Carto-tanks?

[MrLonelyLobo]

So I've been using my ProTank II for about a month now, still works just as good as the day I bought it, but lately I've been thinking about getting a carto-tank, but I know nearly nothing about them. I've only ever used a carto once, and that was back when I started vaping with a cheap cigalike I bought online, so it didn't really live up to what I was expecting.

What I understand about carto-tanks- It's a combination of a carto which has had holes punched in the sides of it, and gets placed into a tank.
What I would like to know- Which kind of carto should I go for? Which kind of tank should I go for? Do I keep the cotton, or whatever it is inside the carto, inside, or do I take it out? How long should I expect them to last vs my PTII? Any other information you think would be useful like maintenance and where I should be looking would be appreciated.

 

[*deleon517*]

if looking to start out in the carto tank world, i would suggest using a standard dct(dual coil tank). they are the cheapest and easiest to find. If you like them then you can looking to various styles they have bella and elegance tanks are very nice but cost 40+ per tank. i dont recommend removing the filler as it can pull the coil and make it useless. I found carto's last various time frames from a few days to a month. depending on flavor used, color of juice, amount vaped, and pg/vg level. sweeter darker juices kill them or clog them up faster. menthol and very clear juices can last longer. I average 10-15ml's a day and menthol i could push close to a month out of a carto, fruity stuff 2 weekish, and chocolate/coffee just a few day's

the pros of a carto tank vs a pt2: being able to push higher voltage/wattage when using a higher ohm carto with out getting that burnt taste. many can hold 5ml's or more depending on size. there is a wide range of ohms, consisting of 1.5, 2.0 and 3.0 ohm being the most popular, and they each can be found in single or dual coil. which better customizes your vaping experience unless you are rebuilding your pt2

the cons of a carto tank vs a pt2. inability to clean when switching flavors, you would only be able to fill with a new flavor and vape through the flavor transition. this can be good as you may find new flavor combo's, however not everything taste good when mixed. also a dry hit can burn the cartomizer and will always give that burnt flavor until you switch out the cartomizer. lastly some people claim(i never noticed it so cant confirm) they can taste the filler from a cartomizer.

 

[Roccov]

Read this blog. It should answer all of your concerns. http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/blogs/baditude/4830-8-cartotank-help-noob.html

 

[yzer]

This page at IBTanked will explain all you need to know about cartomizer and cartomizer tank sizing.

F.A.Q.

Basically, with IBTanked (and others) you can use three different 510 carto sizes: XL, Standard, and Mini. Some makes call the mini size "shorty" and Boge calls XL an XXL, which confuses matters. Tanks are made to fit the cartos and can be wider or narrower depending on liquid capacity desired.

I vape about 20 ml through a carto before I change it out. For me, 20 ml is over a week of constant vaping. I replace the carto when the taste begins to suffer from gradual accumulation of e-liquid concentrate. I don't attempt to wash out or re-use the cartos. Unpunched single coil cartos are inexpensive when purchased in volume. I usually buy five five-packs at a time. The filler material is called polyfill by vapers. The type and density of filler material varies by manufacturer. I like Smok single coil cartos for the high percentage VG juice I make myself.

I love a good carto tank set-up and have been using them for nine months. My set-up is described in my signature. I prefer to punch my own cartos rather than use pre-drilled or slotted cartos. Punching my own gives me the most control of vapor quality.

 

[BillyWJ]

So I've been using my ProTank II for about a month now, still works just as good as the day I bought it, but lately I've been thinking about getting a carto-tank, but I know nearly nothing about them. I've only ever used a carto once, and that was back when I started vaping with a cheap cigalike I bought online, so it didn't really live up to what I was expecting.

What I understand about carto-tanks- It's a combination of a carto which has had holes punched in the sides of it, and gets placed into a tank.
What I would like to know- Which kind of carto should I go for? Which kind of tank should I go for? Do I keep the cotton, or whatever it is inside the carto, inside, or do I take it out? How long should I expect them to last vs my PTII? Any other information you think would be useful like maintenance and where I should be looking would be appreciated.

If you switch flavors a lot, they won't work for you - but if you have an all-day vape you know you're going to use a lot of, they're perfect. I keep two running at all times, they're just reliable, a lot more vapor and flavor, and the experience doesn't degrade like a ProTank II does over time.

A brand new Protank head, or freshly rebuilt one doesn't compare to a DCT carto when it's primed right and hitting hard - I've never gotten equal from my Protank. It's a cooler vape, too, which I prefer.

I've had one carto last almost 3 weeks - a week to a week and a half is about average with the flavors I vape. I get about 5-7 days on a reworked ProTank head, using one flavor - I rewick mine when I switch flavor (or switch heads, if I have any rebuilt heads on hand). I recoil my heads to 1.6-1.8ohms, with cotton wicks. The thing is, even rebuilding, I only get a day or two of really good performance, then it starts to fade - cartos stay consistent right until the end. I love my ProTanks, but it's a lot more work to get them almost as good as a carto, and it just doesn't last.

My recommendation would be a Boge or Smok DCT carto or two (They're inexpensive), with a low cost tank, to get you started. IBTanked are probably the best, but there's a lot of them on the market - just make sure you get glass or pyrex, and keep an eye on the size and how much liquid they hold. It doesn't take a huge investment to get started with them. Just read Bad's blog that was linked, priming is the key to getting them to work right. Get a couple, because if you don't prime one right and burn it, it's done, you have to toss it.

 

[Baditude]

I've written up some blog articles on juice attachments, including what cartomizers and cartotanks are, here:

IS IT A CARTO, A TANK, OR WHAT?


There's several ways to assemble/fill a cartotank. I've outlined in great detail the method that I use, here:

BADITUDE'S CARTOTANK SETUP GUIDE


A couple more useful blog links here for vendors that sell pre-punched cartomizers and a review of my favorite cartotank, the IBTanked pyrex tank, and tanks which are safe to use with the tank-cracking flavors:

VENDOR LIST FOR PRE-PUNCHED CARTOMIZERS

IBTANKED PYREX CARTOTANKS - REVIEW

SOMETHING SAFE FOR CINNAMON & CITRUS FLAVORS


There are three major brands of cartomizers: Boge, Ikenvape, and Smoktech (SMOK). I suggest trying some out from each brand to see which you prefer. Be sure to get the correct length cartomizers for the length tank you are using. Both tanks and cartomizers are generally either standard or XL length. Carto manufacturers may call their XL cartos either "mega" (Ikenvape) or XXL (Boge).



A beginner may expect to ruin their first couple of cartomizers when starting out. They don't often realize how important it is to fully fill the carto and don't put enough in and end up burning the filler material. I don't count drops because different droppers make different size drops, affecting the total amount of juice used. I go by the appearance of the filler, which should look like a wet slushy drink once I'm finished. This is all gone over in the cartotank setup guide.

Expect a cartomizer to last 2 - 3 weeks, much like a replacement head in a clearomizer. Different flavors should have their separate cartotanks, as a cartomizer's filler will retain a previous flavor. Cartos are disposed of after use, there's no great way to recycle them.