What are the differences between a glassomizer like a protank or a vivi nova clearo, vs a cartotank?
A clearo tank uses a wick, a carto uses a cartomizer. Some people are all for wicks and others are all for cartos...it's just up to the individual.
I understand the physical differences. im wondering more of how they perform differently, and im pretty confused as to how cartotanks work.
I've heard stories of the Vivi Nova's not wicking properly but in my experience it has only been when the e liquid was at it's lowest and was barely covering the wick that I had to tilt it. I feel the flavor is much richer compared to the same juice in the one carto tank I've tried. My Vivi Nova's are Smok Techs. Just my opinion, I've heard many people think the Vivi Nova's mute the flavor but the Supernova juice I vape literally tastes like I'm drinking a Mountain Dew with strawberries and melons. Very easy to change flavors in the Vivi Nova as well as there is not as much material to clean, the material is more easily accesible and worst case the material is replaceable. The poly fill in cartomizers tend to be more difficult to clean the flavor completely out and the poly fill/coil is not replaceable. On the other hand cartomizers are much cheaper. I guess its all preference but I would try both and see what you like. There are $10 carto tanks on many sites which aren't the best but you'll have a chance to try before you drop the money on some of the nicer locking ones. Also a Vivi Nova is only like $7 bucks.
In my experiences cartomizers have a warmer hit while clearomizers have an airy cool hit.
I don't know why or who would try and clean a carto. They only cost $1.99 and last 7 - 10 days. 3-hole punched carto tanks in a 5 ml glass tank is a very trouble free way to vape, IMO.
Exactly why many of us don't like clearos. I have found that typically, when someone who has only used clearos actually tries a good carto system, they make the switch due to the warmer vapor, non-airy draw and better TH.