Looking for a new affordable RTA

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KennyJo

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Verified Member
Jan 18, 2015
58
20
Philadelphia, PA
Just received my first TC mod and I believe this is the perfect time (and best excuse) for me to get a new rta.
I own a Subtank Mini, a Rose v2 (clone), and an Aqua v2 (clone).

I am planning to spend at most $50 on my next rta and here are my requirements:
1. Air flow control
2. Single Coil
3. Leak proof (or at least not easy to leak when I build/wick it right)

With all affordable RTA we have in the market, I prefer buying an authentic from U.S. seller.
But I am not against a clone, or buying from FT when it is a better option (I know $50 may not be enough for some authentic RTA).

I have done some research and the following are what I am very interested in:

Cthulhu v2 (~$39.99)
Bells (~$30)
Erlkonigin (clone, ~$13)

Among those, which one you think will be a good/suitable TC RTA for me?

Thanks.

Edit:
I am a flavor chaser and prefer mouth to lung vaping.
But I don't mind a very open draw.
 
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Shawn Hoefer

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Jan 21, 2015
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Just received my first TC mod and I believe this is the perfect time (and best excuse) for me to get a new RTA.
I own a Subtank Mini, a Rose v2 (clone), and an Aqua v2 (clone).

I am planning to spend at most $50 on my next RTA and here are my requirements:
1. Air flow control
2. Single Coil
3. Leak proof (or at least not easy to leak when I build/wick it right)

With all affordable RTA we have in the market, I prefer buying an authentic from U.S. seller.
But I am not against a clone, or buying from FT when it is a better option (I know $50 may not be enough for some authentic RTA).

I have done some research and the following are what I am very interested in.
Cthulhu v2
Lemo 2
Aspire Triton or Triton 2 (with RTA system)
Kayfun v4 (clone)
Erlkonigin (clone)

Among those, which one you think will be a good choice for me?
Also, please let me know if I have missed something great or included any junk.

Thanks.
Hmmmm...

I don't have the Cthulhu 2, and my Erl K is in the mail as I write this (should be here Friday). I DO have the Triton, a Kayfun 4 clone, and a Lemo 2. I also have a Subtank Mini and an Aqua V2, but I do not have a Rose...

Of those listed, I would have a rough time recommending any with today's vape standards. however, your vaping style is certainly going to be different than mine. For instance the Lemo V2, while nice enough, suffers from a smallish fill port that leads to messy fill sessions or the use of very small tipped bottles. The Kayfun 4 - even with the subohm kit - suffers from a tight draw and is not very suitable for anything other than Mouth-To-Lung vaping. I can also say, without hesitation and with a great deal of conviction, that the Aspire Triton V1 is the worst tank I have ever used. The Triton V2 has addressed some of these issues, but the RTA section is absolute garbage!

Now that I've got that out of my system, let me suggest some authentic, affordable RTAs that might fit the bill even better than those that you've listed.

1. Goblin Mini - Around $25 - comes with adjustable airflow in the base, a single or dual coil option, and hasn't leaked on me yet.
2. Goliath V2 - Around $30 - As with the Goblin Mini there is a single coil isolator, and although I would not call it leak proof (mine leaked with my first build, but I think that was me... not the tank), it hasn't leaked in a while.
3. Aromamizer - Around $40 - With the Velocity deck, it's easy enough to build single or dual, and it does not leak at all.
4. Bellus - Around $30 - This one is only on order, so I've not had a chance to play with it, but is looks to have much of the same architecture as the Aromamizer AND top fill.

You mentioned getting a tank with an RTA section...
5. TFV4/TFV4 Mini with the TF-R1 deck
6. Eleaf Melo 2/Anyvape FuryTank - Both of these outperform the Triton, and both have/will have an rba section better than the Triton's
7. Crown Tank with an RBA Deck
8. eGo ONE Mega or Tron - sounds silly, I know, but this tank with the CLR head is dead simple and a performer for me.

Feel free to ask if there's anything else... Best of luck!
 

SLvapor

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Oct 2, 2015
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Houston
I like mouth/lung hits and the kayfun 4 tobeco with subohm kit and a homemade copper spring is my daily and no leaks.

