Jebao powerheads

Really depends on the style of powerhead you want. For gyre style the newest is the scp-90,120,150. For traditional round style, the slw-20 is it. Soon theres going to be a version with a phone app to control it. I have 2 of the older cp40 gyre models and recently added 2 of the slw-20 pumps. Im going to get 2 of the scp-150 gyres to upgrade the cp40s with

I ran into this same challenge when getting my Jebao wavemaker. What is current? How do you keep up with all the current models? I just bought my SOW less than a month ago and the guys in my LFS said it was the latest version. Yes I totally get this is the challenge with going off brand and I am willing to deal with this hurdle (not looking for feedback from the peanut gallery :-)) AND given there are so many new releases I am not sure it matters if you have the latest, lasest. Just looking for a tip on finding the latest. I attempted to use the strategy of going through the various models, and in the writeups look for notes on what it replaced.
 
I have a bunch of Jebao pumps and wave makers (mostly for QT) and Vortechs in the DT. I've sent 2x Vortech wetsides back under warranty and 0 Jebaos. Different people have different experiences, no question the Vortechs are vastly superior in both functionality and build quality - worth 4x the price though?

When I think the fish are getting fat and lazy I crank up the SOW20 - it's like putting them on a treadmill.

Only issue I have with Jebao is 1. you have to youtube to find out what the bl**dy wave types are (seriously how hard would it be to put an English instruction book in or a website) and 2. they get real noisy when they get dirty (fixed by cleaning).
 
I like the coral box stuff better. Seems to be a bit quieter for the wavemakers. I have jebao returns on both of my tanks though. One is 3 years old. No issues. I run a coral box on my UV sterilizer that is rated for 1600gph and it’s silent. I don’t run any of them over 75% power though. No evidence but I feel like that that may help them last longer. I never even clean any of mine.
 
Good call out, the return pumps are never noisy, just the wave makers (particularly on pulse modes) when dirty
 
There's probably more Jebao in production and in use so the number of issues will be higher. I think any electronic mass produced item has a percentage for QC issues. They seem really hard to beat for the dollar. I thought the OW series was the newest?
 
Jebao wave makers are quite powerful.. I run 2 pp8 on a 72x18 footprint tank on side walls with a 12000 jebao return pump. And it is like a washing machine.. Uniclife makes decent wake makers also
 
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I'd upgrade your home owners insurance. lol

Google.... Jebao Fire Hazard Power Supply

Correct! The 2 different sets of powerheads i bought and return pump from jebao all failed within months! Total junk with zero customer service!
 
I have two of the powerheads, the SOW ones which I believe are the newest. They sync up master/slave and are silent, they move a lot of water and flow is turbulent. They keep the rock free of debris.
 
Jebao SOW Wavemakers are available in 4 models (SOW-4, SOW-8, SOW-15, and SOW-20). Similar to the previous OW series, the biggest updates to the Jebao SOW Wavemakers is the continued improvements of the motor, which has been significantly improved to withstand damages, and having it much more silent than previous models

2013---Jebao released wavemaker WP-10; WP-25; WP-40; WP-60
2014---Jebao released wavemaker RW-4; RW-8; RW-15; RW-20
2016---Jebao released wavemaker SW-4; SW-8; SW-15; SW-20
2017---Jebao released wavemaker OW-10; OW-25; OW-40; OW-50
2019---Jebao released SINE wavemaker SOW-4; SOW-8; SOW-15; SOW-20
 
I haven't had any serious issues with the powerheads themselves, they work fine (smallers ones need cleaning a lot). I have also horrible luck with the controllers dying (up to 2 or 3 now) and 1 PH did outright die (wont work on known working controllers). Sync never worked properly for me (SW# class) i.e. One would always go out of sync or stop all together. That may be fixed now as those are a few version old. My main tank used to run a Jebao DC return for years, thing was a workhorse.

They are cheap enough to keep spares around or as spares (How many keep spare MP40s!). Power supplies are properly listed/tested now so I don't think that is a huge issue. Bad ones in every bunch (look at recalls on laptop makers selling 3000$ devices).

My personal belief is the motors are fantastic but the controllers are where they went cheap. I would agree, I think Coralbox is a bit better in that regard, but I have no personal information to back that up.

That all being said I have moved on for more features. Is a Nero5 200$ more reliable than a RN-1.. doubtful but the app is nice to use.
 
I like my vortech. In service 10 years. Never changed wet Sid, barely clean them 2 times a year.

A similar thread found DW, which loks like vortch but doesn’t seem to be out yet

upload_2019-7-4_22-58-28.jpeg
 
I have two of the powerheads, the SOW ones which I believe are the newest. They sync up master/slave and are silent, they move a lot of water and flow is turbulent. They keep the rock free of debris.
The slw-20 is the newest. And the slw-20m will be coming out soon which has a wifi phone app to control it. I have 2 of the slw-20 powerheads in my tank now, they are the clean circular ones in my pics above. Dead silent and move a ton of water. Similar to the reefbreeders rpm/ coralbox rn-1 lines
 
I like my vortech. In service 10 years. Never changed wet Sid, barely clean them 2 times a year.

A similar thread found DW, which loks like vortch but doesn’t seem to be out yet

upload_2019-7-4_22-58-28.jpeg
They are out, they are the slw-20 pumps, i recently got 2 and have ordered the not yet released slw-20m which has the phone app control ability
 

IF YOU HAD TO TAKE A REEFING EXAM, WOULD YOU PASS?

  • Yes!

    Votes: 32 45.7%
  • Not yet, but I have one that I want to buy in mind!

    Votes: 9 12.9%
  • No.

    Votes: 26 37.1%
  • Other (please explain).

    Votes: 3 4.3%
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