Rebuildable Tanks: RTA, RDA & RTDA

You may have tried an RTA and spent more time cleaning than vaping. Or your RDA tastes great, but only for five puffs before it’s dry again.

Honestly, rebuildable tanks (RT) can be brilliant for advanced vapers, but only if you know what you're working with. This blog will guide you through all three types of RTs, their pros and cons, and how you can choose the one that best suits your vaping style.

But first, let’s understand the basics of these vape tanks. 

Rebuildable tanks are atomisers that let you install your own coil and cotton. That means you don’t have to rely on pre-built or standard coil heads. Instead, you can wind your own coil and enjoy an awesome experience that is built around your unique preferences. These setups are popular among advanced vapers and anyone trying to fine-tune their vaping experience. The three different types of RTs are explained below.

Read our ultimate guide on tanks to explore standard tanks with pre-built coils.

RDA: Rebuildable Dripping Atomiser

An RDA doesn't have an e-liquid tank. You build the coil and wick, then drip e-juice directly onto the cotton from the top manually after a few puffs. The anatomy of RDAs is clearly depicted in the image below:

How it works:

Vape juice is dripped onto the coil and wick, which sit in a shallow juice well. Some RDAs can hold a few millilitres, but you’ll need to re-drip every 6–10 puffs.

Pros:

• Delivers a clean flavour due to direct contact
• Easier to change flavours quickly
• Simple design and fewer leak issues

Cons:

• Requires frequent dripping
• Not convenient for carrying around
• Juice can spill if overfilled

RDAs are great for testing e-liquids or for vapers who want thick vapour and don’t mind staying close to their vape gear.

An RTA tank is a rebuildable atomiser with a tank that holds e-liquid. It’s designed so you don’t have to add e-juice again and again onto the coil every few puffs.

How it works:

You build your coil on a deck (usually below or in the middle), then fill the tank section. The wick feeds the coil through juice channels using gravity or capillary action. Most RTAs hold between 2ml of vape juice.

Pros:

• Fewer refills due to tank capacity
• Offers a balance of flavour and convenience
• Can be used for MTL or DTL vaping, depending on the build

Cons:

• Can leak if not wicked correctly
• Airflow setups vary and need adjustment
• Some builds are advanced for beginners
• For RTAs, the wicking technique makes a big difference. Too much cotton and you get dry hits. Too little and it leaks.

An RDTA combines the features of both an RDA and an RTA.

How it works:

The build deck sits on top like an RDA, but below it is a small tank of e-liquid. Cotton drops down from the coil into the tank to soak up juice. You still get the direct airflow and top-deck performance of an RDA with the storage of a tank.

Pros

• Combines flavour performance with e-liquid capacity
• Great for longer vaping sessions
• Ideal for coil builders who don’t want to re-drip constantly

Cons

• More parts mean more things to clean or maintain
• Wicking needs to be precise to avoid dry hits or flooding
• Often larger and heavier

Popular RDTAs include the Steam Crave Aromamizer, Vandy Vape Pyro, and Ijoy Combo. These are best suited for experienced users who understand wicking and airflow.

Here is a summary of the differences:

Mesh vs Traditional Wire in Rebuildables

When building coils, you can use traditional round wire or mesh strips. Both have their strengths:

• Round Wire: Offers tight flavour control, can be single or multi-core (e.g., Clapton), and is ideal for RTAs and RDAs where coil positioning matters.
• Mesh: Thin, perforated sheets of metal that heat quickly and evenly. Often used in RDAs like the Wotofo Profile. Requires very even cotton coverage to avoid dry hits.

It depends on how you vape:

• Go for an RTA if you want to vape throughout the day without topping up too often.
• Choose an RDA if you care most about flavour and don't mind re-dripping or squonking.
• Use an RDTA if you’re experienced and want a blend of both with high performance.

You can also factor in the type of device you already use. Some vape kits work better with RTAs, while others are made for RDAs or squonk setups.

Want to learn more about vaping? Check our comprehensive guide on vaping.

Here are a few problems you’ll want to avoid:

• Overstuffed wick: Chokes off juice flow, causes dry hits.
• Under-wicked deck: Floods the chamber, causes gurgling and leaking.
• Loose screws: Coils won’t fire properly or might short.
• Incorrect resistance: Risky if using a mechanical mod, always check first.

Final Thoughts

Rebuildable tanks aren’t for everyone, but they’ve got a strong following for a reason. If you’re looking for control over flavour, vapour, and coil performance, they give you that freedom, along with the satisfaction of building something by hand.

Start with an RTA or RDA depending on your comfort level, and work your way up. Make sure you have the right tools, use safe battery practices, and learn proper wicking. It’ll pay off in the long run with better-tasting vapour and coils that last longer.

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