new to tanks - ease my noobish mind?

[erictho]

i just received my very first tank. it's a smoktech dcc 4ml tank.
i usually rotate between two or three cartos (no tank), and only end up filling them once and very rarely twice a day. they seem to put out a decent vape this way, and i don't taste burning. that's a little contrary to what i've noticed are experiences with cartos, and i totally don't fill after 30 puffs or whatever.
i know that the tank is always saturating the carto, and it gives a freshly filled vape every time.
so i guess my question is, can i expect to go through more liquid with a tank rather than how i previously maintained my regular cartos?
i don't notice any leaking from the tank, and i'm obsessively running my finger around the bottom plug in order to monitor any potential leaks. yesterday i was vaping exclusively with my tank. i was using it exclusively in order to determine if the prepunched cartos were really punched with a hole large enough to feed the carto (it seems so small!).
i've noticed some things about the articulated tank. the area near the bottom plug, yet above the o-ring seems to have some liquid trapped between the plug and the wall of the tank. the bottom plug also seems a little darker/glossier than the top, even though it doesn't smell like liquid, and when i run my finger along the bottom no wetness is perceived.
when i filled my tank, i didn't do it exactly according to the instructions. i articulated the bottom plug with the tank, and i slid my carto in place all the way. i had the top plug removed. i filled the carto as per normal, then shimmied the bottle tip in between the carto and the wall of the tank and filled about halfway while tilting at a 45 degree angle. i then replaced the top plug, rather than sliding the carto down, filling the tank, and pushing it up. there is about a few mm of exposed carto near the top. i don't find the draw difficult though. does the carto not sit flush to the top plug on the 4 ml version of this tank?
so my question is, does it sound like i'm experiencing leaking? does my variation in the fill affect anything? or should i just get used to the fact i'm finally using enough liquid in my carto and just enjoy the vape? i've dealt with leaky ce3s before, and even at the rate the liquid is going in my tank you would think that leaking would be more obvious.

 

[trepalium]

i just received my very first tank. it's a smoktech dcc 4ml tank.
i usually rotate between two or three cartos (no tank), and only end up filling them once and very rarely twice a day. they seem to put out a decent vape this way, and i don't taste burning. that's a little contrary to what i've noticed are experiences with cartos, and i totally don't fill after 30 puffs or whatever.
i know that the tank is always saturating the carto, and it gives a freshly filled vape every time.
so i guess my question is, can i expect to go through more liquid with a tank rather than how i previously maintained my regular cartos?
i don't notice any leaking from the tank, and i'm obsessively running my finger around the bottom plug in order to monitor any potential leaks. yesterday i was vaping exclusively with my tank. i was using it exclusively in order to determine if the prepunched cartos were really punched with a hole large enough to feed the carto (it seems so small!).
i've noticed some things about the articulated tank. the area near the bottom plug, yet above the o-ring seems to have some liquid trapped between the plug and the wall of the tank. the bottom plug also seems a little darker/glossier than the top, even though it doesn't smell like liquid, and when i run my finger along the bottom no wetness is perceived.
when i filled my tank, i didn't do it exactly according to the instructions. i articulated the bottom plug with the tank, and i slid my carto in place all the way. i had the top plug removed. i filled the carto as per normal, then shimmied the bottle tip in between the carto and the wall of the tank and filled about halfway while tilting at a 45 degree angle. i then replaced the top plug, rather than sliding the carto down, filling the tank, and pushing it up. there is about a few mm of exposed carto near the top. i don't find the draw difficult though. does the carto not sit flush to the top plug on the 4 ml version of this tank?
so my question is, does it sound like i'm experiencing leaking? does my variation in the fill affect anything? or should i just get used to the fact i'm finally using enough liquid in my carto and just enjoy the vape? i've dealt with leaky ce3s before, and even at the rate the liquid is going in my tank you would think that leaking would be more obvious.

The size of the hole only really comes into issue when you're running higher viscosity e-liquids. I don't know about your cartos for your tank, but the new ones seem to have three small holes punched now instead of the troublesome 1.