Just an FYI it doesn't really have "airflow control" it's more for top filing and not having the deck flood aka juice control.
 

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jefsview

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May 2, 2013
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Crete, Il
I own plenty of KFL (v1, 2 and 3s), and original Fogger, several Aqua V2 clones and a couple of Lemo 2s. I am mostly a MTL vapor myself and love my Aqua V2s more than anything I have used. The posts are wonky and there is some seepage around the 510 from the deck, but it's still tops in flavor, draw easy of use.

I was hoping for some revelation from the Lemo 2s, but they're just okay. I had some leaking, but only from my first builds and fills. It was just a learning curve issue and they have been leak free since. I do received condensation buildup around the 510/airflow control, but that's to be expected with any atomizer. The air flow control works but the more I turn it down, the more chances of dry hits I seem to get. The Lemo 2 enjoys wider airflow due to the size of the chimney and is a less restrictive MTL. Just something about it seems off to me.

I just ordered a few UD Bellus RTAs, which should be here Thursday and looking forward to single coil builds on it. Most of the reviews have been quite favorable in regards to MTL capabilities with excellent flavor, so I'm pretty excited about trying them out.

There aren't a lot of choices when it comes to single coils. Seems like most subtank RBA section is single coil, and only most recently have more RTAs began offering single coil options. Another clone not mentioned is the GEM. The original is pricey, but the clone seems to work well from a few reviews I've seen.

Best of luck making a decision. I pondered the Cthulu as well, and went with the Bellus just for the price point. But the Cthulu is a fantastic deal due to all of the extra parts/decks, etc. If I had had a few more dollars, I would probably have ordered those.
 
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DaveP

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May 22, 2010
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Some of my best deals on tanks were those I found at Vapor Range. Check out the deals before you buy. Everything I have ordered from them was new, in the box, with all accessories included. Tobeco K4 for $9.95 at the link. I have three of those, but they are out of stock right now. You might like some of the other choices.

Clone Rebuildable Tanks
 

roxynoodle

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Jun 19, 2014
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Ohio
I own plenty of KFL (v1, 2 and 3s), and original Fogger, several Aqua V2 clones and a couple of Lemo 2s. I am mostly a MTL vapor myself and love my Aqua V2s more than anything I have used. The posts are wonky and there is some seepage around the 510 from the deck, but it's still tops in flavor, draw easy of use.

I was hoping for some revelation from the Lemo 2s, but they're just okay. I had some leaking, but only from my first builds and fills. It was just a learning curve issue and they have been leak free since. I do received condensation buildup around the 510/airflow control, but that's to be expected with any atomizer. The air flow control works but the more I turn it down, the more chances of dry hits I seem to get. The Lemo 2 enjoys wider airflow due to the size of the chimney and is a less restrictive MTL. Just something about it seems off to me.

I just ordered a few UD Bellus RTAs, which should be here Thursday and looking forward to single coil builds on it. Most of the reviews have been quite favorable in regards to MTL capabilities with excellent flavor, so I'm pretty excited about trying them out.

There aren't a lot of choices when it comes to single coils. Seems like most subtank RBA section is single coil, and only most recently have more RTAs began offering single coil options. Another clone not mentioned is the GEM. The original is pricey, but the clone seems to work well from a few reviews I've seen.

Best of luck making a decision. I pondered the Cthulu as well, and went with the Bellus just for the price point. But the Cthulu is a fantastic deal due to all of the extra parts/decks, etc. If I had had a few more dollars, I would probably have ordered those.

Once you've dialed in the Bellus, would you be willing to post in this thread? The Bellus is a tank we are discussing :)

The Overlooked Tootle Puffer Gear Thread

Some of my best deals on tanks were those I found at Vapor Range. Check out the deals before you buy. Everything I have ordered from them was new, in the box, with all accessories included. Tobeco K4 for $9.95 at the link. I have three of those, but they are out of stock right now. You might like some of the other choices.

Clone Rebuildable Tanks

I have bought a ton of mods from them on clearance. And free shipping no matter how low the price is.
 
