Cartomizer Tank vs. Wicking (ViVi Nova Style Tank Advantages/Disadvantages

[jwelborn]

Hello:

I am fairly new to posting so please forgive me if I do not use correct terminology. I am currently using a 3.5ml ViVi Nova tank, but have noticed there are other style tanks using what appears to be a metal cartmizer. Which system is the most advantageous, longest lasting, hardest hitting, easiest to use and maintain? Also, is it difficult to punch the holes in the cartomoizer, how many holes should be punched and where should the hole(s) be located?

Cheers,
James Welborn

 

[Commie]

I didn't like either, but most people seem to like Vivi Nova more. Here's some pros/cons that I can think of, based on me trying both for about a month each and deciding against both.

Vivi Nova
---------
*Pros:
very easy to add juice
cheap replaceable heads (same as cartos, really)
doesn't seem to leak
great flavor
heads can be rebuilt to produce better than stock effect, for close to free
Can get metal tanks. More juice resistant, but can't see the liquid level in them
* Cons:
The heads that I got didn't have resistance listed on them, not even close. Like the 1.8 head actually measured at 3 ohm. I assume other people have better luck with them
I also didn't have any good luck rebuilding them -- my rebuilds would either flood, or burn the rubber gaskets, producing the most disgusting smell and taste. Strong enough to where I still tasted it next morning after brushing my teeth with uber mint toothpaste
One of the two Novas I had had the center post slightly crooked, causing it not to seal very well in top. So it leaked a little bit.
To my knowledge, the clear plastic tank can be damaged by cinnamon and citrus juices.

Carto tanks:
------------
*Pros:
Come in all kinds of purdy shapes, and colors
Come in all kinds of prices
Cheap replaceable cartos (comparable to Vivi Nova)
Most don't leak
If you like cartos to begin with, they taste just like whatever carto you put inside
Some of the nicer ones are immune to all juices.
*Cons:
Can be painful to refill
Some can be slidey. As in, the tank full of juice comes off of the carto and dumps the juice in your pocket
Some can be tight. As in, you have to pull really hard trying to refill it, and the whole thing goes flying, spraying juice on your keyboard
In my experience, the continuous heating/cooling of the liquid surrounding the carto would change the taste of the liquid. Not a problem with some liquids.
Some liquids can cause some of the tanks to deteriorate and start leaking. Cinnamon and acidy (citrus for example) liquids do that.
Edit: forgot to add that some cartos come with no holes. Then you have to mess with punching or slotting them. Some cartos come with holes in them. You'll need to find the right size/number of holes for your juice: if there are too few holes or your juice is thick, you'll get dry hits; if there are too many or your juice is thin, you'll get leaks from the connection side and gurgling.

I would definitely recommend trying both to see if you like either. As far as tanks, I really liked the locking "artemas" tank from discountvapers (it's available from other vendors too). That solved the slidey and too tight problem. A lot of people like the tanks from IBtanked. I don't have those, so can't say anything about them.

 

[lolwut]

I was a strictly carto tank user for a while, until I got a vivi nova. Rebuilding the heads is dirt cheap and you never have to worry about running out of cartos as long as you have a bit of wick and wire around. Flavor wise I would give the vivi nova the win, also ease of filling. I still have carto tanks sitting around but they hardly ever get used anymore. Most vendors have replacement parts for the vivi nova so you can customize the color of the tank or replace the caps or the center post. Vivi nova in my book is cheaper to maintain and gives better flavor, but check out valley view vapes they have a really affordable carto tank about 8$, both are worth keeping around. Valley vapes also has carto punches and Ray will punch and test a box of cartos for 2$, well worth it to know that you are getting 5 punched working cartos, about 9$ which is the usual price for a regular pack at most other vendors.

 

[SethGrimm]

I was an avid vivi nova STV user and slowly had horrible problems with them such as leaking, not wicking, burnt and dry hits and as always muted flavor.

