comparing cheap vs high end powerhead

[mrpizzaface]

Inferior materials are used to make the super cheap power heads. While they may last a few years, the odds are the compounds used in the plastics won’t hold up as long in a saltwater environment as a more expensive power head.
While I find it perfectly acceptable to cheap out on consumer electronics, I am not comfortable cheaping out on said electronics when they will be submerged in saltwater. I consider it a risk to the life of the animals in the aquarium as well as a risk to the life of the animals in the house.
While that risk may be minimal I still think it is higher than buying a more expensive power head. For me that peace of mind is worth a few hundred dollars. I recognize there are exceptions on both sides.

 

[samnaz]

Jebaos are cheaper and not as long lasting BUT you can buy backups Incase they break and they still end up less expensive than vortech.

I use jebao pp-4s and have no complaints.

 

[Flippers4pups]

One issue I ran into with the jebaos is controller interference. If you have 2 in one tank and 2 in another tank that's close enough to interfere with each other the slave master can get messed up and out of sync.

I spent another 100 and got the jbwave controller. I highly recommend it. Takes the jebaos to a whole other level. You only need one for 2 pumps and one would solve the interference issue above.

That being said I now have 2 jbwaves controlling 2xpp8 and 2xpp15s on a 210 for over a year and couldn't be happier

Yep, same here. Jbwave controlling mine.

 

[imustbenuts]

Inferior materials are used to make the super cheap power heads. While they may last a few years, the odds are the compounds used in the plastics won’t hold up as long in a saltwater environment as a more expensive power head.
While I find it perfectly acceptable to cheap out on consumer electronics, I am not comfortable cheaping out on said electronics when they will be submerged in saltwater. I consider it a risk to the life of the animals in the aquarium as well as a risk to the life of the animals in the house.
While that risk may be minimal I still think it is higher than buying a more expensive power head. For me that peace of mind is worth a few hundred dollars. I recognize there are exceptions on both sides.

I used to use hydor koralias. When the plastic around the motor started cracking, I stopped.

 

[Tony Thompson]

Love my Jebao Wavemakers and Return Pumps. I also have the wireless S1 controller so I can program through my Iphone. Great to be able make a program to alter flow through the day. I have Cleaner shrimp breeding in my tank. So when they are due to hatch I place my Vossen trap in the tank and program my pumps top go low on a night. This way my larvae don`t` get blown all over and easily make it to the light on the vossen.

Pump and programmable wireless controller (through app on phone) sold together as a pack for £70. ($100) here in the UK, in my opinion that is an absolute bargain.

I also have Tunze DC pumps. I think a manufactures confidence in the quality of their product is reflected in the length of their warranty. Another important factor is the parts catalogue of the company and availability of the spare parts. Foe me Tunze wins here on both points. IME just because an item costs more does not necessarily mean its of higher quality. Many manufactured parts are sometimes manufactured at the same factory for a number of companies, but the price difference between products can be quite stark.

If we are all honest though there is a big part of the reefing community that just like to have the most expensive shiny stuff. That`s fine as long as you can afford it. But budget is a real and very important factor for some of us less well of reefers.

 

[cmcoker]

I used to use hydor koralias. When the plastic around the motor started cracking, I stopped.

Agree, only pump that's shocked me so far was a hydor nano in my biocube. <knocks wood>

I have a Jebao SW2 in each of my biocubes now. Two PP8 in my 250L tank as well as a Jebao return pump. I have a backup genero return in a box should that one ever give me problems.
I hacked an old Jebao twins controller and control my PP8s through my Profilux controller.
I also have had two Jebao WP25, one kicked the bucket about 3 years in, the other I use in quarantine.

For the price, the Jebaos have been good pumps. If price was no concern, I might have an ecotech or something else..
but I prefer to stay married and have to watch the budget where I can.

 

[mahindra.dev]

This thread is turning into a pro JEBAO thread... [emoji23][emoji23][emoji23]

 

[Flippers4pups]

This thread is turning into a pro JEBAO thread... [emoji23][emoji23][emoji23]

If ecotech would like to sponsor my system with some free MP’s, then I’ll promote them. Lol

I personally can’t bring myself to spend that kind of dough on them, when the Jebao’s have been flawless for me and cost so little in comparison. I guess I could be labeled a “jebao” fan boy or old man or .......

 

[Bronc]

I bought 4 of the SunSun small power heads on Amazon for $16 total! For using in mixing buckets, QT tanks and as spares you can’t beat that price!

 

[JimmyV]

I've had a pair of jebao rw15's for three years work like a champ . i clean them once a month. I want a pair of Gyres but dont want to spend 700

 

[Flippers4pups]

I put up a CP-25 in the middle of my tank on the back wall facing forward, to add some extra flow. If it doesn’t last, I’ll replace it with two smaller pumps.

 

[Pivitol]

I'm almost 100% Jebao pumps on my tank, return and all PH's Jebao. I have a DCT15000 return that hasn't missed a beat in over a year, a CP-55 Gyre that acted a little funny after I cleaned it but has since been flawless and 2 SW/PP 15 PH's. 1 of the PP15's stopped working after about 5mo but I buy mine off Ebay and if you look for them some of the sellers warranty them for 1 year, I contacted the seller sent it back and they sent a new PH no charge.
$700 for 2 MP-40's or $150 for 2 PP15's both with a 1 yr warranty, don't get me wrong I like the form factor of the Eco Tech pumps but not for $550. Just my opinion.

