Jebao Died, What Next?

[VR28man]

So my Jebao PP4 just died (does not spin; it's connected to the controller and the controller looks fine) a year and one and a half months after I purchased it. (just past the one year warranty I got on ebay. That being said, I don't know when the last time I rinsed it was )

What should I replace it with?

It was a supplementary wavemaker; main ones are two MP40s placed on opposite ends of the tank (tidal flow mode at 50%. I messed with lower settings set by the reeflink but I don't trust the software, I need to play with it more). Tanks is 30x13x18

The Jebao was supposed to stay on top and generate random flow (always had it on random mode, top setting. I would have liked to have lowered it during the night but the controller is insufficiently controllable for me).

Ideal:
1000gph or so max
Random flow setting
ideally, an automatic nighttime mode
Not to expensive (hah)

Other considerations: I'm going to be leaving for two weeks starting next Wednesday (it's Friday now) something available at many LFS (I know one shop has Sicce) or available by Amazon Prime would be nice.

Thanks for any suggestions!

 

[MSB123]

MP10?
Used ones for like $150

 

[minus9]

They need to be cleaned once a month to maintain them, even with that effort, they are very unreliable. I would look into mp10's or Tunze (6040's).

 

[Jonreefer]

buy another..brand new its $50 with prime
Why overpay for another pump thats going to give you basically the same flow in the tank but cost WAY more.
or get the Icecap 1k Gyre for $130 and you can do all kind of programming for how it runs and moves a TON of water

 

[Jeremy Luke]

You weren't cleaning it. I haven't been cleaning mine. I have two Icecap gyres that I clean regularly but I also have a pp-8 that I use on the back wall that turns on and off to generate more random flow. I have cleaned it twice in the the almost two years it's been running. If it goes, I'll buy another. The bang for the buck on that Jebao can't be beat.

 

[biophilia]

I've not used one, but the new Jebao OW-* series wavemakers are supposed to have a re-designed (and more reliable) motor. If you want a little more control for twice the price, I've been really happy with the Aqamai KPS I replaced my failing Jebao with. It's a wider flow pattern so appears to push a little less water (I "feel" like it maxes out at 800gph or so rather than the 1050 the box states) but it may just be an illusion. That being said, it's infinitely controllable and keeps running even though I clean it way less than I had to with the Jebao.

I was hesitant to buy because of the sketchy reviews until I read them and realized almost every negative review is someone complaining about the KPS Android app. If you have an iPhone/iPad it works great. It's also about 15% smaller than the similarly powered Jebao OW-10. I bought both to compare and choosing the KPS was a very easy choice.

 

[doughboy]

try cleaning it first. make sure the impeller spins freely on both front and back bushings when you turn it when the cage is off.

 

[madweazl]

Are you unable to get the desired results if you simply turn up the MP40s? Additionally, there is no good reason for the flow to be reduced in the evening, especially if the flow is there to promote health in the first place.

 

[JMetaxas]

Buy two. Keep one as a spare. Cheap enough.

Mine have been running great for over a year. Cleaned twice.


https://www.amazon.com/d/Aquarium-W...UTF8&qid=1548448822&sr=8-1&keywords=jebao+pp4

 

[VR28man]

Thanks for all the replies! I took it out and soaked it in half vinegar/half tapwater mix. (needed to do it for the MP40 wet sides anyway, so I decided what the heck). Though it didn't work after I took it out of the mix (still wouldn't spin manually, much less electrically), after 24 hours or so it worked again, so I cleaned it (nothing much was there after the mix) and put it back in.

[PSA: looking at it I had no idea how it came apart, but a quick look on youtube showed that basically the front housing of all Jebao pumps are removed by rotating it counterclockwise. Same with the PP4, I just had to take out a a few rubber pieces first]

To hit a few other points:

I tried a maxspect, but I found them finicky, especialy when I had an algae problem. I will probably try them again in a future build, though.

The Aqamai KPS is interesting for sure. Especially if it works well. (sidebar: so far I'm less than impressed with the ecotech's interface. The motors are fine, the software capabilities are great, but the interface for the pumps themselves are klunky and sometimes unreliable IME. I also tried reeflink for a few weeks and it was a disaster; I will try it again when I get back).

as far as

Are you unable to get the desired results if you simply turn up the MP40s? Additionally, there is no good reason for the flow to be reduced in the evening, especially if the flow is there to promote health in the first place.

I would rather have, say, 4 pumps running at 50% at different areas then 2 pumps running 100%. Especially if some of those are Jebaos, due to their purported unreliability; if one goes down it's not a huge trouble if you have the replacement ready.

Seriously, currents in the ocean vary by time, based on weather and tides, definitely within "reef zones" as well as even localized areas. I sort of intuitively knew this from diving and snorkeling before I kept a reef, but I realize this better now.

Since I've started seriously looking into and keeping reefs, the place I've seen with the greatest amount of SPS growth - the fore reef (not inner lagoon) of Hanauma Bay, Oahu - not only has a lot of flow (often uncomfortably so for casual swimming), but also the direction and strength varies throughout the day. (OK around dawn, often times worse as the day goes on, and generally less at night. Also, though the tide is not that high, it definitely varies between its peaks and troughs over the day. And at the point with the most movement you definitely can feel it).

Anyway, I was hoping that the Tidal Swell mode could automatically recreate that. And so far it looks like it does.

 

[SeaDweller]

I have a fluke WP25 that has been running since 2012-13. It's been cleaned twice ever, and the second time was yesterday. Lol

Every other one has died within 1-2 years and the second longest lived one was a WP40, that died a few months ago. The PP and RW ones crapped out quickly.

I got some tunze and a gyre coming next week just in case these new SOW ones crap out.

 

[Jonreefer]

I noticed with my Icecap 1k gyre they seem to need cleaning more often. I would say once a month to keep them up to speed. They seem to slow down more than typical prop style pumps. They also suck with maintenance. There is a lot more to clean