Proper Way to Clean Inside of Aluminum SCUBA Tank

SCUBA tanks are the "life support" of divers venturing the depths of oceans and lakes. They play one of the most important roles in a diver's gear arsenal, and they are usually one of the first purchases a diver makes. Since these tanks are often under extremely high pressures, and are usually the only thing keeping a person alive under water, they are subject to many rules and regulations. These include yearly visual cleanings, as well as hydrostatic tests every five years. Although these check-ups are relatively inexpensive, if you are adventurous, you can complete these tasks yourself, with a few tools available at any hardware store. This operation is highly specialized, and usually only done by trained professionals. If you feel at all uncomfortable at completing this, by all means, don't do it. Contact your nearest SCUBA shop, and they can inspect it for under $20.

Things You'll Need

  • SCUBA Tank
  • Adjustable Wrench
  • Liquid Wrench
  • Paper Towels
  • O-Rings
  • Christmas Lights (White)
  • Rubber Mallet
  • Air Compressor
Show More

Instructions

    • 1

      Bleed off all of the air from the SCUBA cylinder before opening the valve. This can be done by turning the air knob clockwise, into the "open" position. The air escaping the valve will create quite a racket: this is normal.

    • 2

      Take off the SCUBA valve with the adjustable wrench. Adjust the wrench to the correct size, and place it on the base of the valve. Turn it counter-clockwise to open it. Before opening the tank, position the valve away from you and other people, so that if there is some built-up pressure, the popping valve will not harm anyone.

    • 3

      If the valve is stubborn, apply liquid wrench to the valve. Let it sit for 5 to 15 minutes, and go at the valve again with the adjustable wrench. Go easy on the valve, as using too much force to open it up may strip the inside threads.

    • 4

      Place the tank upside-down into a bowl immediately after opening the valve. Let any dirt, water, or other objects escape the tank.

    • 5

      Plug in the Christmas lights, and let them down into the SCUBA tank. With the lights on, look inside of the tank, and around its sides. Look for anything that could be hampering the tank, such as discoloration, gummy objects clinging to the sides, or water near the bottom of the tank.

    • 6

      Clean the inside of your SCUBA tank by filling it with hot, soft water, and tumbling it around for around five minutes. This operation can be done using a tumbler, or by just swishing the water around yourself.

    • 7

      Dry the tank by either setting it upside-down for a couple of hours, or by blow-drying the inside of the tank using an air compressor. All of the contaminants in the tank should now be gone.

    • 8

      Replace the SCUBA valve by screwing it back onto the top of the tank. If there is a gap in between the tank and valve, lightly hammer it down with the rubber mallet. The tank can now safely be used again.