Generic Pumps on Amazon

[Visuals]

Has anyone tried those $20 or so pumps on amazon? Are those safe to use or it's better to invest in the good ones?

 

[kutcha]

never tried them before but i have to assume it would be safer to use the pumps that were made to handle salt water and the corrosion that comes with it.

 

[monkeyCmonkeyDo]

Whats the purpose? Flow? Or to just move water from a to b. Say for a wc.
D

 

[Zakery Murray]

Need to know purpose, although I would suggest if you are looking to use this pump in a saltwater tank I would probably buy one that is specifically made for the tank. The pump will work it just is in my opinion not as good as one you would buy for a reef tank speccifically.

 

[guylaga]

I use this one for water changes when refilling my sump / tank. (I'm old school and still haul 5 gallon buckets haha!)

It had a little note in the box for another free pump if I gave them a good review on Amazon. I did that and they sent a little 200 gph pump that I use for my media reactor.

 

[Visuals]

never tried them before but i have to assume it would be safer to use the pumps that were made to handle salt water and the corrosion that comes with it.

Yeah, I've been skimming around on reviews and looking at the Q&A some say it's fine some say not.

Whats the purpose? Flow? Or to just move water from a to b. Say for a wc.
D

Need to know purpose, although I would suggest if you are looking to use this pump in a saltwater tank I would probably buy one that is specifically made for the tank. The pump will work it just is in my opinion not as good as one you would buy for a reef tank speccifically.

I was gonna get a 400gph for a return pump in a AIO 29gallon biocube.

I use this one for water changes when refilling my sump / tank. (I'm old school and still haul 5 gallon buckets haha!)

It had a little note in the box for another free pump if I gave them a good review on Amazon. I did that and they sent a little 200 gph pump that I use for my media reactor.

Yes, those generic pumps and rebranded ones floating around! They usually sit around $12-$24. I also thought about getting a low-flow one for a reactor, but as others said not sure if it can handle the corrosion.

 

[littlebeard]

Don't buy the cheap hygger ones off Amazon. Garbage.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

by pump do you mean wavemaker? those cheap wavemakers from amozon (sunsun brand I beleive) are amazing, I have 4 of them, 2 I've had for a year, never any problems, never any problems with the suction mount either. I recommend them, and if they do break, they are cheap enough to replace. I bought an $80 jebao from amazon in Feb and the thing crapped out on me in 3 weeks, I still cant beleive that one

 

[monkeyCmonkeyDo]

Do what others have been saying and save up the $40-$80 for a good utility style return sump pump. A sicce will last you. Cheapest id go is ehiem. Magdrive. Rio+ maybe.

I bought a cheap $16 pump off amazon for wcs. Its a pond pump kinda that sucks from the bottom. This with a 3/4" screw on and a garden hose will be my wc method.
Lol
-d

 

[kutcha]

My worry isnt the cost, if the pump cost 15 dollars and last 1 year your only looking at a cost of 15$ a year. I am more worried about when the pump dies how will it die will it be because of water getting in the electrical component will it be because the magnet swells and cracks releasing all that harmful metal into your tank or will it be just because some component inside crapped out, if just some component inside died not a huge deal 15$ and you get a new one. If it is either of the other two you are gonna have to deal with buying extra chemicals like purigen to try and get that metal out of your system or hurt/dead fish and corals from electrical shock. IMHO pumps like that are generally fine for things like water changes or emergency pump were they are not a long term solution, i try to stay towards the companies that build their pump for the aquarium hobby. If you want a cheaper return pump that has been tested in the hobby i would go with a jebao they can be decent especially as return pump.

 

[Zakery Murray]

My worry isnt the cost, if the pump cost 15 dollars and last 1 year your only looking at a cost of 15$ a year. I am more worried about when the pump dies how will it die will it be because of water getting in the electrical component will it be because the magnet swells and cracks releasing all that harmful metal into your tank or will it be just because some component inside crapped out, if just some component inside died not a huge deal 15$ and you get a new one. If it is either of the other two you are gonna have to deal with buying extra chemicals like purigen to try and get that metal out of your system or hurt/dead fish and corals from electrical shock. IMHO pumps like that are generally fine for things like water changes or emergency pump were they are not a long term solution, i try to stay towards the companies that build their pump for the aquarium hobby. If you want a cheaper return pump that has been tested in the hobby i would go with a jebao they can be decent especially as return pump.