My question about your tank liquid use, do you notice any gurgling? About at what rate does your tank use liquid? How many hours of vaping would you say you are getting out of the tank before you refill?

As for the filling of the tank, I wouldn't recomend doing that way. Putting on the top cap afterwards can cause air pressure inside the tank that can lead to flooding the carto. I place my carto in the bottom, bring it up through the top cap. Fill the carto. I think pull it back out of the top cap, move it to the side and ever so slightly stick the tip of my e-liquid bottle positioned to the side of the inside of the top ring of the top cap and fill while tipping the tank at an angle. As I get towards the top of the tank I level out the tank so that it's upright. After I'm finished filling, I re-position the carto to line up with the hole in the top cap and push it back in.

Just like with air pressure and the top cap, when you push the carto back through the hole of the top cap, do not put your finger over the bottom hole on the carto. If you have the flanges, use those to push/pull with. If not, try your best to grip the threads.

Ever since filling this way I've experience no flooding, no leaking, etc. With my smoke tech tanks. I have a 6ml and two 3ml.

 

[sandscards]

trepalium, that is how I fill and refill my dual coil tanks. I haven't had any problems with flooding or dry cartos yet utlizing the small hole Smoktech cartos but I use 70/30 juice. They are good little tanks. I have been using my three for over two months now with no problem. I keep waiting to tear an oring when sliding the cartos back in but so far so good.

You might go through a little more liquid since it is saturated all the time but not so much to notice I wouldn't think. Liquid above the oring on the bottom plus sounds normal, as long as it stays above the oring. That is where they seal. Sounds like you will notice if they leak but I haven't had one drop yet. Good luck and, as you said, just enjoy the vape.

 

[trepalium]

trepalium, that is how I fill and refill my dual coil tanks. I haven't had any problems with flooding or dry cartos yet utlizing the small hole Smoktech cartos but I use 70/30 juice. They are good little tanks. I have been using my three for over two months now with no problem. I keep waiting to tear an oring when sliding the cartos back in but so far so good.

You might go through a little more liquid since it is saturated all the time but not so much to notice I wouldn't think. Liquid above the oring on the bottom plus sounds normal, as long as it stays above the oring. That is where they seal. Sounds like you will notice if they leak but I haven't had one drop yet. Good luck and, as you said, just enjoy the vape.

I've had a couple flooded cartos here and there with my 6ml. The first time I managed to flood it was using the top cap fill method. Second time was pushing the bottom in with my finger over the hole.

You aren't going to flood it every time or anything, but it increases your risk. It won't destroy the tank or anything. You may just need to let the carto chill for a little bit.

 

[erictho]

thanks for the replies!
so i filled my 4ml tank about halfway yesterday and was vaping pretty continuously for 8 hrs. at about the six hour mark i was thinking it needed to be topped off. i just switched to 12 mg from 16 mg and i was enjoying the effect a lot more.
to be honest i can't watch videos on this computer, and i only found a picture and text guide after i had filled it. when i filled it by placing the top plug on last i did notice some leaking, although i did have the bottom secured. i was supporting the bottom flanges, while being pretty gentle and supportive about placing the top cap. after i had put everything in its place it's not like any issues were readily apparent.
in the future, i'll be sure to do it the proper way but i have not experienced any flooding. i toyed with the idea of filling by just pulling the carto down, but i wasn't sure about pushing the carto upwards while the tank was full of liquid. the way i reasoned it in the absence of a bit more info, it seemed like a dicey idea.
the cartos i ordered do only have one hole, but it seems to be fairly sizeable. i saw my first smoktech dct in december and as far as i recall, the punched hole on that carto was little more than a pinprick. often i will see little air bubbles coming from the punched hole on the carto i'm using and i figure it's doing what it's supposed to do. i will admit i have been hauling on it, and really enjoy it.
thanks again.

