I know, I know – Melo 2 tank has been around for quite some time, I just didn’t get around to testing it before! Well, that is about to change now. I finally got my hands on this sleek and handsome tank and I wanted to share my impressions with you – from design and functionality to vaping experience. It didn’t reap any rewards from the vaping community but I believe it deserves a mention, being Eleaf’s first TC tank. So fasten your seatbelts and let us dig into the Eleaf Melo 2 Tank Review!
Is it worth buying?
If you’re looking for a tank with good vapor production and decent flavor on mid Wattages then look no further! Melo 2 is an affordable tank that checks all of those boxes with ease. However, its functionality and design leave a lot to be desired.
I won’t say ‘Don’t buy it!’ – buy it but be aware of the little kinks that plague – that way it’s going to be easier to avoid any problems that might arise from them. In a nutshell: don’t expect wonders – there are none here; be careful when handling this tank; watch out for overheating. If it’s your first buy, I’d skip it and go for something simpler – even if it means spending more money.
There are definitely tanks out there that offer more in terms of robust design, durability, and flavor. On the other hand, if you’re a seasoned vaper and want to test it, I won’t advise against it – it just might be your cup of tea.
The Packaging
I got the Eleaf Melo 2 as a part of a packaged deal – it came with Eleaf iStick TC 60. The packaging itself is unimpressive but protective, which is what is most important, in my opinion. When it comes to what is inside, it seems that both the iStick Kit and Melo 2 package (when the tank is purchased solo) come with the same accessories, at least according to my research.
Included in the Eleaf Melo 2 package are:
- Melo 2 Atomizer
- 1 x EC 0.3ohm Coil Head
- 1 x EC TC-Ni 0.15ohm Coil Head
- 1 x EC TC-Ti 0.5ohm Coil Head
- Stainless Steel Drip Tip
- 2 Sets of O-rings (blue and red)
- Melo 2 User Manual
As you can notice straight off the bat (and I most certainly did), the replacement glass is missing from the package. Depending on how careful you are with your gear this might prove to be a problem because the Melo 2 doesn’t have a protective cage around the glass. If you plan on using it often (and if you’re even half as clumsy as I am) I’d recommend you order a spare glass tubing as soon as possible.
Eleaf Melo 2 features:
- Stainless steel construction
- Top and bottom fill
- Leakage-free
- Delrin insulated drip tip
- 5 ml capacity
- Adjustable air flow (double slots)
- 22 mm diameter
- 510 connector
- 100 % pure cotton coil heads
- Pyrex glass tubing
When it comes to features Eleaf Melo 2 has everything you would expect from a high-performing, temperature control tank. However, it’s far from perfect, unfortunately. Let’s dive in and take a closer look at things that Eleaf got just right – and those that they could still work on.
Design and Quality of Make
Looking at this tank there is really very little you can complain about. Eleaf Melo’s 2 sleek and clean design is attractive and visually appealing – if a little too bland for my personal taste. The stainless steel finish that it boasts is definitely preferable to anything in black for me but it will frustrate those vapers who don’t like to see fingertips on their tank.
Everything on the tank sits flush. It doesn’t rattle at the base and it doesn’t rattle at the top near the top fill gap – always a plus since a lot of tanks that come in a few parts tend to come loose and start jiggling as soon as you start using them.
This flush fit proved to be a problem when I used the tank with VTC Mini. The tank is 22 mm in diameter so it really sits tight on the Mini – so tight it’s a problem to unscrew it when you have to take the tank off. You can’t really grip it at the top because that unscrews the top fill slot and gripping it on the glass puts you at risk of breaking the glass or simply unscrewing it from the base – either way you will end up with a lap full of e-juice, trust me – it happen to me a couple of times.
The same thing happens with the Innokin Cortex TC and a couple of other mods. The only way to bypass the problem is to carefully screw the tank on the mod, making sure that you can unscrew it without applying too much pressure and unscrew the bottom cap in the process.
This alone is a major design flow that needs to be looked at. Nobody wants to constantly be on their toes when switching tanks – vaping is supposed to be a lot more care-free.
Top Fill
The top fill slot on Eleaf Melo 2 sub-ohm tank is wide enough to accommodate snub-nosed bottle tops, drippers, and everything else. I was a bit worried about the fact that there is only one hole – where does the air go out? – but my fears turned out to be unfounded.
