Aquarium Vacuum Adapter for Manual Water Pump

This 3D-printed vacuum adapter is designed to replace the original head of a low-cost, manual water pump that is easy to find online. Once installed, it allows you to perform water changes while simultaneously vacuuming and cleaning the bottom of your aquarium, making routine maintenance faster and more efficient.

The adapter is printed in PETG. In my case, I used translucent PETG, which provides sufficient visibility of the water flow. The provided 3MF file does not include full transparency settings; however, for practical use this is more than adequate. If full transparency is required, the model could be extended to other available 3MF transparency projects—though, in my opinion, this would be overkill for its intended function.

Printing Notes

• The print profile is optimized to avoid the need for supports
• A brim is strongly recommended to improve bed adhesion
• Drying the PETG filament before printing is advised
• Ensure the printing bed is clean for best results

The model was printed successfully on the first attempt, without any design optimization iterations.

Known Minor Issue

There is a small imperfection at the neck connection to the pump. Due to the lack of support on the overhang at the level of the adapter-pump connection, the surface may come out slightly rough or “dirty.”
This does not affect functionality, and the issue can be easily resolved with a light cleanup using a cutter or hobby knife.

Simple, functional, and effective—this adapter does exactly what it’s meant to do.

Happy printing! 🐟🖨️