Steel or Aluminum?

[james.earnhardt]

I was on a budget so I bought a 30.00 tank of ebay. When I received it I found the DOT stamp was stamped 1972. With that said I went to the dive shop here in Greece to buy another one and they are all for steel tanks. I told them I wanted an aluminum tank and they almost kicked me out of the store. Is steel really better than the aluminum for bouancy. If that is the case should I buy a neutral buoyancyaluminum tank. The water has a lot more salt content than in the states maybe that is why they are wild about steel tanks here.

[Aussie]

Originally Posted by james.earnhardt

I was on a budget so I bought a 30.00 tank of ebay. When I received it I found the DOT stamp was stamped 1972. With that said I went to the dive shop here in Greece to buy another one and they are all for steel tanks. I told them I wanted an aluminum tank and they almost kicked me out of the store. Is steel really better than the aluminum for bouancy. If that is the case should I buy a neutral buoyancyaluminum tank. The water has a lot more salt content than in the states maybe that is why they are wild about steel tanks here.

Hi James,
Did you get the ebay cylinder hydrostatic tested? It might be still good? got yourself a good cheap cylinder.
You in Greece, Europe?
Faber steel cylinders are very popular in Europe and Australia with the faber 12.2litre 232 bar (100cf)the most common choice. Its the same size as an 80cf Aluminum. Buoyancy characteristics of the Faber 232bar steels are that they are roughly 3lbs heavier than Aluminum. This means you can take 3lbs off your belt. I havnt come accross neutral buoyant aluminum cylinders over here but know that certain brands of aluminum cylinders have different buoyancy charactoristics. Luxfer are more neutral and Catalina's more positive.

Aluminum is very popular in the tropics, especially with the issues for rust etc etc. Luxfer cylinders have a 15 year warranty which is also good to know. I would say over here Aluminum cylinders to steel cylinders would be roughly 10:1

Aussie

[Manny-R]

steel tanks are good because they all (for the most part) stay -buoyancy wise even when empty, so that means you can take weigh off the belt, and the steel tanks are also lighter than aluminum tanks.

[Kidder]

I like the steel for the air capacity. On shallower dives where nitrogen is less of an issue steel would be cool for more under water time. I am going to get one when I can afford it.

[skdvr]

I would get the tank Hydro'd because it very easily could still be a good tank. It just depends on how well it was taken care of before you got it. I would not be worried about diving steel tanks in Salt Water again you just have to take care of them. They will last a very long time. I do not like the Neutral AL 80's. They are a heavy tank for only being Neutral when empty, and their full fill pressure is 3300 PSI so if you go to some place that will only fill to 3000 then you are short (it would only have 70 cf). A lot of places will just notice that it is an AL 80 and fill it to 3000 and then when it cools you are at 2800 or 2900 and that would be very short for a 80cf cylinder that is supposed to be filled to 3300.

I dive with a steel HP 130 and if I get a short fill of only 3000 PSI at least I still have 115 cf of air. Not that I am happy with a 3000 PSI fill but sometimes when they are hot filling them that is all I am going to get unless I want to sit around for an hour to get a fill...

Stick with steel tanks and you will be happy with them. There is nothing wrong with AL 80's either, I just do not like the neutral 80's

Phil

[CompuDude]

Aluminum tanks are fine for warm water, and for cold water, well, they're not as good, but they work and they're cheap.

Steel tanks have vastly superior buoyancy characteristics, however, for colder water use. They'll generally last longer, too, although they require more care.

If you have a tank already, and you've dove it and are happy with the way it works, you're all set. If you have the cash to spare, and want to trade up, there will be benefits... at a cost, of course.

[starsfan96]

Yeah about hydroing the old tank it is definatley worth your time, my dad just re hydroed his old tank he bought in like 78 or so i cant quite remember, anyway he used it for about ten years then took about 15 years off, and then started diving again when i got certifed. Got the tank stated and vis. inspected and it passed and it works great, i've dove w/ it as well as my brand new tank and i cant tell the difference.

[reefugee]

What extra maintenance does a steel tank have over an aluminum tank?

Originally Posted by CompuDude

They'll generally last longer, too, although they require more care.

[divinginn]

Originally Posted by reefugee

What extra maintenance does a steel tank have over an aluminum tank?

none,just a good rinse after diving,keep a eye on rust under the boots,it would help to pull the boot off and rinse there to prevent rust. i have a steel tank i have been using since 1980 and it was used when i got it,did have to repaint it recently though.

[Charles R]

I prefer steel just to get the weight off my belt and on my back!