them since hydro from anywhere except Cave Excursions (east and west), Extreme Exposure, Amigo's, and Dive Outpost.

 

[cyberfed]

Thanks for the quick replies I will check out those places.

UCFDiver - I'm not looking to buy right away, I just signed up to do my AOW and Nitrox classes, once I finish those I am looking at getting 2 108's for Nitrox. If you still have them in say a month or so that would be awesome. Right now I just kinda want to get a feel for how much a used set will run me. Maybe as a fellow UCF alumni you can hook me up with a good price

 

[ucfdiver]

Thanks for the quick replies I will check out those places.

UCFDiver - I'm not looking to buy right away, I just signed up to do my AOW and Nitrox classes, once I finish those I am looking at getting 2 108's for Nitrox. If you still have them in say a month or so that would be awesome. Right now I just kinda want to get a feel for how much a used set will run me. Maybe as a fellow UCF alumni you can hook me up with a good price

Gotcha. One thing I'll warn you of with LP tanks is that no one around here will cave fill them, you'll have to drive up to N Florida for that. :depressed:

I'm wanting to swap them out for a set of HP130's, so I can get them filled locally, so I'm not in any rush to sell.

 

[cyberfed]

Out of curiosity how come shops wont fill LP cylinders for cave diving around here?
I've been asking people about LP vs HP steel cylinders and I've heard everything from buy LP to buy HP to they are basically the same. I plan to go cave diving in the future and I want to make sure I get the correct tanks.

 

[LiteHedded]

kevin at scuba diversions in longwood will give you a healthy fill
...allegedly

 

[ucfdiver]

Out of curiosity how come shops wont fill LP cylinders for cave diving around here?
I've been asking people about LP vs HP steel cylinders and I've heard everything from buy LP to buy HP to they are basically the same. I plan to go cave diving in the future and I want to make sure I get the correct tanks.

This debate goes on way too much. It's really simple to make the decision once you understand some of the basic math, but far too often I read "hp are lighter", or "lp hold more air", and while both of those statements are true, there's a little more to it than that.

If you're filling in cave country, LP tanks are the best value. Here's basically the the LP/HP equivalency if you're in an area that overfills, and then I'll try to explain it so you don't have to just take my word on it.

LP85's = 100's
LP95's = 120's
LP104/108/112's=130's
LP120's=HP149's

Once you take a basic cave/cavern class, you'll learn about "tank factors" which basically says for every 100psi, the tank has ___ cuft of air. Here's how that's calculated- (tank volume(in cuft)/rated pressure*100)

For example, a LP104 has a tank factor of 104/2640*100 = 3.9. This means for every 100psi, you get 3.9 cuft of gas.

A 133 has a tank factor of 133/3442*100=3.9. This means for every 100psi, you get 3.9 cuft of gas.....see a pattern?

So at 3400psi (34*3.9) you get basically 132 cu/ft in either tank.

Now, one argument for LP tanks is that on dive boats, often times you can't get a "full fill" on a HP tank. Let's say that you can only get a 2640psi fill. Well then, the 133's and 104's both hold 104 cuft at that pressure. Basically figure out the size tanks you want in regards to volume, and if you can't get overfills where you're diving, get HP tanks, if you can, you might can save money by getting LP tanks.

You'll hear HP tanks are lighter than LP tanks. While this is true, remember what we just learned. Saying that a LP120 is heavier than a HP120 is true, but the LP120 can hold 149cuft when filled to 3500ish, while the HP120 can only hold 120cuft. Compare the LP95's, and you'll see that the weight is nearly identical, because they're the same size tanks.

Many shops consider overfilling LP tanks dangerous despite the fact that it's been going on for nearly 2 decades without a single known incident. I've had my personal tanks filled to 3600 every single time without complaint.

At this point, if buying new, I'd buy HP tanks, the price difference just isn't enough to make it worth ALWAYS getting tanks filled in cave country....sometimes it would be nice if I could get my tanks filled in Orlando before heading to Ginnie for a midnight dive.

Also, if you know you want to cave dive, I'd start out in double tanks ASAP. No reason to make more of a "learning curve" there than there needs to be....."Keep the end in mind".

I hope I was clear, let me know if I wasn't.

 

[cyberfed]

Wow really good stuff! Thank you! Yeah I want to get doubles to start working on my buoyancy with them. I take my nitrox exam this weekend, after that I will start looking for tanks on a more serious note.
Last question how much does it cost to have tanks cleaned for Nitrox if they have been previously used with compressed air?

 

[ucfdiver]

Wow really good stuff! Thank you! Yeah I want to get doubles to start working on my buoyancy with them. I take my nitrox exam this weekend, after that I will start looking for tanks on a more serious note.
Last question how much does it cost to have tanks cleaned for Nitrox if they have been previously used with compressed air?

It's usually the cost of a vip +$10-15 or so, usually $25-30.

If you're getting fills in cave country, don't worry about it, Extreme Exposure, Amigos, Cave Excursions (near peacock), Dive Outpost, Cave Adventurers (the shop near Jackson Blue) and Cave Excursions East all "bank" 32%, meaning you won't have to o2 clean your tanks to get them filled there, because your gear will never see o2 higher than 32%. It's also really nice because you only pay for the gas you use (let's say your AL80 is half full @1500psi, you only pay for 40cuft of gas, which is usually around $4), compared to open water shops where you're paying $15 a fill.

One question in regards to you wanting to clean your tanks, was the compressed air not o2 clean? Most shops these days have the o2 compatible air. If it was just once or twice, I wouldn't worry about it, remember the very second your valve comes out of a clean room (if they even clean it in one to begin with), it comes into contact with non o2 clean air. Now if it was a shop that had the air compressor out back with all the car fumes or by a boat dock with diesel fumes pouring in it, I would certainly look at getting the tank inspected and cleaned.

BTW- If you're looking at getting gear for cavern/cave diving, I STRONGLY suggest going to a tech shop. Dayo Scuba can order stuff for you, or if you want to go into a shop, I'd suggest Cave Excursions East or Extreme Exposure. Tech shops are typically a lot more honest, and only sell you what you actually need.