Tank Help For a Noob

[madduxsports]

Hello guys currently using a provari with the 2.0 boge 510 cartos and am looking to pick up a tank but after reading some posts and looking at some videos I still want to make sure I have this down pat!


The first thing is what exactly do I need. I have boxes of black cartos, but do I need to buy the steel ones now?


Besides the glass tank, cartos, and a hole punch is there anything else I need to buy?


I assumed that with a tank I dont change the cartomizer any more often than I normally would without a tank but Ive read somewhere that carts in tanks last longer? Is that true and why would that matter?


I see a lot of sites offering 1.8 ohm, 2 ohm, 3 ohm, why does that initially matter if I am just going to have to change the carto out?


If I smoke multiple juices do I need more than 1 glass tank?


I smoke 100% vg juice I am 99% positive that the juice has nothing to do with performance or that I would need a special tank but just want to be sure before ordering.


Finally is there a difference between a tank and a clearomizer? Thought they were basically the same thing but maybe they are not.


Thanks in advance for any replies.


Sal

 

[Baditude]

Hello guys currently using a provari with the 2.0 boge 510 cartos and am looking to pick up a tank but after reading some posts and looking at some videos I still want to make sure I have this down pat!

Asking questions here will likely save you some frustration and result in a more satisfying experience by learning from more experienced vapors. Smart guy, Sal!

The first thing is what exactly do I need. I have boxes of black cartos, but do I need to buy the steel ones now?

You don't want to use the colored cartomizers. They have a sticker with adhesive which you don't want sitting in your juice in the tank. And the sticker is extremely difficult to remove. You're far better off in my opinion buying the plain stainless steel cartos, preferably with the laser-drilled holes.

It's not a bad idea to have some sort of carto punch tool available should you need one, but hand-punching cartomizers can deform the shape of the carto tube and put unnecessary wear and tear on the tank's o-rings, which the factory laser-drilled cartos won't. The choice is yours. Below is a picture of a tool punched carto; notice its shape has changed from circular to oval. I've also included a large list of online vendors that sell pre-punched single coil cartomizers in the below link:



http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/blogs/baditude/3295-2-sample-list-vendors-selling-pre-punched-single-coil-cartomizers-cartotanks.html

Besides the glass tank, cartos, and a hole punch is there anything else I need to buy?

I highly recommend getting a cartotank accessory tool such as the Slap Yo Moma. Not only will using one protect your tank's o-rings from carto damage, but will allow you to assemble and fill your tanks much faster and easier. I find this tool to be indespensible.

Slap Yo Moma tank accessory tool from Big Daddy Vapors

I assumed that with a tank I dont change the cartomizer any more often than I normally would without a tank but Ive read somewhere that carts in tanks last longer? Is that true and why would that matter?

A cartomizer will likely last longer in a cartotank because the tank allows the carto's contents to stay wet continuously. Cartos used solo can easily run dry because you can't see your juice level, and this can lead to burning the carto contents and decreasing its life. You can easily see the juice level in a tank and know when to refill it.

I see a lot of sites offering 1.8 ohm, 2 ohm, 3 ohm, why does that initially matter if I am just going to have to change the carto out?

You don't apparently understand the relationship of heating coil resistance and how it can affect your vaping experience. Which ohm or resistance heating coil you choose depends on your mechanical gear (single voltage or variable voltage) and your personal preference of a warmer vape or cooler vape. This is partially explained in the article on "Finding your Sweet Spot and Variable Voltage" in the above link on cartomizer vendors. I prefer a cooler vape and use a Provari, so I use 2.5 - 3.0 ohm cartomizers in my tanks.

If I smoke multiple juices do I need more than 1 glass tank?

Having more tanks allows having more flavors available at the same time. I have a dozen cartotanks running simultaneously, each with its own flavor. When I want to change flavors, I just remove the tank and replace it with another tank with a different flavor. I typically change flavors 3 - 4 times a day.

I smoke 100% vg juice I am 99% positive that the juice has nothing to do with performance or that I would need a special tank but just want to be sure before ordering.

Well, you are incorrect on this point. Juice has a lot to do with performance. 100% vg will be more thick than a 50/50 pg/vg mix, and may have some slower wicking issues than a thinner mix. Some 100% vg juices, and some darker flavors, will not work as efficiently in a cartotank, and therefore require more frequent replacement of the cartomizer.

Boba's Bounty is a good example of this type of juice. Not only is it extremely thick, it has a lot of particulate matter in the juice which does not get vaporized. As this matter accumulates in the filler material, it clogs it up and reduces the amount of juice getting to the coil. Adding more or larger holes to the cartomizer does little to rectify this issue.

You may need to do some "primer puffs" occassionally to keep your carto's wet with a thick juice. This is drawing on the tank without applying power to the battery device. You may find enlarging the carto holes helps wick the juice, too; but I don't recommend doing this unless you absolutely need to due to hand-punched cartos becoming excessively deformed into an oval shape.

Finally is there a difference between a tank and a clearomizer? Thought they were basically the same thing but maybe they are not.

They use two different juice wicking systems. A clearomizer uses a silica string to wick juice to the heating coil. A cartomizer uses polyfill to surround the heating coil. Both have a different vaping experience, and vapors will prefer one type over another. A tank is a general term describing any juice attachment and can mean a clearotank or a cartotank.

