Scuba Myths, Don't Store Tanks Lying Down - Scuba Tech Tips: S13E18

Where did the myth that scuba tanks should not be left lying on their side come from? Alec explains why this old myth exists and the practical reasons for storing tanks upright.
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[@shepshep8654]

I new to watching your channel. I like how you give info without a cocky attitude. Sometimes dive instructors have a weird "I know better than anyone" attitude. A teacher having good social skills can really help students to understand the subject. Thank you.

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

Welcome aboard and thank you for watching. A

[@SharhbiniRauf]

@@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter scuba tank is still low tech, HHO generator can make you breath under sea by spliting water to hydrogen and oxygen, just need a supercapacitor and battery, this are heaven tech or other mean artificial gil for human.

[@eggyparrot3844]

I was told by my dive instructor to store tanks at home on their sides if you have room. He never mentioned corrosion. His explanation was if the tank is already on its side it can't be knocked over - potentially damaging the tank, its valve, or other things near it. I have thought about keeping mine standing upright with a bungee cord around the center connected to a shelf leg

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

Your instructor is right from a safety view but 98% of all dive stores keep tanks upright for space saving. If there is a risk of a tank getting knocked over then use tank cages (12" metal box frames that hold tanks up safely) or other methods. If you have high oxygen content tanks, anything over 40% then you really must safety secure them from a fall due to the chance of the O2 exploding. Otherwise just use common sense around tanks. A

[@nevadaxelizabeth]

you know, youtube is somekind of wonder, i dont dive, hell im even scared to death to even try scuba. yet im here listening on whether is the best way to store a scuba tank.

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

You are adding to your knowledge of all things. Think about the next friends get together then drop a few of my tips onto the crowd. They will want to know how a non-diver knows so much! Thanks for watching and learning. More to come so settle in. A

[@diverdave4056]

but but but ... I have been storing my tanks for the last 45 year upside down and full of air - so that i can open the value every few months and blow a gallon or two of sea water out of them ! oh sure it takes a few minutes to balance then on the value but its worth it ...

[@vpraczynski9013]

That's why you should never dive upside down. Keeps the water out of the first stage.

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

Hey, can divers get narced on land?? I didn't add that some divers roll tanks to 'mix up' the air before diving. That's for another video. A

[@gerrysmith5462]

Primary reason to store bottles on side is to avoid injury when 30-40 pounds of steel fall on your foot.

[@markdanielczyk944]

Or aluminum.

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

That can happen and I have seen it but generally, up takes less space, easier to move (no bending) and keeps the valve up and clean. A

[@scmsean]

Have had 2 aluminum 80s in my garage for 4 years completely full. I dive with steel 100. I really should drain them.

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

At the next VIS inspection, as to look inside to see its condition. A

[@HWill-iq9sl]

Cool going to this A.S.A.P.

[@paulbaratta1566]

Myths and aluminum are both tough…

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

Ha good point Paul. A

[@wesleymaples1928]

Thank you for busting these myths Alex! I never miss one of your videos.

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

Glad you like them Wesley. A

[@JesusIsMyFirst]

Now I can rest easy.

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

Glad to help you sleep better. A

[@jacquespoirier9071]

I recuperated an old VOIT tank ( with a vinyl like external coating) that have been found in the bottom of a river. That tank was half filled with water and heavily rusted. It was there for many year to my estimate, I sent that tank to the hydro and it passed so I integrated it to my tank pool and it serves me very well so it is a perfect example that a bit of rust caused by humidity have no measurable incidence on the life of the tank

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

That is an interesting story. Glad it was rescued and put back into service. Thanks Jacques. A

[@ICEMAN_ADVENTURES]

Happy Thursday Alec I hope that you are doing fantastic!!!

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

I am! Still making these darn videos. A

[@downlink5877]

Interesting to see your take on it. We had an "animated discussion" about this a few years back when redesigning our club's equipment locker.

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

Hope it was settled in a civilized manner. A

[@notj5712]

PLUS, you don't lay it on it's same side every time. You have 360 degrees of sides to put it on, and that further spreads out any potential corrosion.

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

Actually some do have a 'favourite' side with the valve pointing it a specific direction. I have seen them! A

[@ivoryjohnson4662]

Thank you sir for bringing more knowledge to our sport. I keep mine on the side so they don’t get knocked over. Annual inspections should alleviate issues

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

Your welcome Ivory. A

[@owenmougenot712]

Hi Alec Interesting to hear both sides of the issue, not to be confused with storing your bcd reg and tank on it's side before a dive mainly to prevent damage if they fall over, toes will thank you too. It is standard practice in industry to store those large gas bottles for welding etc upright but they must have a chain to the wall again so you do not knock them over and have a torpedo. Safety first always. Take care Owen m

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

Absolutely Owen. Thanks for watching my friend. A

[@UNgineering]

i always thought the proper way to store a steel tank it to empty it, take out the valve, and fill it with water, just to make sure no bad air gets in 😆

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

Must be nice to have lots of scuba money.... HA A

[@benheckendorn2696]

But where is the best place to store a tank? I would choose the basement, but what makes me thinking was: you store it in the basement, nice and could, but when you fill the tank it would get quite warm. I guess you understand what I mean.

