Black bits floating around inside my Protank2 ???

[jman5]

Hi,

so far i've been loving my pro tank 2{s}

But i just ran into a problem;
I unscrewed the the top to refill it and it was quite hard to get off, and then once filled i tried to get it back on… and it was very stiff, felt like it was cross threading.. - and it went on wonky.

So - i unscrewed it and realised the coil had unscrewed almost completely off; which is why the base wouldn't go back on properly.
so, with the coil snugly back in place, i screwed the base back on.

all was then fine and back to normal until i noticed black bits floating around in my e-juice.
I was quite concerned as i had no idea what this stuff was, and why it had suddenly showed up upon unscrewing the tank and refilling it.

i used a pipette to suck out some juice and the black bit.. and topped it up again.
But then i noticed there were a few smaller, solid 'bits' in my juice.
It looked like bits of sediment or something - but closer inspection showed it to be solid opaque dark chunks of something..

--
I abandoned that tank and topped up a brand new protank2 with the same e-liquid, and its 100% normal.. so it's not the juice.
I checked the pipette and it was clean too..


So the only thing i can think, is that the cross threading chipped of some of the thread into my e-juice

Has anyone else had similar issues?

I've never seen this happen before,, and i'm kinda annoyed because i've wasted ~3+ml of liquid..
and i don't know how to clean a tank yet, so i'm a tank down.. + i'm worried as to what the heck got in my e-liquid {in the tank}



cheers for any insight on this
Jx

 

[InTheShade]

I'd say it's more likely to be bits of gunk and unburnt juice from your coil backwashing into the clearomizer than bits of the threading.

I'd sometimes get them, especially if vaping a sweeter juice as this seems to burn onto the coils.

You can minimze this by giving your clearomizer a quick rinse under hot running water between refills. You can also clean the coils by either soaking in vodka or everclear, or doing a dry burn to clean them. Youtube has some good videos about dry burning.

If you are vaping at a low voltage or wattage, you might be able to reduce it by turning it up a little so you get a full vaporization. Obviously if you don't like the taste, or you get burnt or dry hits, turn it back down again.

 

[Miata GT]

How long since the last time you cleaned your coil? It's likely just burned juice that flaked off the coil. There are no black o-rings or other bits that I can think of in the ProTanks themselves.

 

[reapnlife]

I think you may be right the threading scraping off into the liquid.

As for cleaning your protank 2's, it's not hard. Everything unscrews into 4 pieces: the base/coil, the bottom metal piece of the tank, the glass tube just pulls out, and the top metal piece. I soak mine in warm/hot water for a few hours and then they're good to go.

 

[James15]

You don't fill a ProTank 2 from the top

 

[HoseGarden]

you fill your protank from the top?

 

[InTheShade]

you fill your protank from the top?

I missed that in the original post

 

[jman5]

thanks for the replies.

I have been using the lowest voltage possible - as i like the flavour and draw like that..
I haven't cleaned the tank at all, but i'm only on my third or so refill,, been using it for about a week ~

I like the notion that it's unburnt juice.. - i have been vaping a fruit flavour that is quite sweet.
Only odd thing is that it just suddenly turned up.. - it appeared with one refill? (suppose i turned it upside down a few times..)
The bits didn't seem shiny, just dark.. - so my first thought was metal: OMG.!.

i really hope it's not the thread scraping off reapnlife.. that would be sucky..
I'm going to get round to cleaning, but i need to get some distilled water first; i don't like the idea of chemically treated water in my tank as much as chippings of stainless steel in my e-juice

So do we reckon it's burnt juice?
is there no way the thread could shave off into the tank?

Thanks for helping me on this, i get all too easily freaked out,,
and am determined to vape and quit those horrid analogs, just need to learn the ropes as i go.

Regards
Jman

(thankfully i filled it from the base / coil bit )

 

[spitfirelance]

I would reckon that if it's metal, it wouldn't be "floating".

 

[InTheShade]

I'd not say there is no way it could be shavings, but I would say it's extremely unlikely. When clearos 'break' it's usually the plastic or glass that gives out, or the O rings tear or degrade. I don't remember seeing anyone that had bits of the threading breaking off into the clearo before on the forum.
In fact, the only time I have seen reports of metal shavings in tanks or clearos was usually caused by the manufacturing process - meaning a clearo had some little particles in it from new. Another good reason to clean everything before you use it.

I'd say this was especially true as you've said you are using the lowest voltage setting. Next time you are ready to fill it, take it apart again (for that clean I was talking about ) and give it a thorough examination. Take a good look at the coil and you'll likely see black bits of unburnt juice on the coil wraps. Regular cleaning and occasional dry burning are easy steps to prolonging the life of your equipment which keeps costs down and gives you a better vape for longer.

Oh and don't be freaked out. I remember going through a lot of anxiety when I was a new vaper - never really knowing what was supposed to be happening and if I was doing the whole thing 'right' You've found the best resource for information right here.

 

[Choc_Addic]

Rinse with hot tap water and dry burn. You tube is your friend....

Distilled water? Seriously!

Cheers

 

[jman5]

thanks very much InTheShade, Sound advice.

All the Best

J

 

[jman5]

Youtube it is for the dry burn, but my OCD demands distilled water. ,silly i know.. - one step at a time

Gnight
Jx

 

[InTheShade]

thanks very much InTheShade, Sound advice.

All the Best

J

You're welcome jman5, if you feel the need to use distilled water then why not rinse under hot running tap water to start to remove the gunk and build-up, then give a final rinse in distilled water. Hot running water will give much better results when cleaning.

As for the whole OCD thing, you are in good company. A lot of vapers have varying degrees of OCD (often discussed on these boards) so you are not alone there. I have several things I do in my vaping world that I know are not necessary and yet I continue to do them because I can't help myself. Whatever melts your butter my friend.

 

[jman5]

Hey InTheShade, - i was just thinking that about; rinsing it under hot water and then 'cleansing' with distilled water
good to know about hot vs cold water too.

thanks for the words on OCD, too,

i just realised that since finding the OH NO 'metal' crawp in my clearomiser, i've been in a complete spin..
until 20mins ago; i had decided to throw away all my £400~ worth of equipment and juice, and; run for the hills in a nutshell.
my refund period has passed and i'd decided i'd give them away or try and sell everything on ebay at half price…… gawd…

but, thankfully i've returned to my senses…
i just couldn't stand the idea of my blessed ecig experience being 'contaminated'…. and i couldn't see a way around it:
'what if it was metal……. what if all my clearomisers leak metal into my e-liquid'….. e.t.c.
just couldn't shake the idea…. - i tried to rationalise my concerns {in a bad way} - well maybe i just don't want addiction, and i want to tackle this cold turkey {impossible for me personally} maybe i really need to do this,,,,, or that,,,,,,
i was just running,,, away and in circles.

I'll do whatever it takes to be comfortable with vaping; for now.
With more C.B.T and mindfulness i'll reach a point when i can detect whats rational; sensible/logical….
and what's just panic induced hysteria.
but currently it takes me hours to realise i'm going out on a limb for my fears.

so i've decided to stick with it. - i just had some analogs; as part of my 'quitting strategy' and they've made me feel like S****.
complete paradox to the bliss i was feeling earlier today on day two without analogs.

So for now i'll cater to my needs to make the transition, and for as long as necessary.



thanks again for the grounded support/advice you've given me.
i know for me it's either vape {Hell yes} or smoke - {F* that}
So i guess i just gotta ease myself into it.

anxiety can be a …… can't it.?

anyhow, much love,
thanks again,
J