Jebao return pumps
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Ron Reefman
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I used to use them from when they first came out. They were very inexpensive and... lets say poorly made then they were introduced. They have gone through more than a few revisions and improvements over the years and are pretty good pumps now.
That said, I've switched to Current Orbit wavemakers and Coral Box wavemakers. Both have been more reliable, more controllable and hardly any more expensive than the Jebao wavemakers. And both companies have stood behind their pumps which Jebao doesn't do (their distributors might offer a warranty, but Jebao doesn't as far as I know). I've also been using Jebao return pumps for years and they too have gone through massive changes over time. I think they work just fine and mine is a couple of generations old at this point and in use for about 4 years.
That said, I've switched to Current Orbit wavemakers and Coral Box wavemakers. Both have been more reliable, more controllable and hardly any more expensive than the Jebao wavemakers. And both companies have stood behind their pumps which Jebao doesn't do (their distributors might offer a warranty, but Jebao doesn't as far as I know). I've also been using Jebao return pumps for years and they too have gone through massive changes over time. I think they work just fine and mine is a couple of generations old at this point and in use for about 4 years.
vetteguy53081
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Theyre ok but are you good with ok?
I recommend the coral box wave, koralia nano or current loop units
I recommend the coral box wave, koralia nano or current loop units
DesertReefT4r
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I have been running 2 Jebao power heads and a return pump since June 2018 with zero issues so far. Cleaning every few months helps prolong life and spot any issues before a failure. Jebao products have greatly improved imo.
dantimdad
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I have a 12000 running my pond and it's been in terrible conditions for years and never once had an issue.
I have a 4000 on my 93 cube and it's quiet and works very well.
These aren't the first jebao pumps I have owned and I will use them again.
I have a 4000 on my 93 cube and it's quiet and works very well.
These aren't the first jebao pumps I have owned and I will use them again.
ca1ore
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I’ve used a few Jebao powerheads but not return pumps. I have sizable head pressure in my system, so none of the DC models will work for me without paying what I’d consider to be stupid money. I also travel a lot for my job so need something that has a long track record of reliability. For me that means Iwaki or PanWorld. An Iwaki is still my personal longevity champ - 20 years. If I was looking for a quiet pump in stand, I’d go with something like the fluval SP series. Uses the askoll motor block which is extremely reliable (though not a head pressure champ).
Friend of mine used early incarnations of the Jebao return pumps and had all sorts of issues. He swore them off, so certainly possible they’re better now. Not worth the risk for me though.
Friend of mine used early incarnations of the Jebao return pumps and had all sorts of issues. He swore them off, so certainly possible they’re better now. Not worth the risk for me though.
I have used Jebao return pumps and wavemakers on multiple tanks for years. I love them for performance, price and longevity. I also use danner, fluval, and others so I know other brands as well.
I have had one Jebao wavemaker fail, but was smart enough not to write off the whole line based on that.
If you’re worried about the reviews on Amazon then Jebao is not for you and that is ok.
I have had one Jebao wavemaker fail, but was smart enough not to write off the whole line based on that.
If you’re worried about the reviews on Amazon then Jebao is not for you and that is ok.
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ethridge78
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I have used multiple ones my favorite are the dcp return pump dead silent tons of flow .
savageajc
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Thanks for the responses! I’m trying to find a reliable quiet return pump for my new tank. A buddy recommended a jebao. Seems to be popular here too. I might order one up and give it a try. I mean, almost half the price of some of the others, I’d have more money to spend on corals!
ethridge78
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No problem, I have a vectra m1 and it’s as silent as my dcp 6500 they are pretty close to the same but price and M1 better materials but haven’t had any problems
U
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I picked up a DCT 15000 for my return last year. At first unbox it seemed well built, heavy, and worked. I used it to test initial plumbing because the plan was to use it as the primary return. It moved a lot of water and it was pretty quiet. I was removing it to move the tank into the house, disconnected the union, and then used the handle it comes with to pick it up and move it. The handle broke off. Not a huge deal I said to myself but I found it odd. Why add it if it isn't strong enough to hold the weight and be carried by it. Anyway strike one.
