Tanks & Atomizers

Tank or rebuildable atomizer, what is the difference?

An atomizer is the tank that holds the e-liquid and the coil, screwed onto your box mod. There are two ways to fit it with a coil: ready-made, or built by hand.

The tank: a ready-made coil

A tank is filled with e-liquid and takes a coil that has already been built at the factory, which you screw in and change when the flavour fades. It is the simplest way to vape, with no building at all: just fill it, wait for the cotton to soak, and vape. The iTank 2 tank, the Zeus Sub Ohm tank and the Zenith tank work on this principle. You can find all 74 products on the Sub Ohm and MTL Tanks page: capacity, airflow, compatible coils and filling method are detailed model by model.

The rebuildable atomizer: hand-built coils

A rebuildable atomizer is sold without a coil: you install the resistance wire on the deck and the cotton around it, then set the value in ohms according to the build you made. The Zeus X RTA atomizer, the Profile RDTA atomizer and the Serpent BF RDA atomizer belong to this family, which is meant for vapers who are already comfortable with their kit. You can find all 14 products on the RTA, RDA and RDTA page: deck, resistance wire and cotton are detailed there.

How do I know which one to choose?

If you do not yet know how to build a coil, a tank remains the simplest choice: no fiddling, just a coil to replace from time to time, available in Coils. If you already know how to work with cotton and wire, a rebuildable atomizer offers more adjustments and costs less to run.

Find your atomizer by brand

Our 20 brands cover tanks and rebuildables alike. Here is an overview by brand, with the full detail of each range on the Sub Ohm and MTL Tanks and RTA, RDA and RDTA pages.

These are joined by the Centaurus Sub Ohm V2 Tank - Lost Vape, the dotTank Max V2 Tank - Dotmod, the GoTank Sub Ohm Solo Tank - Fumytech, the Precisio Sub Ohm Blaster Edition Tank - BD Vape, the Sith Atomizer - Vaperz Cloud and the Tauren Solo RDA V1.5 Dripper - ThunderHead Creations.

Frequently asked questions

How do I know whether my atomizer is a tank or a rebuildable?

A tank is recognised by its ready-made coil, sold separately and replaced whole when the flavour fades. A rebuildable atomizer is recognised by the bare deck inside, with no coil supplied: you install the wire and the cotton yourself. If in doubt, the product page always states the category.

Can I switch from a tank to a rebuildable on the same box mod?

Yes, a tank and a rebuildable atomizer use the same 510 connector on this page: both screw onto most box mods without an adapter. Only the diameter of the atomizer needs to be checked against that of your box mod.

Which draw should I choose, MTL or DL?

MTL draw (tight, like a cigarette) suits e-liquids with a high nicotine strength and former smokers who are just starting out. DL draw (airy, big vapour) suits low-strength e-liquids. In between, RDL offers an intermediate draw. Each atomizer on this page is designed for one of these three styles, sometimes adjustable from one mode to another depending on the model.

Which box mod should I pair with my atomizer?

Any box mod with a 510 connector will do, as long as its power and resistance range match those stated on the atomizer's product page. An MTL atomizer is happy with a compact, low-power box mod, while a DL atomizer needs more watts.

Where can I find the compatible coil or resistance wire?

For a tank, the replacement coil is found in Coils, specific to each model. For a rebuildable atomizer, you need cotton and wire, chosen according to the build you make on the deck.

See also

• Sub Ohm and MTL Tanks: the 74 products with a ready-made coil.
• RTA, RDA and RDTA: the 14 products you build yourself.
• Box Mods: the electronic part the atomizer screws onto.
• Coils: the replacement coils for tanks.
• Cotton and Wire: everything you need to build a rebuildable atomizer.
• Drip Tips: mouthpieces to change to suit your taste.