Tanks worth hydroing?

[Grendel]

If there is 4-5years left on bottle life and bottle in physically reasonable shape it is worth having them hydrostatic tested. I have never had a bottle that looked visually sound (including gel coat cracks) fail inspection/hydrostatic testing. Then again I am almost OCD about the care of my HPA bottles but I have had definitely in excess of 20 different bottles tested multiple of times.

[flyweightnate]

At over $150 per tank, plus two $30 hydros, a year of use is $14. That's best case. So if you get two years on a $29 hydro, you're splitting hairs on a dollar.

Worse, what if you never get a tank tested? Then it's at least $30 a year, because that $150 only gets you 5 years.

I've seen $280 tanks, too. That really should make it worth it.

[spikeball]

If there is exposed fibers, it may not be worth getting tested. Which sucks because 45/45 tanks seem limited these days.

I just took three tanks in and I'm in a similar situation with the lifespans. The way I see it, I'd much rather spend the funds on getting three tanks going rather than buying just one new tank, even with a shorter lifespan. One tank will only have two years before I have to get rid of it. I think the $26 for a test is worth it for that timeframe.

[BrickHaus]

I get them done locally at a place that hydro tests equipment for our local fire department. Driving them to the hydro facility cuts the cost in half. If you can find a local place, I say get them all hydro'ed. If not, I would only hydro what you think you would use (and maybe one additional for a loaner). A tank at the end of its life (even in hydro) probably wont sell for much more than the hydro + shipping costs.

I have found a local place, but they are 26 ish a tank (up from the 20 I recall) and now with Covid they will only accept hydro drop offs Thursdays between 9 am- 1pm which really doesnt work for me as its a 2 hour drive to this place.

That made me re look into Ninja which is 29 a tank plus shipping. But if I cant make my drop rendevous, then I dunno if local will work out for me. Though I do have some PTO to burn up I could make a day of the hydro run.

[travis1581]

I get them done locally at a place that hydro tests equipment for our local fire department. Driving them to the hydro facility cuts the cost in half. If you can find a local place, I say get them all hydro'ed. If not, I would only hydro what you think you would use (and maybe one additional for a loaner). A tank at the end of its life (even in hydro) probably wont sell for much more than the hydro + shipping costs.

[BrickHaus]

My brown tank expires its first cycle in Feburary. In digging around my paintball room, I found 4 other tanks that still have a hydro cycle left in em. I figured if Im sending one out, Ill send em all.

Now heres my question. the PE 50 ci tank on the end here is dated 07/09. Its never been hydrod, so if I send it out this month itll officially end of life 07/24 meaning Im missing out on 4 months of hydro cost. I am torn on sending it in. On the other hand, a 50 peanut tank may be fun to have and or would be worth hydroing for the selling aspect at the very least. Even if its a little short on life.

Then you got the ever so infamous 2012 ninja 68 with cracked gel coat, i mean it holds air, but short of a loaner tank I dunno if Id need it, or a back up. The 45 has 2 good dings down to the fibers from being used on a law in a tank. Fibers look fine. I assume it should pass, but it might not. All of these factors make me contemplate hydroing em all, or just hydroing a few.

What do ya think?