Glass Tank – What is it in Vaping?

Definition

A Glass Tank is the transparent reservoir section of a vape atomiser that holds e-liquid until it is wicked to the coil. Unlike plastic pods or polycarbonate tubes, a glass tank is made from heat-resistant borosilicate glass, allowing vapers to monitor juice levels while resisting cracking from citrus, menthol or cinnamon flavours. Its purpose is to provide a chemically inert, flavour-neutral chamber that delivers consistent saturation to the coil without leaching or clouding, making it the preferred choice for sub-ohm and rebuildable tanks across Australia.

Technical Details

Glass tanks are precision-moulded from 1.5–3 mm thick borosilicate or pyrex glass, rated to withstand temperatures above 300 °C and sudden thermal shock. Standard capacities range from 2 ml (TPD-compliant) to 5 ml (bubble glass) and 8 ml (fatboy extensions). They interface with the atomiser base via top and bottom silicone or nitrile O-rings—typically 16–25 mm ID—to create a vacuum seal that prevents gurgling or flooding. Variations include straight cylinder, bulbous bubble and ultem-caged sleeves for impact protection. Some rebuildable Genesis atomizers use a glass tank section surrounded by stainless-steel rails, allowing top-fed wicking while maintaining visibility.

Usage & Tips

• Check for hairline cracks when swapping coils; even a micro-fracture will leak juice into the airflow.
• Avoid overtightening the tank on your mod—hand-snug is enough to compress the O-rings without stressing the glass.
• If you drop your device, inspect the glass under light; hairline cracks can appear hours later and cause gunk build-up as juice seeps.
• Clean the tank weekly with warm water and a drop of dish detergent; rinse thoroughly to remove sweetener residue that can cloud the glass.
• When travelling, use a silicone or leather tank band to absorb impact and comply with Aussie cabin-pressure rules—half-empty tanks equalise better than full ones.

History & Context

Glass tanks emerged in 2013 when clearomisers graduated from polycarbonate to pyrex, solving the “tank cracker” phenomenon caused by acidic e-liquids. Australian vapers quickly adopted glass for its flavour purity, leading to the bubble-glass boom of 2017 that doubled capacity while staying within the 25 mm diameter popular on dual-battery mods.