"Proper Terminology: Is it a carto, a tank, or what? A primer on juice delivery attachments." http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/blogs/baditude/3230-1-proper-terminology-carto-tank-what-primer-juice-delivery-attachments.html
____

The most important step in a cartotank setup is the initial proper priming of the cartomizer. How well you do this will determine how well that carto will perform for its life in the tank. Below is the method that I have used successfully in setting up my cartotanks:

http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/blogs/baditude/3710-5-cartomizer-tank-setup.html

I'll also suggest not wasting your money on a $15 or less cartotank. The cheaper tanks are often made with higher tolerences to quality control and may have poorly fitting end caps or o-rings which may cause the tank to leak juice or have issues with a cartomizer fitting properly. Also make sure the tank uses end caps and not silicone grommets.

You might get lucky with a cheaper tank, but then you might not. Get a higher quality tank out of the gate and your chances of having a better cartotank experience greatly improves. Often you get exactly what you pay for if you know what I mean. I recommend the below IBTanked tanks:

IBTanked pyrex tank review: http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/blogs/baditude/3318-3-ibtanked-pyrex-glass-tanks-review.html

You should be aware that some flavors can destroy the polycarbonate plastic tanks.
Something safe for cinnamon and citrus flavors: http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/blogs/baditude/3733-6-something-safe-cinnamon-citrus-flavors.html


I hope you find this information useful and that you enjoy your cartotanks as much as I do mine. Here's a link to my photo gallery of some of my tanks and vape setups:

http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/members/baditude-albums-pictures-my-setup.html

 

[BardicDruid]

If you want an easier way, go to SmokTek.com or HoosierEcig.com and get a Smok Tech DCT tank and the cartos for it. They are the easiest I've found to date.

 

[myxomatosis]

Kir Fanis has a tank that would look gorgeous on your Provari. As a bonus, the Prive has a fill hole so you refill without making a mess. I've tried a lot of tanks. As far as ease of use and looks, it's perfect.

prive-a-special-tank-for-provari

 

[myxomatosis]

PS, pick up that SYM tool Bad suggested, even if you get the Prive. That little tool is a lifesaver.

 

[madduxsports]

I am floored with the information Baditude, thank you so much! I think I obviously need to try both the tank and the clearomizer setup and see what works best for me.

The thickness of juices being someone that uses 100% VG is my main worry now. I've never really played around with the voltage too much when I switch juices and that is probably why Bobas bounty never tasted good in my provari when it did in my ego. Maybe I haven't experimented enough between the volts and different ohm cartos to figure out what works well. The johnsons creek red oak line was the same thing, hopefully with a tank and some playing around I can finally have a little variety in my juice selection.

I still dont understand how I find your Sweet Spot and Variable Voltage even after reading the article. If right now my provari is set at 4.2 and I use the 2.0 ohm boge 510s for my all day vape but it doesn't work well with bobas or the red oaks, how do I know which one of the heating coil resistance I should pick?

PS myxomatosis thanks for the link to that tank, it looks sharp as hell. Ill have to wait for them to restock but that looks like something I will be picking up as well.

 

[madduxsports]

After looking at that chart with a 2.0 ohm cart with a 4.2 volt I am actually just barley in the red at 8.8. So does this mean if I was to use a 3.0 ohm cart I could turn the volts up to 5.1 and it would give me a similar experience? And when you speak of cool vs hot, I assume this means I prefer a hotter vape, in that case which of the resistance heating coil should I then be picking?

 

[vapolizer]

Now That Baditude is a VAPER!!!!! Killer info!!!!! Vape On

 

[State O' Flux]

I am floored with the information Baditude, thank you so much!

Spend hours upon hours of research collecting book-loads of data, put it all together into a useable format that doesn't kill people's brains... and you too can "floor" new-to-carto-tank vapers on a fairly regular basis. Pretty easy-peasy... huh. ;-)

 

[Baditude]

After looking at that chart with a 2.0 ohm cart with a 4.2 volt I am actually just barley in the red at 8.8. So does this mean if I was to use a 3.0 ohm cart I could turn the volts up to 5.1 and it would give me a similar experience? And when you speak of cool vs hot, I assume this means I prefer a hotter vape, in that case which of the resistance heating coil should I then be picking?

You can use the chart and its recommendations. Many people just take the ohm number and add the number 2 to find a good starting place for a voltage setting. For example, a 2.0 ohm coil + "2" = 4 volts.

When I say that I prefer a cooler vape, it means from experience that a low ohm coil appears harsh to me, even if a low voltage is used. (Other vapors prefer the "Warmer vape" of a low resistance coil.)

A standard or high ohm coil does not give me that harshness. If you look at the Safe Vaping Power Chart, a 3.0 ohm coil's best operating range is 3.4 - 5.0 volts, which is pretty much all I need as I never vape at higher than 5 volts. A 1.8 ohm low resistance coil's best range will be 3.2 - 4.0 volts, so you in effect can only use half of a Provari's voltage range.

I set my "voltage to taste" to the particular flavor that I'm using. For instance, I find the fruit flavors provide the fullest flavor at 3.5 - 3.8 volts. Some of my other flavors like a coffee or tobacco flavor have more flavor at 4.0 - 4.5 volts. Experiment with each flavor you have to find which voltage is best for your flavors.