I recently switched to Ibtanked cartomizer OCD tanks. Let me tell you, I'm NEVER gonna vape a vivi nova again. I have no leaking problems, way more throat hit, more vapor production, no leaking at all, the quality control is an a+, pretty much every issue with the vivi nova was solved, and the most important...INSANELY more flavor.

There are juices I couldn't vape because of how subtle they were in the novas but now I can actually taste them in the carto tanks.

The only and I mean only pro in my opinion the novas have is they take less time to fill.

But the extra 30 seconds is worth it to me. Not to mention cartomizers are way cheaper than nova replacment heads (unless you rebuild them).

Some folks claim they taste a filler taste in carto tanks but I certainly have never experienced this except for with the cheap prefilled cartos on disposables. They're constantly wicked in tanks so all I taste is the juice.

YMMV

 

[soul05]

ive been using cartomizers for some time now. they are ok, but the ones i have are cheap and they leak a lot. i have some tanks coming in the mail, so im excited to try those. ill probably try a more expensive cartomizer if im not fond of the tanks

 

[zapped]

Take what you hear on the forums with a grain of salt. ViVi Novas are very popular right now but I wouldnt go as far as saying people like them more.They are cheap in comparison to a good carto tank setup and are also far newer on the market so that accounts for some of their popularity.

Best thing is to buy both and try them out for yourself. Its been my experience that carto tanks, in particular pyrex tanks, perform better with my setup and juices and also look a LOT better on my expensive mod.

Your experience may vary.

 

[CloudZ]

Stupid question:

Doesn't a carto tank perform the exact same as a perfectly filled carto all the time?



Sent from my ADR6410LVW using Tapatalk 2

 

[the_vape_nerd]

Stupid question:

Doesn't a carto tank perform the exact same as a perfectly filled carto all the time?



Sent from my ADR6410LVW using Tapatalk 2

yeah it does

 

[the_vape_nerd]

i liked carto tanks ok and still have some around...like someone above mentioned though it was either the tank was super slidey or the tank was a pain in the .... to move up so you could fill

i have used the mini nova tanks....3 of them now and have not had a single leak...i like the taste i get better than a carto tank and refilling and head replacement is very easy

the regular sized tanks...i've read here are sometimes prone to leaking.....but i have never owned one

 

[Strangebrew]

I was an avid vivi nova STV user and slowly had horrible problems with them such as leaking, not wicking, burnt and dry hits and as always muted flavor.

I recently switched to Ibtanked cartomizer OCD tanks. Let me tell you, I'm NEVER gonna vape a vivi nova again. I have no leaking problems, way more throat hit, more vapor production, no leaking at all, the quality control is an a+, pretty much every issue with the vivi nova was solved, and the most important...INSANELY more flavor.

YMMV

This switch I need to try also and soon. The only disdvantage if I like the switch would be an increase in vaping cost. I'll get a cheap tank to start.... like to trade out this worthless AGA-T, lol... Any takers?

 

[Winace]

For me... hands down, ViVi style. Went from C2 to Nova, to ViVi nova, now ordered the AGA-T2+. I have had better luck with the liquid to wick transfer than filler transfer. I get less leaking, and less aggravation. I just like what works, gives me nic with no issues, and is reliable. From 100% pg to 100% vg, they have always worked best for me. I have a large fishing tackle box of cartos... all used maybe once. But, if I have learned anything about vaping.... one persons treasure is anothers nightmare. In the end, it is personal preference. It is kinda like asking which tastes better? A pork chop, or steak? Well.... depends on the day and who cooked it!

 

[Winace]

Also.... flavor is definitely less in the Nova style. But, it is a trade-off. I have maybe 30 ViVi novas now (biggest issue is breaking at the threads when I drop it with my ProVari). I never had one fail me otherwise. I rebuild the coils, so I always have plenty of spares made up in my sucrets can in my pocket (spare juice and heads). Also, if you change up flavors.... 100% easier in the nova compared to a carto. Just dump, rinse, refill.