Tanks & Rebuildables
A tank is the part of your setup that holds the e-liquid, houses the coil and decides how air moves across it. This collection holds 90 tanks and rebuildable atomisers covering mouth to lung tanks, sub ohm tanks, RTAs, RDAs, RDTAs and pod RBA decks, from brands including Wotofo, Innokin, Smok, Freemax, Geek Vape, Vaperz Cloud, Suicide Mods and Asmodus. Prices currently start under £1 for a conversion cap and run to around £20 for a full tank.
The division that really matters is between stock coil tanks and rebuildables. A stock coil tank takes a factory made coil head that you screw in and replace once it dies. A rebuildable takes wire and cotton that you install yourself, which costs far less to run and gives you complete control over the build. Almost everything here fits a standard 510 threaded connection.
Stock coil tanks
Mouth to lung tanks
An MTL tank has a narrow bore, tight airflow and takes coils rated above 1.0 ohm. The draw is restricted so you pull vapour into your mouth before inhaling it, which is the closest sensation to a cigarette. These tanks run at low wattage and sip liquid slowly, so they pair with 50/50 liquids and nicotine salts. The Innokin Zenith and Zlide families in this collection are MTL and restricted direct to lung designs.
Sub ohm tanks
A sub ohm tank takes coils below 1.0 ohm, opens the airflow wide and runs at higher wattage to produce dense vapour on a direct to lung draw. Mesh coils dominate this category now, because a flat mesh strip heats evenly across its whole surface and gives noticeably better flavour than round wire at the same resistance. The Smok TFV series and the Freemax Fireluke 2 are typical sub ohm designs.
Rebuildable atomisers
RDA
A rebuildable dripping atomiser has a build deck with no tank section at all. You drip liquid straight onto the cotton every few puffs. RDAs give the most direct flavour and the most airflow of any format, which is why they remain the choice for builders and cloud chasers. Single coil decks are simpler to wick. Dual coil decks such as the Wotofo Recurve Dual and the Vaperz Cloud Temple 28 produce more vapour at higher power.
RTA
A rebuildable tank atomiser combines a build deck with a liquid reservoir, so you get the flavour of a hand built coil without dripping every few puffs. Wicking is the real skill. Too much cotton in the juice channels chokes the flow and gives dry hits. Too little floods the deck and leaks. The Wotofo Profile M, COG MTL and Serpent Elevate cover mesh, mouth to lung and single coil approaches respectively.
RDTA and pod RBA decks
An RDTA sits between the two formats, with the deck mounted above a liquid reservoir that feeds the cotton by gravity. RBA decks are a different proposition again. They are small rebuildable inserts that replace the stock coil inside a specific pod device, such as the Geek Vape Aegis Boost RBA pod. They let you build for a pod kit without buying a mod and a full sized atomiser.
Fitment and sizing
Three numbers decide whether a tank suits your mod. Thread type is almost always 510 on current hardware. Diameter is usually 22mm, 24mm or 25mm. A tank wider than the top plate of your mod will overhang the edges. Height plus the drip tip determines whether the finished setup feels balanced in the hand. Check the mod's maximum wattage against the coil range printed on the tank as well.
Capacity and the 2ml rule
UK regulations limit any vape tank intended for nicotine containing e-liquid to 2ml capacity. That is why a tank sold in the UK ships with a smaller glass than the same model sold in other markets. Rebuildables are covered by the same rule. If you are replacing a cracked glass section, order the part made for your exact model, because heights and diameters vary even within one brand's line up.
Building and wicking basics
If rebuilding is new to you, start with a single coil RTA or RDA and a simple round wire build. Fit the coil, check the resistance on a mod that reads ohms, then pulse it gently and strum out any hot spots until it glows evenly from the centre outwards. Thread the cotton through, trim it so the legs just touch the base of the deck and fluff the ends so liquid can move through freely.
Never fire an unchecked build on an unregulated mechanical mod. A regulated mod reads the resistance and refuses builds that fall outside its safe range. Understand Ohm's law and battery current ratings before you go anywhere near a mech.
Delivery and support
UK delivery is free on orders over £20. If you are unsure whether a tank will clear the top of your mod or which coil family it takes, the team can check for you on 07827 210361 between 8.30am and 4.00pm.
Tank and rebuildable questions answered
What is the difference between a tank and a rebuildable?
A stock coil tank takes a factory made coil head that you screw in and throw away once it burns out. A rebuildable has a build deck where you install your own wire and cotton. Rebuildables cost far less to run and give more control over flavour and airflow. The trade off is that you build and wick the coil yourself.
Will any tank fit my mod?
Almost every tank and mod made in the last decade uses a 510 threaded connection, so the fitting itself is standard. What varies is diameter. A 25mm tank on a 22mm mod will overhang the edges. Check the tank diameter against the top plate of your mod and check that your mod can supply the wattage the coil needs.
What is the difference between an RDA, an RTA and an RDTA?
An RDA has a build deck with no reservoir, so you drip liquid onto the cotton directly. An RTA combines a deck with a tank section that feeds the wicks. An RDTA mounts the deck above the reservoir so liquid feeds up into the cotton by gravity. RDAs give the most direct flavour while RTAs are more practical day to day.
Why are UK tanks limited to 2ml?
The Tobacco and Related Products Regulations cap the capacity of any vape tank intended for nicotine containing e-liquid at 2ml. The same rules limit nicotine e-liquid bottles to 10ml and nicotine strength to 20mg per ml. It is why a tank sold in the UK may ship with a smaller glass than the same model sold elsewhere.
Do I need a special mod for a rebuildable?
You need a regulated mod that displays coil resistance so you can confirm a build before firing it. Most modern box mods do this. Mechanical mods have no chipset and no safety cut off, so they should only be used by people who understand Ohm's law and battery current limits.
How often do I need to rewick an RTA or RDA?
Cotton usually needs replacing every three to seven days depending on the liquid. Sweet blends darken and stiffen cotton much faster than fruit or menthol. The coil itself can last for weeks if you dry burn and brush it gently between wicks, which is the main reason rebuildables are cheaper to run.
Which e-liquid should I use in a sub ohm tank?
A high VG shortfill at a low nicotine strength. Coils below 1.0 ohm vaporise liquid quickly, so a thin 50/50 will seep through the wicking and 20mg nicotine would be far too harsh at that power. Aim for a 70/30 blend at 0mg to 6mg once you have added a nicotine shot.