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Two_Bears

Vaping Master
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Jul 4, 2015
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16,673
Northern Arizona
Just received my first TC mod and I believe this is the perfect time (and best excuse) for me to get a new RTA.
I own a Subtank Mini, a Rose v2 (clone), and an Aqua v2 (clone).

I am planning to spend at most $50 on my next RTA and here are my requirements:
1. Air flow control
2. Single Coil
3. Leak proof (or at least not easy to leak when I build/wick it right)

With all affordable RTA we have in the market, I prefer buying an authentic from U.S. seller.
But I am not against a clone, or buying from FT when it is a better option (I know $50 may not be enough for some authentic RTA).

I have done some research and the following are what I am very interested in.
Cthulhu v2
Lemo 2
Aspire Triton or Triton 2 (with RTA system)
Kayfun v4 (clone)
Erlkonigin (clone)

Among those, which one you think will be a good choice for me?
Also, please let me know if I have missed something great or included any junk.

Thanks.

Edit:
I am a flavor chaser and prefer mouth to lung vaping.
But I don't mind a very open draw.

If you are a flavor chaser here are my favorites from. First -x

Goblin Mini

Orchid. I force mine in single coil by screwing the barrel almost all the way down after installing the wick leaving the barrel up about 1/10 of an inch on the side without s coil really cram a tiny amount of cotton in the unused juice wells with toothpick or pick them screw the bsrrell the rest of the way and assemble the tank. My Orchid doesn't flood even the RTA lying down.

Kayfun Nano

Tai Fun GT

Kayfun v4

Aqua V2

Billow V2 Nano

Silverplay Nano I made with Kayfun Nano chimney and Bell cap.
 

KennyJo

Full Member
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Jan 18, 2015
58
20
Philadelphia, PA
Just edited my original post.

I will set the "extra rba section/system" right now as there are already a lot of choices for me...

I do like the Bellus (I like its look better than Goblin Mini), but I am not a fan of building single coil in a deck designed for dual coil (even though they have a unit blocking one of the air hole)...

Cthulhu v2 and HCigar HC Plus seem to be the better choices as they have a single coil build deck, but information is lacking at this moment...
 

ccwaters

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Two_Bears

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Jul 4, 2015
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Northern Arizona
Just edited my original post.

I will set the "extra rba section/system" right now as there are already a lot of choices for me...

I do like the Bellus (I like its look better than Goblin Mini), but I am not a fan of building single coil in a deck designed for dual coil (even though they have a unit blocking one of the air hole)...

Cthulhu v2 and HCigar HC Plus seem to be the better choices as they have a single coil build deck, but information is lacking at this moment...

If you prefer a single coil there is several versions of the Kayfun. And Taifun series too.

I use the Kayfun Lite Plus base with barrel, Nano chimney, and Bell cap.
 

Zombo

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ECF Veteran
Dec 5, 2013
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919
Philadelphia, PA, USA
I'm a mouth-to-lung flavor vaper, and for me, my year old Lemo Drops absolutely destroy all the other tanks I own. As an added bonus, they have been hassle-free and never once leaked or gave me a problem with dry hits..

My other tanks are:
Fogger V5
Subtank Mini (V1)
Uwell Crown
Aromamizer w/ V-deck

I still sometimes use the Crown, but the flavor is a tad muted and I still occasionally get dry hits.

I sometimes use the Aromamizer, but it's too good at what it's designed to do...make clouds through an airy, direct lung draw. Not really my thing, and it was making me use 20ml+ per day! The flavor is still no where near the LD.

I only vape one flavor, and it has subtlety and complexity that really shines on my LD...every note comes through distinctly...it makes my tongue literally tingle with flavor. YMMM.
 

rhelton

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Aug 15, 2014
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spokane, wa
I like mouth/lung hits and the kayfun 4 tobeco with subohm kit and a homemade copper spring is my daily and no leaks.

Just an FYI it doesn't really have "airflow control" it's more for top filing and not having the deck flood aka juice control.
How is the subohm kit I forgot they had those available.
 
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