One roll in a two reel tank

[camtram]

This is probably a really stupid question. I have a two-reel steal tank but only want to develop one roll of film in it. Can I just fill it enough to cover the bottom reel (with the film on it) and still agitate with inversion?

Thanks

 

[PeteZ8]

Yes. What tank? The Patterson plastic tanks, for example, give a capacity on the bottom for all sizes (1 roll 35, 1 roll 120, 2 rolls 35mm).

If you're unsure, drop in an empty spool and fill it with water until you get good coverage over the reel. Dump that into a measuring beaker and you have your fluid reqirements.

If you are using 1 reel in a 2 reel tank, place the empty reel on top to keep the bottom reel in place.

Also, welcome to APUG!

 

[trexx]

Yes, one roll is fine with liquid to cover one roll. I often place the second roll on top to keep the first roll in place and to keep the noise down in a stainless tank.

 

[chriscrawfordphoto]

Fill it to cover both. Filling a tank halfway will greatly increase agitation you get, because the chemicals can move more. That means more grain and contrast

 

[camtram]

Wow, thanks for all the quick replies and the welcome.

So is it still ok to agitate by inversion (with the chem flowing off the film because its upside down)?

 

[Venchka]

It's ok if you do as Chris suggests and fill the tank as if you have two reels. Better yet, put two reels in. Film on the upper reel. Cover both reels plus a little extra for good measure. This forum and others like it are littered with "OH S&#T" stories from folks who didn't use enough developer. Developer is cheap. Photos are priceless.

 

[Jehu]

I recently reasoned out for myself that it would be OK to just cover the film on the bottom reel and use the top reel to hold things in place. I won't do that again. Along edge of the film, the negatives were a little thin with some mottling. Not bad but noticable. I don't have any other explanation for its cause. Now some pictures of Pierce Arrows that I drove 150 miles to shoot are lacking in quality. All to save 6ml of rodinal. DOH!

 

[Sirius Glass]

Yes, one roll is fine with liquid to cover one roll. I often place the second roll on top to keep the first roll in place and to keep the noise down in a stainless tank.

That also keeps the reel with the film from sliding too much and then having too much agitation.

Steve

 

[Denis R]

2nd opinion

one roll at a time is fine

at school... plastic tank that can hold 2 35mm spools, one spool and 14oz. of chemical and no problems.....

just got back from developing delta 400 in t-max
dev. 7.5 fix 10, fixer was getting slow as previous person had to re-fix

it was somewhat a test roll, new camera N75 with DX lens from D60
provided good effect for doing self portrait

 

[George Collier]

Use two reels for sure would be my vote, film on the bottom.

Some might say that enough developer to cover only the first roll would create abnormal agitation resulting in overdevelopment (as stated above).
Others might say that twice the developer would not exhaust as quickly, therefore also resulting in overdevelopment.

If 35mm, I would go with filling the tank with developer, I'd be more worried about sprocket hole surge effects from the developer sloshing around on the film than the additional development that might occur from the stronger developer.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Others might say that twice the developer would not exhaust as quickly, therefore also resulting in overdevelopment.

This has never been a problem for me.

Steve

 

[Anscojohn]

This is probably a really stupid question. I have a two-reel steal tank but only want to develop one roll of film in it. Can I just fill it enough to cover the bottom reel (with the film on it) and still agitate with inversion?

Thanks

*******
Always use enough developer to fill your tank. Do not allow the reels to bounce up and down. Eliminate or minimize variables as the best way to achieve consistant results. People who say otherwise are wrong.