Some tank questions regarding lifespan and cleaning

[merriweather]

Hiya, I'm trying to upgrade my e-cig, and I think I've mostly decided on getting the eGo upgrade battery, but I have only just begun to look at tanks and I'm a little lost....

I was looking at these to have as backup workhorse tanks: 3ml Triple V Polypro Tank
but how does one take care of them? When one gets too old, can you replace parts, or do you just chuck the whole thing?

I'd also like to find a nice aesthetic tank that I can in theory keep indefinitely, are there tanks that are good for that where you can replace aging parts?

How often do you need to clean tanks?
If in theory I only used on juice and never switched flavors, how often should I empty and clean it?


I'd prefer a smaller tank, so nothing over 4ml, and something that I can easily keep in good condition.
I used and abused my eGo attys and I've had enough burnt taste for the rest of my life
I don't mind spending a bit more if the quality pays off, and I don't mind replacing parts if that makes something better.

Thanks so much!! <3

 

[eHuman]

I have heard of bad reviews for those type of tanks (grommets for end caps tend to leak more often). But the tank can be washed out if changing juices and the cartomiser in the center (your tank does not include one btw) can be replaced for $2.

Here's a link to a DCT (dual coil tank) that can accept single or dual coil replacement attys (one comes with initial purchase).
5 mL Dual Coil Tank Cartomizer, Blue
5 mil tank version $8.99 drip tip and carto included.

Dual Coil 510 Tank Cartomizer, 3.5ml, Blue
3.5 mil tank version $7.99 drip tip and carto included.

Tank replacement Carto examples (come with 1, 2 or 3 holes pre-punched for fluid wicking):
Single coil versions $1.79, dual coil versions @2.29 each
Tank Replacement Single Coil Dual Punched Cartomizers, 2.0 ohms
Tank Replacement Dual Coil Cartomizers, 2.0 Ohms, Single Hole
Madvapes carries a good variety of coil Ω ratings for the tank replacement carts.

I am 8 days on the original tank/cart and draw, vapor production and flavor are the same as new (going through 7 mils a day vaping at 10watts). Can't tel you how long the carts will last but the tank should last many carts before the o-rings fail (cheap part to replace or buy new tank).

EDIT:BTW these are by no means hi end gear, but worth the investment. Get a few and you can have your favorite flavors ready and changed out in seconds.

 

[merriweather]

Haha okay I think I need to step back a little further to learn how tanks work.
So a tank is the tank itself + an internal and exchangeable cartomizer?

What is the difference between a single and dual coil tank? Is the ego-c strong enough for that?

How do I figure out how many holes I want? I've seen other posts about people suggesting extra holes or plugging holes need be, but I don't understand why.
Sorry I'm so newb D: but I'm trying to fix it!

 

[Baditude]

Hiya, I'm trying to upgrade my e-cig, and I think I've mostly decided on getting the eGo upgrade battery, but I have only just begun to look at tanks and I'm a little lost....

I was looking at these to have as backup workhorse tanks: 3ml Triple V Polypro Tank
but how does one take care of them? When one gets too old, can you replace parts, or do you just chuck the whole thing?

I'd also like to find a nice aesthetic tank that I can in theory keep indefinitely, are there tanks that are good for that where you can replace aging parts?

How often do you need to clean tanks?
If in theory I only used on juice and never switched flavors, how often should I empty and clean it?


I'd prefer a smaller tank, so nothing over 4ml, and something that I can easily keep in good condition.
I used and abused my eGo attys and I've had enough burnt taste for the rest of my life
I don't mind spending a bit more if the quality pays off, and I don't mind replacing parts if that makes something better.

I don't recommend grommet tanks in general. They are difficult to work with generally speaking. The better designed tanks replace the grommets with end caps.

Your selection in cartotanks is going to be limited because of the smaller, slimmer battery of the eGo's. If you want higher quality that will last with some care, I'd recommend going with a slim pyrex tank with endcaps.

The only tank manufacturer that I am aware of that makes a slimmer pyrex glass tank is IBTanked - Get Tanked With Us!.

