DIY AQUAPROS Create 3D Printed CO2 Diffuser for Simple Aquarium

The world of the aquarium is soothing and tranquil. It presents an atmosphere of complete calm and allows the hobbyist to nurture an easygoing collection of animal and plant life. But that can all come to a screeching halt if you aren’t keeping a good eye on the mechanics and nurturing of the aquarium. It’s no secret that aquariums house mellow pets, but they do require ongoing maintenance and attention to mechanics.

When one of the aquariums at DIY AQUAPROS needed a new carbon dioxide (CO₂) diffuser, they looked for the best route to a quick, quality fix. Luckily, these guys are pros at coming up with creative and affordable designs and ideas for any fish tank. Offering tons of information, and a multitude of different DIY videos and tips, the DIY AQUAPROS team is dedicated to catering to those with ‘aquarium addictions.’

The DIY AQUAPROS 3D Printed CO₂ diffuser is a perfect example of how you can sometimes get exactly what you want through 3D printing with virtually no experience or learning curve. It just takes motivation, enthusiasm, and a little bravery.

Jumping right into the 3D design, using Tinkercad’s easy ‘drag and drop’ software and the 3D printer available at his university, Mike from DIY AQUAPROS was able to design and 3D print the exact part that he needed for a new, sturdier internal CO₂ diffuser for his aquarium featuring multiple underwater plants and fish.

The diffuser is a good item to have for the aquarium as it does exactly what you would imagine. It dissolves the gas into the water evenly so plants have prolonged access. As one of the major parts to the aquarium, it doesn’t need to be fancy, but the simple construction does need to be durable and reliable.

While the 3D print and his basic design were successful, Mike did have to perform some minor refinements to the diffuser, using sharp, fine tools to remove some of the support material and file out some of the holes. His only regret was in not having enough time to learn about threaded pieces, so while he did have his basic part, Mike also had to piece together the diffuser with a separate powerhead. The 3D printed lid was a success though, and placed snugly on top with bio-balls inside, it added to the rate of diffusion successfully.

We’ve covered numerous 3D printed items for aquariums, as it’s a big hobbyist arena and aquarium owners love to think up new ways to accentuate aquariums, add better parts — and sometimes create entirely new designs and innovative concepts. We’ve covered stories on everything from 3D printed hydroponics to 3D printed automatic fish feeders to keep you covered while you are out of town — to far-fetched ideas for space colonization aquariums.

The aquarium market is a thriving industry as humans love to experience the tranquility and beatuy of the aquarium and that all that can be encompassed within from fish to frogs, shellfish, and beautiful plants, shells, and other accouterments.

The diffuser, 3D printed in black, has a sleek, simple look adding to the elegance of the basic aquarium. For a cost of under $10, plus the experience of learning about 3D design and 3D printing, Mike received a basic, rudimentary part that he considered to be a success. He does have plans to go back and change a couple of things next time, like reducing the diameter by a few centimeters. The lid required a bit of filing, so that would need a slight bit of refining in a future design as well.

Have you 3D printed any items or pumps for your aquarium? Tell us about it in the 3D Printed CO₂ Diffuser for Aquarium forum over at 3DPB.com.