Hello, I too was having a bit of trouble getting the tank going. Thru alot of trial and error I finally did it. I got a lot of good advise here, and still had the same thing you described. I tried 1, 2 holes, slotting etc. I made quite a few mistakes as in placing the holes/slots too low, still had dry burns. I decided to go to a local shop and see if hands on help might help me. She took the tank and placed an boge stainless steel carto with 2 two holes that she punched for me. She did mention that the phiniac tank was the tightest tank she'd ever dealt with. She said that I had it flooded even though to the eye it seemed as the carto was dry. She got it going and I was so happy, bought some juice and cartos, mostly because she spent so much time for one carto sale I felt I need to get something more. It was working perfectly until I put it down for a while. I picked it up and again, I needed to pull so much to get a draw and fiddle with it and tap it to get bubbles going etc. Thats when her words rang thru my head, "this is the tightest tank, Ive ever dealt with" So I got an Idea. On the forum I remember that some people make a third hole higher near the top o ring for aeriation. So I pulled the carto out and slipped in another with 2 holes near bottom and one on top. WOW what a difference. It has been going fantastically for 2 days now. I can put it down for and hour , pick it up and take a draw. I believe that the Phiniacs are a very different beast. They are not only known for beauty but extreme function. It takes over 6lbs of pressure to get the tank to come off the carto/battery, so they create an amazing vacuum within. Combine this with med to thick juice and thats why I had problems. I hope this helps. I cant believe that after only being a vaporer for only 3 weeks that I can now share some of my experience. This has been a such a wonderful experience. I had such an easy time when I first got me KGO. But when I got the tank, I thought , oh no, why didnt I leave well enough alone. Im glad I stuck with it and I know you will too. By the way I tried the same on a Smoke tech DCT tank, and it flooded, what a mess, the smoke tech tanks come easily apart and doesnt have any vacuum to it. Thats why combined with the smoke tech carto which has less dense filler , thats why they only put one tiny hole and it works for that tank.