Bought two new steel 80s...filled with air

[Boston Breakwater]

So, bought two from Diver’s Direct (brand new). Even though their ad says “nitrox ready” DD says I need to go get them cleaned before nitrox goes in. A local reputable dive shop says—no need to clean for nitrox if nitrox fill is below 40%. I am going to use the tanks today (air). Can I fill them immediately with 32% or do they need to be cleaned?

Thanks in advance for your opinion.

Hello. Your'e a stones throw from "Cave Country." I was curious about your choice being 80 cubics? What kind of diving do you do? Also, curious who the manufacturer is?
Is the working pressure 3442? Is the diameter 7.25"
Sorry, I'm not usually nosy. I was curious about the application, that Steel 80's would be beneficial. I've never owned any.
Cheers.

 

[Boston Breakwater]

Hi Halocline,

Please excuse my pedant post; hopefully, people think of my post as being informative and not . Being a jerk (or scientist) is not my intent.

There is a third method that does not require O² clean tanks, and that is nitrox generated by a Nuvair Nitrox membrane filter system. This system is used almost universally on SoCal long range dive boats. DV Conception had one.

This system filters out nitrogen from ambient air.

Of course, Boulderjohn's posts notwithstanding! He does have a point!

Nitrox Membrane Systems | Nuvair

thanks,
m²V2

Mmmmmmmmm. Interesting. Thanks.
View attachment 595938

 

[Divin'Papaw]

The vast majority of shops will fill a tank with banked Nitrox without requiring it to be O2 clean. In South Florida the one exception I know of is Jupiter Dive Center. All of the others that I’ve used (which is most of them) with banked Nitrox will fill any tank with 32 or 36 percent.

 

[Catito]

Hello. Your'e a stones throw from "Cave Country." I was curious about your choice being 80 cubics? What kind of diving do you do? Also, curious who the manufacturer is?
Is the working pressure 3442? Is the diameter 7.25"
Sorry, I'm not usually nosy. I was curious about the application, that Steel 80's would be beneficial. I've never owned any.
Cheers.

Hi:

Made by Faber. I like the negative buoyancy. I like the shorter tank. I also still burn through air faster than my buddy diver so I wanted more air. No cave diving for me. Reef/wreck saltwater.

 

[Divin'Papaw]

Technically no standard scuba valve can be made O2 clean. The issue isn’t the materials used inside the valve but the design itself. So technically if we are going to religiously follow CGA standards we would not be diving Nitrox.

Personally (just my opinion) I think that’s unnecessarily conservative. I fill my non-O2 clean tanks with 32-36% and have for years. I will continue to do so. YMMV

 

[Catito]

The vast majority of shops will fill a tank with banked Nitrox without requiring it to be O2 clean. In South Florida the one exception I know of is Jupiter Dive Center. All of the others that I’ve used (which is most of them) with backed Nitrox will fill any tank with 32 or 36 percent.

Thank you. A second reputable dive shop in PBC said it is not an issue because they fill with blended. I am filling them today.

 

[Scared Silly]

Technically no standard scuba valve can be made O2 clean. The issue isn’t the materials used inside the valve but the design itself. So technically if we are going to religiously follow CGA standards we would not be diving Nitrox.

You are conflating clean and compatibility with a scuba valve and O2. A scuba valve can meet O2 clean standards what scuba valves can not meet is the design criteria for delivering O2, slow opening (needle valve), not plated (brass), no sharp bends (severe impact angles). There are exceptions.

 

[Sevenrider860]

Technically no standard scuba valve can be made O2 clean. The issue isn’t the materials used inside the valve but the design itself. So technically if we are going to religiously follow CGA standards we would not be diving Nitrox.

Personally (just my opinion) I think that’s unnecessarily conservative. I fill my non-O2 clean tanks with 32-36% and have for years. I will continue to do so. YMMV

Most scuba valves can be O2 cleaned, they are not suitable for O2 Service based on the design. Two different concepts.

 

[Divin'Papaw]

You are conflating clean and compatibility with a scuba valve and O2. A scuba valve can meet O2 clean standards what scuba valves can not meet is the design criteria for delivering O2, slow opening (needle valve), not plated (brass), no sharp bends (severe impact angles). There are exceptions.

Thx for the clarification. However the scuba industry regularly uses said valves for PP blending Nitrox. That seems to me to be a FAR greater risk than filling a non-O2 clean tank with banked 32-36%. I hold to my belief that requiring a tank being filled with banked recreational Nitrox to be O2 clean but yet PP blending in an O2 clean tank with a non-oxygen compatible valve is laughable..

 

[Divin'Papaw]

Most scuba valves can be O2 cleaned, they are not suitable for O2 Service based on the design. Two different concepts.

And I find that contradictory. How can you O2 clean something that isn’t designed to deliver O2? This is where the regs just start to get stupid. The shops that won’t fill a non-O2 clean tank with banked 36% will gladly fill an O2 clean tank with 100% for deco. Makes no sense.