You can get a high quality tank from them starting at $20. The glass tube and end caps are ordered separately from the website. The slim tanks (19mm diameter) are offered in two lengths: standard (1.5ml capacity that takes a 35mm carto) and XL (2ml capacity that takes a 45mm carto). Caps are available in either acrylic or stainless steel. If you use any juices like cinnamon or citris flavored, get the stainless steel, as those flavors can melt or crack some plastics.

Cartomizers and drip tip mouthpieces are offered on the site as well for a one-stop shop type of experience. Fast delivery and customer service is tops. I have seven of these tanks, each with its own flavor.

I recommend using a SINGLE coil cartomizer of 2.0 ohm for your eGo battery. Dual coils add additional drain on your battery. Pre-punched (or laser drilled) holes in the carto makes things more simple for a beginner.

One or two holes are plenty for the majority of e-juices. It is through these holes that the juice in the tank can reach the wicking material in the cartomizer. Sucking on the mouthpiece creates a vacumm in the tank, pulling juice from the tank into the cartomizer.



Cleaning these tanks is simple. Just clean with soap and water, rinse well and dry. A cartomizer generally lasts me about a week, which includes daily refills with juice into the tank. I clean the tanks with each carto change. I prefer using the laser-drilled cartos for ease of use and the consistancy they provide carto to carto. Punching your own cartos has a learning curve all its own.

 

[UncleChuck]

Merri,

I'm totally with bad here, stay away from grommet tanks. All the tank makers (well, most at least) moved away from that design. It really offers no benefit, it's just a holdover from when tanks first came around. Plus that tank you linked to has a little hole in the side of the tank with a plug. Do you want something like that? Tank filling is incredibly easy, seems like a bad idea to bring extra points of potential failure into the mix with hole and plugs.

Get something with endcaps, or even permanently attached ends, like the Artemas tanks, those also have the benefit of locking in both rotational and up-and-down movement.

Think of a carto-tank this way: the tank body (tube and caps) is like a car's chassis. The carto inside the tank is like a car's engine. The performance you get from your tank will depend solely on the carto you use. Use a crappy carto, you'll g a crappy hit. Use a good carto get good performance.

There also isn't much to do in terms of maintaining carto-tanks. There is no need to clean them unless you want to change flavors (to avoid flavor overlap) or if the juice in your tank is getting really dark and thick from repeating fills. Over time the juice tends to thicken up and darken, and taste kind of funky, so washing at this point is a good idea. Takes awhile for this to happen with most juices, luckily. Really, you don't even have to wash it at this point if you don't want to, just empty out the yucky juice.

The only part that might need to be replaced is the O-rings. Inserting a carto into the carto tank over and over can cause the edge of the carto to cut up the o-rings, which could result in leaking eventually.

To remedy this, it's a good idea to use a tank filler tool like this:

Anodized DCT Refilling Drip Tip, Black

This device plugs into your carto in place of a drip tip. If you put this on your arto before inserting into a tank, the smooth gradual slope of this tool will gently compress the o-rings to fit around the carto, instead of just pushing a slightly sharrp edge of a carto into them. Then when the carto is inserted, this tool also makes filling easy. Leave the carto far enough down so that there is a gap between the filler tool and the inside wall of the end-caps. Then just stream your juice down the outside of the filler tool, and it will be guided into the tank. Then push the carto up all the way, remove the filler tool, and pop your drip tip on there. Fun vaping times ensue.

Filling can obviously be done without this tool, but it just allows you to more easily fill, as well as getting the tank fuller without spilling extra juice inside the carto.

 

[tnt56]

Another agree with Baditude said. I'm up to 10 tanks total and once you learn just a few simple tricks, I prefer them over my nova's and I got 10 nova's also. Just like my carto/tanks.

 

[merriweather]

Okay thanks everyone, your advice led me to finally put in an order... at ibtanked!
I'm excited, this will be the first tank that will be mine and not me just admiring the ones of my friends.

 

[The Ocelot]

Hi! Another vote for IBTanked here - although I do like the polypro one I have from Valley View Vapes. The grommets are a pain, but only when you have to change cartos. I have the polypro in rotation with my IBTanks, because the price is great and they are super easy to fill.

I use the "Slap Yo' Mama" tool to fill/change cartos on my IBTanks and highly recommend it.