Putting this here because the spearfishing forum is molasses fast.
If you are going to purchase new tanks for spearfishing in our area what would you get
LP108 or HP133? I mainly dive locally but travel to southern Florida from time to time and am worried a bit about get high fills on the 108.
-Albemarle 248xf “Chella”
-Dolphin 18BC Pro
-Miscellaneous boats
You should try to dive with each one (borrow or rent from Lowcountry SCUBA). I think it comes down to a matter of comfort. They are both pretty popular around here. I think that the HP’s are a lot lighter, but it’s a tradeoff. The LP’s are pretty negative, so you can shed some weight, but they are heavy on your back when sitting in your boat. Other thing bad about LP108’s is that they are larger diameter which means that they won’t fit in a “standard” tank rack.
I have mostly LP108’s, but I wouldn’t hesitate to dive a HP133 either. It would be annoying to “mix and match” though since the diameter is different and you would be constantly adjusting your tank straps.
quote:
Originally posted by skinneejYou should try to dive with each one (borrow or rent from Lowcountry SCUBA). I think it comes down to a matter of comfort. They are both pretty popular around here. I think that the HP’s are a lot lighter, but it’s a tradeoff. The LP’s are pretty negative, so you can shed some weight, but they are heavy on your back when sitting in your boat. Other thing bad about LP108’s is that they are larger diameter which means that they won’t fit in a “standard” tank rack.
I have mostly LP108’s, but I wouldn’t hesitate to dive a HP133 either. It would be annoying to “mix and match” though since the diameter is different and you would be constantly adjusting your tank straps.
Have you had trouble getting the lp108 filled to 3500 out of town?
-Albemarle 248xf “Chella”
-Dolphin 18BC Pro
-Miscellaneous boats
quote:I usually don't carry them with me. Usually, when I am out of town, I can rent the HP's or just use an AL80 like everyone else. When I lived in Miami, there was a guy in Boynton who was familiar with the cylinders and was willing to fill them up to 3500. That being said, I don't think it's that big of a deal... I'm usually limited by bottom time, not by air consumption.
Originally posted by Island Boyquote:
Originally posted by skinneejYou should try to dive with each one (borrow or rent from Lowcountry SCUBA). I think it comes down to a matter of comfort. They are both pretty popular around here. I think that the HP’s are a lot lighter, but it’s a tradeoff. The LP’s are pretty negative, so you can shed some weight, but they are heavy on your back when sitting in your boat. Other thing bad about LP108’s is that they are larger diameter which means that they won’t fit in a “standard” tank rack.
I have mostly LP108’s, but I wouldn’t hesitate to dive a HP133 either. It would be annoying to “mix and match” though since the diameter is different and you would be constantly adjusting your tank straps.
Have you had trouble getting the lp108 filled to 3500 out of town?
-Albemarle 248xf “Chella”
-Dolphin 18BC Pro
-Miscellaneous boats
Thank you for the advice jason. Victor did suggest the 108. I went to order 2 -108s tonight and the wife asked why I chose them over the 133 and she stepped in and forced the 133 due to the rating… oh well… I explained I was more likely to blow up from beer and fried fish then a scuba tank… she still had the 133s ordered. Looking foward to getting out there… thanks again!
-Albemarle 248xf “Chella”
-Dolphin 18BC Pro
-Miscellaneous boats
I dive HP 120s(steel) because at 62 its all I can do to haul all that weight around. All my younger crew dive hp130s(steel)but we all are at our bottom time limits in 100/120’and begin our ascent with 1200lbs left in the bottle when we leave the bottom! That’s at 32% nitrox. Steel bottles will last forever and Aluminum bottles will not get filled past three Hydro’s (15yrs) by most dive shops. Go with the HP Steel bottles if you can. I get them filled to 3500psi. They can be filled to 4000psi but over time that will cause metal fatigue and the bottle will fail at some point.
If it got any better I couldn’t stand it.
I would go with the HP. LPs are just larger tanks built of thinner material that aren’t designed to hold up to the same pressures safely. Why go with the inferior design? There are some arguments for buoyancy but since both are steel they are pretty much the same. HP120s or HP130s.
26 Seahunt
Angler’s Dream
Go with hp tanks. The weight difference is negligible. Don’t get them too blown up however, as the lp tanks can flex more due to thinner walls my gas man tells me the same treatment to hp tanks will cause issues if overfilled repeatedly.
“Proper Prior Planning Prevents Piss Poor Performance”
Grady-White 265 Express
2x250 Yamaha
quote:Not sure that is accurate... Faber LP's are rated up to 4000PSI overseas. That's why people overfill them here. The same cylinder in the USA is rated for 2640, but are commonly filled 3500-4000. On the other hand, overfilling a HP is dangerous.
Originally posted by JordanOnaYakI would go with the HP. LPs are just larger tanks built of thinner material that aren’t designed to hold up to the same pressures safely. Why go with the inferior design? There are some arguments for buoyancy but since both are steel they are pretty much the same. HP120s or HP130s.
26 Seahunt
Angler’s Dream
Ya’ll are making me feel OLD! I have a few aluminum 80’s and two steel 72’s.
ZX