Pump decision - Reef Octopus VarioS vs Jebao DC

Reefer1978 · Apr 13, 2017

rushbattle said:
The noise issue really bothers me. Others have almost universally reported that the Jebao DC pumps as nearly silent, but I have found that they are actually quite loud. Louder than any AC pump I have ever used, like the mag pumps, quiet ones, etc. I am not sure how this can possibly be, but the Varios are quiet, the most quiet I have ever heard. I come about this conclusion with a bit of apprehension, because I have found coralvue to be off-putting and lacking in service in the past. I would actually much rather the Jebao be a better solution. I am at a loss.

Are you sure you have DCP, not DCS or DCT??? Like other's in this thread, I got a DCP-10000 and it's silent. I have older DCT and DCS also in the basement, and they are louder, yes.

As far as failure rate, my logic was as follows:
VarioS-6 - $280
2x DCP-10000 (Got on Amazon sale) - $220.

Save $60, put one in the closet in case primary dies.

nervousmonkey · Apr 13, 2017

Marctrees said:
Sounding like I'm going to go w the Reef Octopus VarioS.

Thanks all, Marc

You will be incredibly happy you went with it. If you have a controller, it just comes with a 0-10v plugin for control of the pump via controller. If you don't have a controller, it's controller ready, and you can do a lot with the Varios controller that comes with it. Great choice!!!

joseserrano · Apr 13, 2017

Liquidgold said:
Have you looked into the Deepwater Aquatics Distribution DC7 pumps? I think they are made in Europe (maybe England) and reasonably priced. I've used them for over 2 years without problems. I have two return pumps that I exchange and clean in vinegar every 6 months. I have also used Jebao and find the Deepwater pumps more reliable.

I have a deepwater and love it, cant recommend I enough.

rushbattle · Apr 13, 2017

nvladik said:
Are you sure you have DCP, not DCS or DCT??? Like other's in this thread, I got a DCP-10000 and it's silent. I have older DCT and DCS also in the basement, and they are louder, yes.

As far as failure rate, my logic was as follows:
VarioS-6 - $280
2x DCP-10000 (Got on Amazon sale) - $220.

Save $60, put one in the closet in case primary dies.

Yes, I am positive. I admit, it sounds implausible with all the reviews saying it's silent. But I tried two whole different sets of power supplies, drivers and pumps in all the combos, always sounded the same. Loud.

O'l Salty · Apr 13, 2017

DCP 6500-6 months no problems. Dead silent.

eschulist · Apr 13, 2017

DCP-5000 super quiet.

mtraylor · Apr 13, 2017

My skimmer came with the VarioS-6 pump and its a great pump. Dead Silent and smooth. I haven't had it for a long time so I can not talk about longevity yet. Its only about 4 months old

sarcophytonIndy · Dec 1, 2018

Reefer1978 said:
Are you sure you have DCP, not DCS or DCT??? Like other's in this thread, I got a DCP-10000 and it's silent. I have older DCT and DCS also in the basement, and they are louder, yes.

As far as failure rate, my logic was as follows:
VarioS-6 - $280
2x DCP-10000 (Got on Amazon sale) - $220.

Save $60, put one in the closet in case primary dies.

Instead of putting it in the closet you should just run them both, and if one fails while you are out of town, at least you will have some flow.

sarcophytonIndy · Dec 1, 2018

Liquidgold said:
Have you looked into the Deepwater Aquatics Distribution DC7 pumps? I think they are made in Europe (maybe England) and reasonably priced. I've used them for over 2 years without problems. I have two return pumps that I exchange and clean in vinegar every 6 months. I have also used Jebao and find the Deepwater pumps more reliable.

Have any trouble integrating it in with US fittings?

Velcro · Dec 1, 2018

The varios is probably about the most reliable DC return pump there is until you start talking about red dragon money.

rushbattle · Dec 2, 2018

I’ve run the varios-8 since just a bit after it was released as my return pump. Only cleaned it a few times. When I did clean it it wasn’t calcified or particularly dirty, and it didn’t pick up a bunch of flow when I did so. Just bought 4 more for use in new systems over Black Friday sales. Also the quietest pumps I’ve heard personally.

