What is a vape tank?
Vape tanks – otherwise known as atomizers – are the part of your e-cigarette device that is tasked with holding your e-liquid. They contain the e-liquid-saturated wicking material that give your vape its flavour, as well as your device’s coil.When you fire your device, it will power up your coil, which will heat up and vapourise your e-juice. This will in turn produce the vapour that you inhale and blow clouds with. It is important to note that unless you specifically opt for a disposable atomizer, tanks are durable. On the other hand, it is your coils that will need replacing on a regular basis. You can purchase replacement coils for your atomizer here.
On most devices, a vape tank will sit on top of the battery, making them top-fill devices. They usually consist of glass cylinders, metallic top and bottom sections (usually stainless steel) and o-rings to reduce leakage. A stem runs through the centre, connecting the coil (bottom) to the mouthpiece – or drip tip – at the top.
The mm diameter of mouthpieces and ml capacities of tanks varies widely, depending on whether your tank is MTL or sub ohm. Undoubtedly, many vape tank designs exist, but each has the same purpose in mind. In short, you would not be able to vape without an atomizer!
What types of vape tanks are there?
If you are new to vaping, you could easily become overwhelmed by the wide range of vape atomizers available. With each brand offering copious different features, coming to a decision to meet your vaping style can be difficult. However, by dividing our tanks into four distinct categories, we hope that we can help. The categories available on the market, and that you can find here are:
Sub-Ohm Vape Tanks
Sub ohm tanks make up the vast majority of atomizers featured on vape mods and vape kits. They typically feature low-resistance coils, and wider chimneys and drip tips to support a higher airflow. Generally speaking, any tank containing a coil under 1 ohm is a sub-ohm tank, as the name suggests. Lower resistance coils heat up more quickly, as more power can be delivered from the device to the coil. As a result, more liquid can be vapourised, leading to extensive vapour production and a better flavour. Sub ohm tanks draw vapour directly into the lungs instead of reaching your mouth first. Due to this, they are better for direct-to-lung vape users.
Mouth to Lung (MTL) Vape Tanks
By contrast, MTL Tanks, or mouth-to-lung vape tanks, are more suitable for e-cig users who are familiar with conventional cigarettes. This is because an MTL vaper will first inhale into their mouth, and then into their lungs. Due to this similarity, these types of tanks are more popular with those who are using electronic cigarettes as a means of quitting smoking, whilst continuing to use a device that satisfies their cravings for nicotine.
Unlike sub ohm tanks, which feature coils below 1.0 ohm, MTL atomizers feature coils over 1.0 ohm. This is why they users refer to them as plus-ohm vape tanks.
Whilst Mouth-to-lung tanks are less resistant than their sub ohm counterparts, they often feature adjustable airflow systems, an airflow control slider that offers users more control over how much vapour they consume when inhaling. However, it is worth considering that even if this option is turned up to the maximum, the airflow will not be as high as that of a sub ohm tank.
So even if the tanks give you the ability to adjust it, the maximum airflow will usually be less than on sub ohm tanks, and the central chimneys and coils are usually thinner too.
RDAs
RDA stands for rebuildable dripping atomiser, and it is a tank that is more suitable for advanced users. The e-cig tank includes rebuildable atomiser coils that a user fills themselves by directly dripping e-liquid onto them. Due to their short length, the distance – separated by the RDA’s chimney – is much shorter than on other tanks. The result of this is a much more intense flavour, more accurate control, and higher levels of cloud production. Unlike RDTAs, RDAs do not include a tank to hold your e-juice, rather a vape juice well (simply a shallow space) beneath the atomiser coil, where you will drip your e-liquid. As a result, RDAs require constant refilling for each vaping session. RDA tanks are a common pairing of mechanical mods. It is also important to note that to use an RDA, it is essential to have a tool kit to hand.
RTAs / RDTAs
Unlike RDAs, RTAs (rebuildable tank atomisers) and RDTAs (rebuildable dripping tank atomisers) contain built-in reservoirs, or tanks which feed e-liquid directly to the coil.
If you are looking to achieve more customisation out of your vape tank but are hoping to do so while on the go, or while juggling other activities, we would recommend using an RTA or an RDTA over an RDA.