 

[Mark Waltermire]

I personally have had about 6 jebao pumps, and currently have one MP40. I will never purchase a jebao pump ever again. All of them have began whining very noisily within 4 months. I however, have only had my MP40 for 8 month, and have had flawless performance with it, only needing to clean it one time. I believe that the extra control in being able to link it to my apex, change modes, and have variable speeds throughout the day provide greater value to me, compared to the cheaper alternatives available. Personally, I am a person who would rather pay once for quality than pay multiple times for something cheap.

If you replace a jebao every 6 months at $50 for 3 years then it will cost $300
If your MP40 only lasts you 3 years and you bought it from BRS on sale then it will cost you $300

Over the course of that 3 years would you rather have to worry about needing to replace your pump every 6 months, and not have the same control. Also the MP40 has been much quieter than new jebao pumps, so you have to chose what you are willing to spend your money on. I just think for me paying extra and having a better experience overall is worth it.

 

[mtraylor]

Well I would have to say this. When I first started reefing, I didn't buy any of the expensive equipment. I got what I thought was the best bang for the buck. Cheap pumps, cheap lights, cheap skimmer, etc. Some of the equipment didn't work well and some of it did. Longevity with pumps was not there, but since they cost was low I didn't care to replace it.....until I started replacing allot of them and having some things fry causing black suit and etc.

Some things are just better learned yourself. No one wants to hear that their less expensive product is not as good as the expensive one....so there is no reason to even discuss it. I was there. Been there and done that. Heck I had never even had an expensive pump etc. ... but I just knew it was "just as good" lol.

I actually think the learning experience is worth the ride. You don't have to have the expensive stuff to succeed and some of the less expensive stuff is just getting better and better. Heck I was using RIO pumps back in the day. Cheap and some what reliable. Let your friend start with what equipment they desire. That way they will have allot of experience of what is good/bad in todays market.

For me it basically came down to putting the cost of replacements in spreadsheet vs getting something more expensive that people say last longer. The upfront cost is more, but longevity is cheaper. Some less expensive equipment may also be a diamond in a ruff. So its worth trying to find something IMO.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Simple: BUY THE B E S T YOU CAN AFFORD. I live buy the principle of buy the best so you've bought it once ( not 2-3 times a year due to failure)

 

[nosmok]

Hate wires in the tanks and after being shocked several times by loose current, I'll keep the voltage outside the conductive salt water.

 

[Dan Cyr]

I use a Jebao DCT10000 return pump for over a year, no problems and it's not enough at half power. Also have 2 PP4's, a PP8, and a PP20 (took the 20 out because was too powerful even on low setting). Have had no problems with any of them so far and I saved a ton of money

 

[rtparty]

300-500$ for a piece of equipment that does nothing but move water. It’s hard to justify. And the crazy part is it’s marked up something ridiculous like 1000%

What does the markup have anything to do with which pump is "better"?

I sure hope you don't own any Nike, Under Armour, Adidas, or any other big name clothing item because your "logic" should stop you from buying those items as well.

 

[MRRBW]

i have had korelias, jeabao's of multiple varieties and ecotechs (actually have one of each brand in my tank right now. Going by noise factor, my sense is that the ecotech quiet drives are not as quiet as they should be, but are no louder than the jebao pump, or I should say that my jebao is really not that noisy, (my skimmer makes more noise from its air intake - icecap K120). I have had only one jebao pump suddenly stop working on me after several years of use, and it was only one mode of the pump that stopped, the other modes for whatever reason kept working. That pump was pulled anyways and the ecotech replaced it.
Any brand will move your water for you and do it well. As time goes on, my decisions become more centered around efficiency (low wattage, ease of cleaning and controlling) and reduction of noise as the top priority. If I have to spend a little more money for less noise, I'll do it. (Sicce pumps on my return and skimmer make no noise) The other factor that seems to be influencing me more and more is the form or the equipment. If I can have something that removes cables from my tank and reduce physical presence in it, I will opt for that as well. I find equipment distracts and reduces the visual beauty of our tanks. I am willing to pay extra for these desires even though I know that I don't need to spend the extra money to achieve the real goal of moving water. Like anything, you learn what you want from something and then make a choice based on only what experience can give you.
One thing that I noticed is that because I spent more money on the ecotech, i am more inclined to do maintenance on it. silly, but the money spent motivates some people to be more attentive.

 

[chefjpaul]

Remember the jebao WP series?
Those were pretty sturdy built pumps, I had a couple for years and great magnets, now when the RW & PP series came out I feel they got cheeper in material, I burned through them.

switched to Vortech and gyre. Great, strong product, yet....have had issues and replaced the wet sides on mp40QD after a couple months, and had one mp10 last years.... luck of the draw when dealing with machine.

I honestly dont have an opinion on either, but what works for each budget and honestly the big question is what pump is needed compared to the aquascape.

IE: My new tank and structure probably can't accommodate my gyre due to potential coral placement, but 2-3 small powerheads, able to angle etc..I may just go back to cheeper pumps just due to placement possibilities over cost.....or just smaller pumps etc.