Posted by Ken Kurtis on November 30, 2001 at 00:51:26:
In Reply to: My first steel posted by Jeff Shaw on November 29, 2001 at 23:36:54:
Steel tanks are rated to their capacity (in this case 72cf) ONLY when they are 10% over-filled, which means they have to have a "+" after the most recent hydro date.
So if you've got the plus rating (and nothing else changes your general air consumption rate), you'll have 72cf vs. 80 cf, so expect about 10% less bottom time on the steel.
However . . .
If you've lost the plus rating in subsequent hydros (I'm assuming the tank is more than five years old), then what you've really got is a steel 65cf, which means you'll get about 19% less time (65 divided by 80) than with the aluminum.
Ken Kurtis
NAUI Instr. #5936
Co-owner, Reef Seekers Dive Co.
Beverly Hills, CA