 

[trepalium]

thanks for the replies!
so i filled my 4ml tank about halfway yesterday and was vaping pretty continuously for 8 hrs. at about the six hour mark i was thinking it needed to be topped off. i just switched to 12 mg from 16 mg and i was enjoying the effect a lot more.
to be honest i can't watch videos on this computer, and i only found a picture and text guide after i had filled it. when i filled it by placing the top plug on last i did notice some leaking, although i did have the bottom secured. i was supporting the bottom flanges, while being pretty gentle and supportive about placing the top cap. after i had put everything in its place it's not like any issues were readily apparent.
in the future, i'll be sure to do it the proper way but i have not experienced any flooding. i toyed with the idea of filling by just pulling the carto down, but i wasn't sure about pushing the carto upwards while the tank was full of liquid. the way i reasoned it in the absence of a bit more info, it seemed like a dicey idea.
the cartos i ordered do only have one hole, but it seems to be fairly sizeable. i saw my first smoktech dct in december and as far as i recall, the punched hole on that carto was little more than a pinprick. often i will see little air bubbles coming from the punched hole on the carto i'm using and i figure it's doing what it's supposed to do.
thanks again.

6 hours on a 4ml tank with only needing a top off is pretty common. As for my instructions. As i said in my previous reply, it won't flood every time. It just increases your risk that it will.

It's funny that the cartos you have only have the one hole still. Where are you ordering from? I get my dual coil and my single coil tank replacement cartos from Mad Vapes and they have had the three holes every time I ordered. If you are getting bubbles and not noticing any burning of the carto, I don't think you'll have a problem. I never did when I used ones with the one hole. Bubbles is always a good sign

 

[sandscards]

I got my dual coils from hooser ecig and they have both the three hole and one hole available as options. They also have a variety of dual coil ohms as well as some single coils that are flanged and work well. I have had great service from those guys for four or five orders now and pretty good pricing.

 

[trepalium]

I got my dual coils from hooser ecig and they have both the three hole and one hole available as options. They also have a variety of dual coil ohms as well as some single coils that are flanged and work well. I have had great service from those guys for four or five orders now and pretty good pricing.

Really what are you paying per carto? I'm just curious for my own sake

 

[erictho]

i get pretty much all my hardware from canvape. i don't want to push my luck with the whole customs thing. though i've been thinking about it for a few things.

 

[sandscards]

The dual coils punched are listed at $1.99 or $1.84 for 25 to 50. The single coil puched are $.40 more. Also a discount for quantity above 50 to $1.69. Orders over $55.00 ship free via Priority Mail. I always manage to hit the free shipping for some reason but it stocks me up for a little while. I think they are supposed to add a 3 ohm single coil to their list shortly that I will probably try for some higher voltage vaping through the tank. I haven't had a dud or a bad carto yet. Always a first time but so far so good.

 

[takirb]

I'm new to tanks too, been using mine since Saturday. I ordered the submarine tank from Mom and Pop's Vapor Shop due to ease of refill. I'm very paranoid about having leaks, and the review i watched showed it to be one of the strongest gripping tanks so far. Plus, it's got a screw-hole on the side to ease the refilling. My train of thought was - less times i have to maneuver those o-rings the better. I think i ran into a problem once with it having a bad vacuum effect, in which i just removed the side screw hole and vaped normally for a couple hits, then replaced the screw. Done deal. Just keep that in mind if you start getting "too" paranoid about leaks and such

I punch my own cartos using a saddle valve kit from lowe's ($6). Takes the guesswork out of me getting 1 hole that might be too small, or 3 holes being too much, etc. I split the difference, and punch 1 large hole and 1 small one LOL Doing it that way, I can take advantage of any sales/promotions going on with any vendor selling my preferred cartos in packs, not just looking for best priced pre-punched individual cartos.

 

[erictho]

update: the time came today to fill my tank (which i've still been using pretty exclusively). i filled it the way it is intended and the sealing issues that had been gnawing at me have remedied themselves. i've just never really gone through liquid this rapidly.
damn you, delicious new flavors. i thought i had found an all day vape before, but i think i'm even closer with this amaretto stone sour.