Ray668 · Dec 2, 2018

Reef octopus various hands down

Clownfish2 · Dec 2, 2018

I run 2 return pumps simultaneously in my sump: a DCT12000 and a Varios 4. I also have a spare DCT12000 in water change can.

Both DCT12000 have had for 2 years and no issues. One of them is a little whine sound at full throttle.

The Varios 4 is Super Silent. First month, the float switch was bad and had to replace. No issues after.

rushbattle · Dec 2, 2018

Clownfish2 said:
I run 2 return pumps simultaneously in my sump: a DCT12000 and a Varios 4. I also have a spare DCT12000 in water change can.

Both DCT12000 have had for 2 years and no issues. One of them is a little whine sound at full throttle.

The Varios 4 is Super Silent. First month, the float switch was bad and had to replace. No issues after.

This is more or less exactly my experience as well. DCT whines, some more than others. Varios is super silent, even at full power!

lordraptor1 · Mar 23, 2021

Marctrees said:
Thank you for replies.

PLEASE keep them coming.

I just hate to buy anything chinese - specially like any tools and mechanical / technical things.

Not always, but usually crap.

Willing to pay more for Reef Octopus ( even though still chinese) over Jebao, but money very tight on disabled retiree budget.

BTW - I have spent hours searching and reading, problem is both of these are pretty new, minimal history.

I want longevity/ reliability/ parts availability.

Marctrees

as an fyi, even AI, maxspec, abyzz, and kessil are made in china regard;ess of what people might try to tell you. as far as the jebao pumps go. i have a jebao dcp 10000 on my 150 gallon tank as the return pump and i have had 0 issues with it, i also have a regal 200 int skimmer with the varios-4s pump and i have had issues with that pump since day one. keep in mind my varios is the skimmer version that came in the box with my regal 200 int and the first major issue was it had the wrong impeller ( yep my 4s came with the water pump impeller not the skimmer impeller), second issue was i had to BUY the correct impeller for my skimmer pump and i had to pay new price for what might as well been a used impeller because coralvue stated they would have to "check the warehouse to see if they had a 4s that they had pulled the controller out of"). this leads to next issue, i have been through 3 varios controllers in a year and my controller is mounted on the outside of my canopy so moisture is not the cause for failures. and with coralvue stating they had pumps they pulled controllers off of tells me it is a normal issue for controllers to go bad on varios pumps.

so, to summarize, save money and buy the jebao, flat out you can buy 2 jebao dcp pumps for about the same price as 1 varios.

lpsouth1978 · Mar 23, 2021

lordraptor1 said:
as an fyi, even AI, maxspec, abyzz, and kessil are made in china regard;ess of what people might try to tell you. as far as the jebao pumps go. i have a jebao dcp 10000 on my 150 gallon tank as the return pump and i have had 0 issues with it, i also have a regal 200 int skimmer with the varios-4s pump and i have had issues with that pump since day one. keep in mind my varios is the skimmer version that came in the box with my regal 200 int and the first major issue was it had the wrong impeller ( yep my 4s came with the water pump impeller not the skimmer impeller), second issue was i had to BUY the correct impeller for my skimmer pump and i had to pay new price for what might as well been a used impeller because coralvue stated they would have to "check the warehouse to see if they had a 4s that they had pulled the controller out of"). this leads to next issue, i have been through 3 varios controllers in a year and my controller is mounted on the outside of my canopy so moisture is not the cause for failures. and with coralvue stating they had pumps they pulled controllers off of tells me it is a normal issue for controllers to go bad on varios pumps.

so, to summarize, save money and buy the jebao, flat out you can buy 2 jebao dcp pumps for about the same price as 1 varios.

I have a feeling they already have their pump since the most recent reply was 2.5 years ago.