After setting up the tank inside the house and reconnecting it to the plumbing in the sump I noticed a bit of separation on the neck and body. Disconnected it again, pulled it out form under the tank and sump, and sure enough. The base neck on the outlet was coming apart from the body. There is really no way to repair that. I removed the union I was using and felt inside the pump and can see why everything was breaking. Paper thin plastic on the body. Ok, strike two.
This was about the time of the public release of the first batch of Cor 15 and 20's so I got a lucky order on a 15 and picked one up. I immediately compared the bodies and neck area and it was night and day different in thickness and overall quality. Strike 3. Gathered up all of the DCT's cables, controller, and into the recycle electronics bin it went. Cor 15 has been rock solid. So much that I picked up a 2nd for my skimmer and now considering a 3rd to power another pair of sea swirls.
I've owned some RW4 and 8's when I had a 40 breeder and they worked well with my Reef Angel controller. Any of the flow patterns worked great and they lasted about 2 years. One I had to replace around 18 months in but may have been attributed to a snail. In any case the only complaint with these are that they have a pretty high and noticeable fall off when dirty. So I had to be sure to clean them at least every three to four weeks otherwise it was drastic.
So not a huge fan of the products especially of the return pumps. I would avoid them but this is just based on my experience. Your mileage may vary.
After setting up the tank inside the house and reconnecting it to the plumbing in the sump I noticed a bit of separation on the neck and body. Disconnected it again, pulled it out form under the tank and sump, and sure enough. The base neck on the outlet was coming apart from the body. There is really no way to repair that. I removed the union I was using and felt inside the pump and can see why everything was breaking. Paper thin plastic on the body. Ok, strike two.
This was about the time of the public release of the first batch of Cor 15 and 20's so I got a lucky order on a 15 and picked one up. I immediately compared the bodies and neck area and it was night and day different in thickness and overall quality. Strike 3. Gathered up all of the DCT's cables, controller, and into the recycle electronics bin it went. Cor 15 has been rock solid. So much that I picked up a 2nd for my skimmer and now considering a 3rd to power another pair of sea swirls.
I've owned some RW4 and 8's when I had a 40 breeder and they worked well with my Reef Angel controller. Any of the flow patterns worked great and they lasted about 2 years. One I had to replace around 18 months in but may have been attributed to a snail. In any case the only complaint with these are that they have a pretty high and noticeable fall off when dirty. So I had to be sure to clean them at least every three to four weeks otherwise it was drastic.
So not a huge fan of the products especially of the return pumps. I would avoid them but this is just based on my experience. Your mileage may vary.
ca1ore
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Jebao pumps are popular because they’re cheap and because most folks don’t last long enough in the hobby for them to break down. Of course there will be some that have lasted five years, but will they last 10, or even 15? Probably not. OK, you can just replace it with another cheap option and maybe get another five years. But what if you’re not home when it fails and you lose livestock. Not quite so cheap then. I made the calculation years ago that a decades reliable pump was the way to go for me. Probably cheaper in the long run too.
Not just a knock on Jebao - I wouldn’t use a vectra as my main either.
Not just a knock on Jebao - I wouldn’t use a vectra as my main either.
U
User1
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I was originally planning on a Vectra then read a lot of the issues people reported which later got redesigned. Then on another board I read a few people still running into issues even after the new design/update. The good news is that they got everything replaced - great customer support and service. I just needed something a bit more reliable although I'm not sure how the Cor 15's I own will fair but so far they are holding up ok.
I tend to think of return pumps similar to life support of my Scuba diving. There are things that you will pay extra for like cold water regulators which meet NAVY diving specs because your life depends on it. Similar to return pumps in a reef tank and a power head. Somethings you just need to pay the up front cost and have a spare...
jtl
Well-Known Member
I have been using one going on 2 years and they work just fine. You can pay more and think the quality is worth but is it? If it fails I will purchase another one. It is just a return pump and not really a life or death piece of equipment if you have powerheads in the DT.
How much do you all think that a super reliable return pump costs? You can get one with decade+ proven reliability for the cost of 1.5 Chinese knockoff pumps.
Italy. Some in the US.
