What Vaping Equipment Do I Need | Vape Tanks
Your tank houses both your coil and liquid for your vape. There are many different styles of tank available today, including MTL (Mouth to Lung) and DTL (Direct to Lung), as well as rebuildables (RDAs and RDTAs). So, how does a tank work? Your tank connects to your mod/battery by screwing into the device via a 5/10 connector. This allows the mod/battery you are using to send power to the coil, heating the cotton, and vaporising the liquid it holds. This process creates the vapour that you inhale. Here, we’ll explore the various different types of tanks available.
For new vapers, we would recommend going with either a sub-ohm or MTL tank. These are a perfect introduction to vaping, as they are simple to set up and use while having little maintenance. RDAs, RTAs and RDTAs are all rebuildables, meaning you build your own coils for them (as opposed to sub-ohm and MTL tanks having pre-built disposable coils). These require a bit more knowledge and practice to use safely, and are more intended for experienced vapers.
Sub Ohm / MTL Tanks
Generally, despite the varying sizes and designs, sub-ohm and MTL tanks are made up of the same components.
These are:
- A base section - This is the bottom section of your tank, where usually it will screw into your mod/battery.
- Coil - This usually screws into the base section of your tank, with the exception of some tanks that use a ‘push fit’ system, such as the ‘Falcon 2’ or ‘Geekvape Zeus’. These coils are fitted simply by pushing them into the centre section.
- Glass or plastic tank section - This, usually removable part of your tank, is the part that keeps your liquid in, and provides liquid to the cotton inside the coil.
- Chimney / top section - The top part of your vape is where your coil connects to the chimney, which is what allows air and vapour to pass through the tank as you inhale. Most tanks also fill with liquid through a fill hole in the top section.
- Tip / Mouthpiece - This is what you inhale through when using your vape. Sometimes called a drip tip, the mouthpiece can come in various sizes depending on what size you prefer. Some find a thinner mouthpiece (such as on the Aspire Nautilus Nano Tank) is more comfortable than a wider, more open mouthpiece.
All tanks we stock are sold as TPD compliant, which means none exceed a capacity of 2ml.
The key difference between Sub Ohm and MTL tanks are the coil resistances and airflow. Sub-ohm tanks, as the name suggests, run coils below 1.0ohm. These tanks are perfect for DTL (direct inhale), as they run at much higher wattages and have much more airflow. Ideal for a high VG, low nicotine e-liquid.
MTL tanks tend to use higher Ohm rated coils, and have a much more restricted airflow. These are intended for a lower VG liquid, and are perfect for higher nicotine concentrations.
RDAs
RDA stands for ‘Rebuildable Dripping Atomiser’. Unlike a traditional tank that houses your coil and liquid together, an RDA does not store any liquid. Instead, you build your coil onto the bottom section of the RDA (this is called the ‘Deck’), and the liquid is ‘dripped’ directly onto the cotton (or wick). This is why they are also commonly referred to as a ‘Dripper’.
RDAs have their pros and cons. Dripping allows you to get an incredibly intense flavour, and huge vapour production. They also tend to run at higher wattages compared to most tanks, meaning the vapour is much warmer. The downside to this of course, is that they need frequent dripping of e-liquid to avoid a dry hit.
There also is a lot of practice involved with building them. From varying wire types, gauges and resistances. With this and varying different styles of deck to choose from (single/dual post, clamp style etc), RDAs are definitely intended for the pro vaper, and someone who doesn’t mind taking their time getting to know and maintaining their kit.
RTA
RTA stands for ‘Rebuildable Tank Atomiser’. Similar to RDAs, you build your own coils onto the deck. The difference here is that you have a tank section that holds your liquid, rather than having to drip it onto the wick/cotton. The benefit to this is that you can build your own coils to vape exactly as you like without the need to constantly drip liquid onto your cotton/wick manually.
RDTAs
RDTA stands for ‘Rebuildable Dripping Tank Atomiser’, and in some ways is almost a hybrid between an RDA and an RTA. In this case, you still build your coil onto the deck and run wick down to the e-liquid stored below in a tank section.
Coils
The coil is the most important part of any vape. It’s the part of the device that heats up to create the vapour you inhale, so looking after it is important. Generally, we recommend changing your coil every 5 days. But again, this is subjective. Some people find their coils last less than this, some find their coil can last a week or so before changing. As a general rule of thumb, once you start losing flavour in your vape, or it starts to taste burnt, it’s time to change your coil. It all depends on what liquid you use, how you vape and how often.
