# New printer... what to do with tank after print **URL:** \ **Category:** General Discussion\ **Created:** [January 18, 2020, 1:03am UTC](https://forum.formlabs.com/t/new-printer-what-to-do-with-tank-after-print/26215 "2020-01-18T01:03:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![brichardson4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/35a633/32.png) [@brichardson4](https://forum.formlabs.com/u/brichardson4)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2020, 1:03am UTC](https://forum.formlabs.com/t/new-printer-what-to-do-with-tank-after-print/26215/1 "2020-01-18T01:03:06Z")
Got my new form labs 3 printer today. And I am working on my 1st print. But I do not know what to expect or what to do after the print with the tank. What do you do with the leftover resin in the tank? I see everything about the part that you print but nothing about the tank after a print. ---
**Author:** ![JosephB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@JosephB](https://forum.formlabs.com/u/JosephB)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2020, 1:14am UTC](https://forum.formlabs.com/t/new-printer-what-to-do-with-tank-after-print/26215/2 "2020-01-18T01:14:43Z")
Just leave it in, it can sit for a few weeks without any issues. ---
**Author:** ![jasontzin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/59ef9b/32.png) [@jasontzin](https://forum.formlabs.com/u/jasontzin)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2020, 10:09pm UTC](https://forum.formlabs.com/t/new-printer-what-to-do-with-tank-after-print/26215/3 "2020-01-18T22:09:20Z")
As you start to use more resins (and therefore need more tanks), you can store the tanks in their box with the lid on as well. ---
**Author:** ![brichardson4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/35a633/32.png) [@brichardson4](https://forum.formlabs.com/u/brichardson4)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2020, 2:40am UTC](https://forum.formlabs.com/t/new-printer-what-to-do-with-tank-after-print/26215/4 "2020-01-21T02:40:42Z")
So just some thoughts… The wiper arm that stirs the tank… Just clean it with IPA? Wash the tank as well with IPA? I saw a video where it said to expose it to sunlight for a while and let it partially harden then remove. I am very hesitant to do that. Right now the wiper arm has a lot of resin on it after my first print. I just covered the printer up. Also I closed the vent hole but left the cartridge in. Was I supposed to do that? So much is not covered in the instructions and videos. Sorry to ask so much, but I just don’t want to ruin it. Thanks ---
**Author:** ![P3D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/2acd7d/32.png) [@P3D](https://forum.formlabs.com/u/P3D)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2020, 8:24am UTC](https://forum.formlabs.com/t/new-printer-what-to-do-with-tank-after-print/26215/5 "2020-01-21T08:24:21Z")
Do NOT put IPA into your tank! Just clean it out as good as you can with the supplied tools if you plan on not using it for a looong time, or if you want to change resin. Otherwise you can just leave the resin in until your next print. Also, I wouldn’t do that sunlight exposure thing in any case. Sounds like a path to a lot of trouble. ---
**Author:** ![JosephB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@JosephB](https://forum.formlabs.com/u/JosephB)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2020, 6:29pm UTC](https://forum.formlabs.com/t/new-printer-what-to-do-with-tank-after-print/26215/6 "2020-01-21T18:29:19Z")
You’re fine to leave the cartridge in, honestly half the time I forget to close the vent anyway. The orange covers do a great job of blocking out UV so you really only need to empty out the tanks for LONG term (like over 2 months) storage or for changing resin types. If you have multiple, just put them back in their grey boxes when you aren’t using them and leave one in the printer. ---
**Author:** ![henryhbk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/87869e/32.png) [@henryhbk](https://forum.formlabs.com/u/henryhbk)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2020, 3:35am UTC](https://forum.formlabs.com/t/new-printer-what-to-do-with-tank-after-print/26215/7 "2020-01-22T03:35:33Z")
The plastic box with the orange lid that came in the box is designed to store it with the resin inside. I put it back in the cardboard for extra light blocking. Use a sharpie to remind yourself what tray holds what resin. I put a paper towel under the tray in case a bit drips into that holding box. ---
**Author:** ![FormBeast](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e99b99/32.png) [@FormBeast](https://forum.formlabs.com/u/FormBeast)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2021, 8:07pm UTC](https://forum.formlabs.com/t/new-printer-what-to-do-with-tank-after-print/26215/8 "2021-04-15T20:07:37Z")
I usually take the cartridge out in case of valve faliure. I sometimes leave the tank in the machine if I am likely to print the next day as it is a bit of fuss taking out the wiper, cleaning and storing that. Though one thing I get worried about is the tank leaking whilst left in the printer. Never happened to me before and I’ve left it in there with resin for 6 months and all good. I think pulling the tank out all the time is likely to make it more unstable as it takes a bit of shock force to get it out of the printer.