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

Anyplace with a reasonably constant temperature. Depending on where you live there may not be much temperature change in a garage (still hot in Florida), but at my ranch in Ontario Canada is varies from 40C to -25C in winter. I keep them in my heated garage so only a few degrees change in a day. A

[@lupusdeum3894]

I don't think Mike Nelson ever stored his tank standing at anytime in the show's lifetime. Partly, of course, because back then we did not have dive boots. I think they came around in the very early 1970's. Now, for the most part, steel tanks come with boots to square up the bottom. One episode of Sea Hunt, one of Mike's employers tossed his tank on the deck of the boat they were on. Mikey chastised him.... of course! 💣💥LOL 🐳🤿

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

You are right, Mike could not stand his twin set up as there was no boot. He did throw them around a lot when fighting the bad guys. A

[@lupusdeum3894]

@@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter He sure did! I feel sorry for that tin-plate Voit regulator he used. Probably a new set-up every show! LOL. Those were double 72's & triple 44's btw. 🤿🐳

[@emr8797]

If you stand them up, just make sure that they are in an area they wont get knocked over and potentially damage the valve.

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

Or your toes!. A

[@Crabath]

It’s also easier to get a scratch on the bottle laying it down on the side! =)

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

Good point Sonny. A

[@timgosling6189]

Correct me if I'm wrong but doesn't the gas that goes into Scuba tanks have to pass through a condenser and desiccant filter to make it pretty much completely dry? If you service and keep your tanks correctly they shouldn't have any free water in them at all, let alone little puddles to start corrosion. I'd have thought the main corrosion problem is likely to be external from water that gets held in those rubber boots.

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

That's true Tim, scuba air is very dry when filled. Its what divers do after that can introduce outside humid air into the tank: bleed it empty, poor air fill quality, and so on. PSI does tank inspections and their handbook is full of bad tank samples from water (aluminum and steel). Guess its similar to cars with little air in the tires but keep on driving. Thanks for the comment TIm. A

[@troymiller1524]

Tim, From my experience, I believe water enters cylinders mostly from uneducated fill station operators. I have 2 PST HP steel 100s that were in perfect condition inside.....all the fills were done at a single dive shop, the next year they were full of corrosion...they were never below 500psi and were well taken care of. These cylinders both had the slant back 300bar din valves. It really bothered me because there was no reason I could think of for the rust. When I asked the shop owner about it he became offensive and blamed it on "Improper take maintenance ", But I knew this was not the case....Then I watched him fill a cylinder and noticed he hooked the whip up without purging the valve. Any water that was in the valve, especially since it was a slant back valve, would have been pushed back in the tank. I cannot prove this was the case but I know I haven't had any corrosion since then and the only thing I have done differently was I purge the valve after I rinse it off and when I drop it off at for a fill. What do you think ​ @Alec Peirce Scuba ? is this feasible?

[@DB-yj3qc]

I had the same problem with my 120s I had. I ended up selling them though the dive shop that normally filled them after having them tumbled.

[@HWill-iq9sl]

Same question as Duane T, I have it's stored in the shed backyard temperatures here 2 1/2 months is 116 year 87 to 92 should I consider to put it in the garage (on room) or rent?

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

Recommend 2 videos for you: S13E15 Long Term Storage, for tanks and S11E06 Tanks In The Sun. These will explain that under 3 months is not really long term and high temps does not raise the pressure much. If you know its going to be hot and a few months, leave the tanks with 150-200 psi and you will setup the tanks for the least amount of stress. Take care Will. A

[@HWill-ol9lg]

@@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter ( Thank you I will pass it on to others)

[@randycomahig3506]

Hi alec do you have mini scuba diving set a second hand one..cause i cant afford the brand new.. Thank you..

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

Sorry, no. Don't have any supplies myself. I use the store's parts when we are shooting. Check your LDS and ask them to keep an eye out for a good 2nd hand tank. They get them for trade in's sometimes and can be a good savings. A

[@randycomahig3506]

Sir@@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter thank you for your response and god bless..just like you i love to explore underword but i cant afford scuba tank...i want a friend to send me a gift even a second hand or a junk it means a lot of me..

[@benheckendorn2696]

@@randycomahig3506 hi Randy, I would recommend to ask some divecenters, or a idea could be to ask if you could rent a tank, or ask if you could buy with deposit. I'm sure you will find a solution. If you go to divecenters, they may know someone who decide stop diving, so best go and ask. I hope I could help you a little bit.

[@lazercheesecake]

Great video as always!

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

I appreciate that. A

[@renatogodinhorg]

🌝👍⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

Thank you. A

[@dtt3426]

does temperature make a difference. can i store a tank in an unheated shed over winter.

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

Not really if the pressure has been reduced to 150-200 psi. Watch my recent video on long term storage for ideas. A

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

This is the video S13E15 Long Term Storage. A