Fairwell to ProTanks (and all bottom coil tanks). Happily back to top coils.

[Benzin]

I used to have 3 Vapeonly BCC's 2 big 1 mini, but even though i liked them, i constantly had flooding / dry hit problems with them.
When the tank was over half full, i usually got burnt taste (even if i turned down the power), and once the tank was below half full, i got gurggling and flooding.

Then i got my first protank (1), liked it so much i got 4 more of them, including the mini protank 2. And was very happy with them for a while.
But since about 2 1/2 months ago, i been getting nothing but burnt taste, no flavor, gurggling, flooding, low attie life (under a week), and all sort of trouble with them. Including the full = burnt taste and low = gurggling problem i had with the BCCs.

Bought about 25 replacement atties for them (from 2 diferent vendors, at diferent 3 diferent times) thinking i might have gotten a bad batch. same thing.
Tried all the tricks in the book, like removing, one or more of the wicks, only filling it half way, never letting it go below half full, etc. No luck.

I got so tired of them, i took my Ego CC's (or T2's or whatever there called) out of the drawer and started using them. What a world of diference! They dint produce as much vapor as the protanks, but the flavor, the consistency, the lack of problems was just great.

And now i been using an iClear 30S that came witn my VTR for over a month, exclusively, with the same attie! and like it so much, the rich flavor, the huge vapor clouds, the ease of use without thinkering with it, that i can't understand how i put up with the protanks for so long.
And i dont have to tilt it all the time like the EgoCCs!

My conclusion is that i just do NOT like bottom coil tanks at all. I just ordered a second iClear30S, and some spare atties for them.
Hopefully, they will continue to work as good as this one has.
in any case, i think its fair to say, that im DONE with BC tanks. If the iclears start going bad, ill get a vivi nova, or just stick to using my EgoCCs.

I wonder why the protanks went so bad? were they good at first and then went bad? or were they allways bad and i dint notice? or maybe im very un-lucky and they have only gone bad for me???

 

[Talyon]

I'm a fan of both. I have both. Used both. I've got 6 PT coils in rotation, lost one down sink other 5 still going strong, I clean and dry burn every 2 refills, been using them for several months now and have another hundred waiting to be used lol. Same with iclears haven't had to throw one out yet.

Both work very well for me and last long.

Are they as good as my RDA's, nope. But I'm very happy with them.

I'm glad u found your sweet spot OP, that's all that really matters oh and staying off the analogs.

Ty for sharing.

 

[CrazyDamon]

I love my Davide BC tank, has been a solid piece for me. Hugely disappointed with the Protank as well, not as great as people make it out to be.

 

[Miira]

I used Stardust clearos for over a year, and while the quality didn't change, my tolerance for minor frustrations did. I figured out rebuilding fairly early, so it wasn't atty quality, but tubes separating from metal bands, leaking, gurgling, having to dump the whole thing to change the atty, etc. I found myself occasionally smoking a real cigarette and then doing it more and more, so it was time for a change. I always told myself I wouldn't be one of those vapors always chasing the perfect vape, but it has got to be better than smoking.

 

[InTheShade]

I dug out my old protank1 the other day, now knowing what I know, I figured I could rebuild it and get a good vape from it.

I managed to get it to work pretty well, vaped it for about 15 mins, then I cleaned it and put it back in my vapocolypse drawer. I just don't like the vape, I dunno, maybe it's because it traumatized me back in the day, maybe it's the metal drip tip, or maybe it's the faint smell of that absinthe juice I just can't get out of it... either way, if I use a clearo (which I don't much anymore), I use one of my trusty Vision vivi novas.

Glad you found your sweet spot, what works for you is the best thing.

 

[Benzin]

Thanks for reading & your replies guys!
I honestly dont know if my protanks were performing good at first, and then went bad (changes in the manufacturing of the coils or something?), or if in fact they perform the same as they allways have and just like Miira said, my tolerance has shrunk. Or my expectations grew?

I only wish i had "decided" that i dont like them earlier, like, BEFORE spending money on 4 more of them plus all those replacement coils! lol

 

[eMats]

I use mainly Protanks. One thing I've noticed is that you have to learn how to build your own coils and wicking system for them to work well. I use a nano coil and cotton wicking. I can vape it from the top of the tank full to almost to the bottom without gurgle, flooding or any problems whatsoever... once I figured out the airflow issue. Heres how you get awesome, trouble-free performance out of them: 1) Learn to build a tight micro (nano) coil to your resistance preferences. I use 29 or 30 g. Kanthal 2) Wick it with sanitary cotton. 3) Use a flavor wick. One that closes off the gap on each side of the wick without packing it in too much. This is what stops the gurgle/flooding. You can experiment with this depending on your juice. Thicker flavor wicks for thinner juices and vice-versa.

Once you learn this, you shouldn't have any issues except maybe airflow - drill out the air holes by the threading to 1/16" or get an air flow controller base. That's it, happy Protank vaping to all!!

 

[InTheShade]

If you can be bothered, get verified Benzin, sell them on the classifieds. Someone will want them. It never ceases to amaze me the stuff people successfully sell there.

I know you are in Mexico, but you should be able to at least make a few bucks back on your purchases even allowing for shipping.

<------ click over there where it says verified member for more details.

 

[Benzin]

eMatts: Thank your for your sugestion! But to be honest, dry burning & cleaning is about as far as my will and time for tinkering go these days. And even if i was willing to make my own coils, in this country is hard & expensive getting the materials to do it. Only one (or two) places sell rebuilding stuff, and have VERY limited variety, and very high prices

InTheShade: Thanks, i will be verifying my account via paypal.
As for selling the PTs, i was just thinking a few days ago of going thru my stuff, picking the things i use and the ones i keep as backups (i keep 3 complete backup systems), and selling out the rest.
Out of the 5 PTs i bought, i have 3 left, 1 PT1, and two mini PT2s, another PT1 was KIA when i dropped my evic, and the PT2 i gave away because it was particulary bad. I could NEVER get a vape out of it that dint taste & smell like a burning couch. xD
Since i dont like them even as backups, they will be on top of my to-sell list.

 

[eMats]

Ebay? That's where I get my wire. That's all you need. You can use any type of cotton - I believe your country has this.

Edit: Youtube has good tutorials. Here's Rip Trippers vid, the one I learned from except he uses 28g. I use 30 g. wire:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cIoH-mOXKsc