An ink container is provides ink to a vented printhead, where both the ink container and the vented printhead are positioned on a moveable carriage. The ink container receives ink from an off-carriage ink supply via an ink conduit. Air is removed from the printhead and ink container via a low pressure vacuum pump coupled to the ink container via an air conduit. The low pressure vacuum pump generates low pressure to pull air from the ink container. A higher pressure pump may be used in conjunction with a pressure relief valve that limits the pressure in the ink container.