This

 

[Suohhen]

I generally aim for 5x hourly turnover through the sump. Here are the things to consider when choosing turnover.
Benefits of Slower Flow: Overflow surface skim ratio, noise, heat, electricity, disturbing sand
Faster: Heater, aeration, dead zones, filtration
So basically it needs to be beyond a minimum to keep your tank up to temp and can have some effect on filter efficiency but this doesn't require very high flow for most filters. The other two things can be achieved much more quietly and efficiently with a powerhead or two.
And that is the true secret to pumps, Marineland Maxijet 900s are $20, silent and efficient, 1200's not so much. So if you can get away with a few low flow pumps you don't have to buy anything special.

 

[Visuals]

Don't buy the cheap hygger ones off Amazon. Garbage.

Do what others have been saying and save up the $40-$80 for a good utility style return sump pump. A sicce will last you. Cheapest id go is ehiem. Magdrive. Rio+ maybe.

I bought a cheap $16 pump off amazon for wcs. Its a pond pump kinda that sucks from the bottom. This with a 3/4" screw on and a garden hose will be my wc method.
Lol
-d

I was looking at a aquaclear 70, but went with a sicce later. I think I'll just use those cheap ones for mixing water and water changes.

by pump do you mean wavemaker? those cheap wavemakers from amozon (sunsun brand I beleive) are amazing, I have 4 of them, 2 I've had for a year, never any problems, never any problems with the suction mount either. I recommend them, and if they do break, they are cheap enough to replace. I bought an $80 jebao from amazon in Feb and the thing crapped out on me in 3 weeks, I still cant beleive that one

What kind of jebao?

My worry isnt the cost, if the pump cost 15 dollars and last 1 year your only looking at a cost of 15$ a year. I am more worried about when the pump dies how will it die will it be because of water getting in the electrical component will it be because the magnet swells and cracks releasing all that harmful metal into your tank or will it be just because some component inside crapped out, if just some component inside died not a huge deal 15$ and you get a new one. If it is either of the other two you are gonna have to deal with buying extra chemicals like purigen to try and get that metal out of your system or hurt/dead fish and corals from electrical shock. IMHO pumps like that are generally fine for things like water changes or emergency pump were they are not a long term solution, i try to stay towards the companies that build their pump for the aquarium hobby. If you want a cheaper return pump that has been tested in the hobby i would go with a jebao they can be decent especially as return pump.

Well said, I'll play it safe and avoid them. I kept digging around and no one really mentioned they use it for saltwater stuff.

I generally aim for 5x hourly turnover through the sump. Here are the things to consider when choosing turnover.
Benefits of Slower Flow: Overflow surface skim ratio, noise, heat, electricity, disturbing sand
Faster: Heater, aeration, dead zones, filtration
So basically it needs to be beyond a minimum to keep your tank up to temp and can have some effect on filter efficiency but this doesn't require very high flow for most filters. The other two things can be achieved much more quietly and efficiently with a powerhead or two.
And that is the true secret to pumps, Marineland Maxijet 900s are $20, silent and efficient, 1200's not so much. So if you can get away with a few low flow pumps you don't have to buy anything special.

Did the prices on these mj's go up? Amazon sells em at 30 something and so does aquacave.

 

[Saltyreef]

Happy with cobalt MJ series pumps. Theyre rebranded as NEWA now. Recommended for a whole host of different things as well.

 

[CMMorgan]

by pump do you mean wavemaker? those cheap wavemakers from amozon (sunsun brand I beleive) are amazing, I have 4 of them, 2 I've had for a year, never any problems, never any problems with the suction mount either. I recommend them, and if they do break, they are cheap enough to replace. I bought an $80 jebao from amazon in Feb and the thing crapped out on me in 3 weeks, I still cant beleive that one

I tried the sunsun wavemaker .... it was a piece of trash... lasted less than a year... suction cups were awful. Either you're lucky or I'm not. I won't go there again.

 

[Suohhen]

Did the prices on these mj's go up? Amazon sells em at 30 something and so does aquacave.

dang I bought a 900 may 2020 on Amazon for $11.38. #covidflation