AL tank stored empty for couple of months

[SaltyFrog]

Good or bad?
What could go wrong?

So situation is I have a travel pony, which needs to be emptied for getting on planes.

So inbetween travels, do I need to get it filled for storage, then just to empty it couple months down the road?


Of course I can get a transfill whip but that's couple of hundred $...

 

[Bob DBF]

If it is empty, then the shop that fills it will want to do a viz, if the viz is good no problem.

As far as what could go wrong, crap could contaminate it, and there could be corrosion, get a viz and go from there.

 

[GreggS]

Apparently, I had left the valve just ever so slightly cracked open on one of my tanks over the winter as it was completely empty when I checked them when we were getting our gear ready to start diving in the spring. Fortunately, it needed a viz anyway. I told the inspector he might should check the valve just in case it was faulty and leaking. He could not find anything wrong with the valve and the tank passed inspection so all was good.

This was just a round about way of saying you should be okay, but get it checked out before using it.

 

[SaltyFrog]

If it is empty, then the shop that fills it will want to do a viz, if the viz is good no problem.

As far as what could go wrong, crap could contaminate it, and there could be corrosion, get a viz and go from there.

Yeah I have heard about needing a new viz.

But I also have seen around the forum that people can get empty tank filled without a new viz.

Is this just a LDC preference thing? Or is there some sort of regulation around this.

 

[Bob DBF]

Yeah I have heard about needing a new viz.

But I also have seen around the forum that people can get empty tank filled without a new viz.

Is this just a LDC preference thing? Or is there some sort of regulation around this.

Somebody needs to look inside and make sure it's OK.

My shop would look but if it was ok, and they did the last vis, they would put the valve back in and fill it. It doesn't take long. If I told the LDS I checked, most likely they wouldn't bother checking, but they know me.

It isn't so much a regulation so much as good sense. The reason VIPs started was due to moisture intrusion into tanks with subsequent corrosion and damage to tanks. Without pressure in the tank, not only can moisture enter, but the valve can be removed and all manner of crap could find its way into the tank.

 

[happy-diver]

So situation is I have a travel pony, which needs to be emptied for getting on planes.

So inbetween travels, do I need to get it filled for storage, then just to empty it couple months down the road?

No Never

 

[SaltyFrog]

No Never

do you mean I shouldn't fill it but should just leave it empty? Could you elaborate?

 

[SaltyFrog]

Somebody needs to look inside and make sure it's OK.

My shop would look but if it was ok, and they did the last vis, they would put the valve back in and fill it. It doesn't take long. If I told the LDS I checked, most likely they wouldn't bother checking, but they know me.

It isn't so much a regulation so much as good sense. The reason VIPs started was due to moisture intrusion into tanks with subsequent corrosion and damage to tanks. Without pressure in the tank, not only can moisture enter, but the valve can be removed and all manner of crap could find its way into the tank.

yeah that's fair.
a quick check shows $10 for a viz+fill for a popular US diving destination...
an OK price I guess.

 

[rob.mwpropane]

This is an AL tank I'm assuming? Unless there was salt water sitting in it the entire time you let it sit I wouldn't worry about it.

I do not use a pony, but if I did I would use a whip to fill it. A whip is useful in so many scenarios. You would never run into any hassle ever again no matter where you went, and you'd really never have to pay for fills for the pony again. $90 and free shipping (I believe free shipping over $85).

Braided Hose Din Cylinder Transfill Whip 60

 

[James79]

If you have 2 first stages, and don't mind removing/reinstalling hoses, couv posted this up quite a while back: Tank Equalizer for $2.50
I use a variation of it, slow but works well. In your shoes, I'd verify for myself that the tank is clean/no debris, put the valve in and fill from a full size cylinder.

Respectfully,

James