It’s very easy to fill and the fill hole is large enough to allow air inside the tank to escape out as you pour your e-juice in. You can even go a bit overboard. The Eleaf Melo 2 has a fill slot a bit lower on the side of the tank so you have to lay it on the side to fill it to the brim – the liquid goes to considerably higher than where the slot is located. I tried to put in 4.5 ml of e-juice in it and it’s not really possible. The best you can hope for is 4.3 ml which is still decent. Everything over that and the liquid will start pouring out the same way it’s coming in.
Some users report that they’ve experienced leakage while filling the tank. I’ve never had an issue with it although it is advisable that you close down airflow completely when you fill the tank. For what’s it worth, I tried filling the tank with air flow both shut and open and it worked just fine for me in both cases.
The Unprotected Glass
Aside from being a bugger to unscrew, my biggest gripe with this tank is its glass tubing. Once the bottom base, which consists of airflow valve and the coil head mount, is removed, the only thing that keeps the glass in place is the oversized O-ring that sits between it and the top cap. I was extremely skeptical about it at first, thinking that there is no way that this sort of setup won’t leak. I was wrong, luckily – the tank doesn’t leak and the O-rings are nicely made to provide a bulletproof seal so the liquid stays in.
But I’m still not very happy with the body of the tank. The unprotected glass tubing simply looks exposed and is extremely vulnerable to bumps and accidental drops. The fact that you always know how much liquid you have in the tank cannot compensate for that.
A couple of stainless steel straps connecting the top and the bottom caps of the tank would solve the problem while not taking away too much from Melo’s elegant look. The least that Eleaf could do if they plan on keeping the same setup is add a replacement glass into the mix.
One thing that makes Eleaf Melo stand out is its oversized O-rings – swap the translucent ones with the red or blue ones that are provided and you’ve got yourself a completely different tank – at least appearance-wise.
Airflow Adjustment
Eleaf Melo 2 sub-ohm tank has two large airflow holes on the bottom of the tank. Airflow adjustment is relatively simple – just twist the bottom part below the glass tubing to regulate the flow. This is going to be a bit tricky for people with sweaty hands – SS is rather slippery and the fact that the air flow adjustment knob has no graspable surfaces only makes matters worse. However, with a bit of practice I managed to get there and I’m sure you will too. In any case, it’s safe to assume that you will vape this tank with the air flow wide open – the air flow might be adjustable but the actual air you get through the Eleaf Melo 2 tank doesn’t seem to cut it for me or other vapers I’ve talked to about it.
Vaping Experience
As far as the actual vaping experience on Eleaf Melo 2 goes I can’t say that I am disappointed. Of course, it’s far from perfect, too. I’ve used it on the iStick TC 60W, Innokin Cortex, and the Joyetech VTC Mini; the experience is consistent – and a bit underwhelming – on all mods.
Both Ni and Ti coils give off slightly blander taste than I expected when not vaped on full power – meaning around 500 to 550 F and close to 60W. When running it that high the flavor is great but the vapor is just too hot for my taste. Not to mention that it drains the battery very quickly and the tank itself gets wickedly hot – so hot that I actually had to set it down to cool so I could adjust the airflow.
Kanthal 0.3ohm coil is more to my taste – the flavor is just right and the vapor production excels, even at around 450 F and 45-50W.
Of course, this is going to vary from vaper to vaper. The important thing is to find your sweet spot and use it there. Eleaf Melo 2 definitely gives you a good vaping range you can play with until you settle down on what you like the best.
One thing that I would definitely recommend – replace the drip tip. Even though the one that comes with Melo 2 is Delrin insulated it just gets too hot. I’m using the black Delrin tip that comes with Joyetech Cubis – it heats up considerably less and it’s a snug fit.
Cleaning and Disassembly
Eleaf Melo 2 sub-ohm tank can be fully disassembled but with extreme care. The glass tubing is tricky to remove as you first have to take off the large O-ring that is near the top fill valve. Sometimes the O-ring that comes pre-fitted with the tank can get fused with the glass – don’t force it off or you will break the glass. Submerge the tank in warm water and slowly pry the O-ring off using a sharp blade that you can insert between it and the glass.
Once you get it off, simply pull out the glass and wash in warm water and some soap and rinse it out. There are no hidden nooks and crannies you have to worry about with this tank and it’s relatively easy to clean once you get the hang of it.