Which affordable wave maker should I get

[Fishingandreefing]

Jebao pumps are not great if you want to use and coordinate more than 2 in alternating mode.
Battery back up - any dc pump can be easily and cheaply pluged into a diy battery solution customised to your needs. BOM: 1 relay, batteries of your choice, dc connectors matching pump's, battery tender, wire.
As for reliability ... buy 1 from multiple stores to get different batches. I have 5 for almost 1year. 1 died so far. @~55eur per powerhead I'm fine with that.
I bought 2 10000l/h DC return pumps (adjustable in 1% steps) for 200eur. 1 in tank running 24/7 (just need to clean every couple of months), the other is backup/water change.
Say what you want but jebao is good value - especially for a nano where 1-2 small jebaos would be plenty.

As for "stealing technology" .. its a pump ... its a microcontroller controlled pump. There is nothing really that innovative about it. Just more robust to handle saltwater - Otherwise it would be a completely generic product.
Now fancy controllers that drive the pumps will have proprietary software .. but jebao does not steal that.
the only innovative pump that jebao 'stole' is gyre ... and to be honest the only innovative thing about it is to make impeller bigger.

So the west “stole” the invention of black powder and guns from China lol

 

[SEGA]

I've looked at the Sicce Voyager pumps as a potential replacements for my Hydor Koralia pumps but it looks like the Voyager pumps are significantly larger than the Hydors. Does anyone have experience with both that can give a size comparison. I am interested in a quality pump with good flow but also don't want by such large pumps that they detract from the view. One thing I really like about the gyre pumps is they are pretty low profile.

I inherited two Sicce Voyager 3 pumps with my tank. These things are massive, especially in a 34 gallon display.
Here's a size comparison with the Jebao RW-4. Quite a difference, especially inside the tank. The Jebao would practically disappear in the tank if it wasn't for the white propeller.

 

[DancingWind]

Sicce Voyageur Nanostream pumps.. $35 each for 530 gph and one Sicce wave surfer controller at about $90. so for about 160 you get 2 pumps with a really long warranty (3 to 5 years) Reputable, reliable, not expensive and suitable to your tank size. No bigger than the Jebao. I have had a few Jebao pumps.. they work or they dont.. You get to be the one to find out. Not like anyone is going to back a failure with those. Cheap junk in my experience.

They are AC pumps - not the same product category

 

[reefpunk707]

I have a 29 gal biocube too. I have 2 jebao slw 10s in it and in pretty happy with it.

 

[ORReefer]

They are AC pumps - not the same product category

From what I understand, because of how they are designed, they don't have the clicking issue when cycled on and off. Not same category but maybe more equivalent to a DC pump in terms of durability?

 

[Anchor]

They are AC pumps - not the same product category

but with the wave unit they work the same.. and the Sicce 3 year warranty. AC is far more durable overall. and the Nanos have been quieter than the Jebao You can actually feel the tank vibrate with the Jebao when they cycle.

 

[HaveFishWillTravel]

Found this one on Amazon. cannot vouch for quality though.. Small pump with a set up similar to the Nero. but really small. WIder flow patter I am thinking.

I bought 2 of these and have set one of them up in my Nano 20. Easy set up. Super tiny pump which is great for my little tank. Not bad price at $70 bucks. Seems like relatively good quality by looks and feel. I am going to try to set up both pumps although, it might be a bit much for a 20 gallon (18 gallon true) tank. It has 4 flow patterns + feed mode. Classic wave mode, nutrition transfer, constant stream and random. Intensity can be set to 40%, 60%, 80% and 100%. Frequency = 1 thru 8. Fits 3 - 25 gallon tank 1/2” glass. Obviously, I need to see how well the motors run and last. Don’t have much more info on it. He has a 29 gallon cube, I think this might work for him if he had two pumps and positions them correctly. For me, without building the aquascape with the wave maker in mind, it is kind of tough finding a good position without potentially having the pump(s) in the front of the aquarium.

 

[Fishingandreefing]

The SOW are dead silent! However, it’s quality on the magnets are disappointed compared to the older version, OW. But for the price, you can’t beat it.

The scp120 is loud.

 

[Stuartmercer]

I'm going to purchase a new power-head in July when aqua illumination finally includes a fish guard to their nero 5. I want it because how low profile and powerful it is, but wasn't willing to buy it after hearing that it can suck fish in. But finally they are releasing a fish guard with it so yay!!!

 

[DancingWind]

but with the wave unit they work the same.. and the Sicce 3 year warranty. AC is far more durable overall. and the Nanos have been quieter than the Jebao You can actually feel the tank vibrate with the Jebao when they cycle.

Yes you can but pump is still not ramping or adjustable. And the we unit is extra money and space.
I'm not saying it does not work, but it's not an apples to apples comparison and still quite a bit more expensive. Not vortech more but in my calculations it's at least double if you include wave maker.
Oh and my pums definitely did not rattle the tank ... imbalanced impeller - bad luck. I'm not defending jebao quality - its a bit of a lottery. (mine were audible on max but not rattling)

 

[DancingWind]

The SOW are dead silent! However, it’s quality on the magnets are disappointed compared to the older version, OW. But for the price, you can’t beat it.

The scp120 is loud.

on max power it was qyuite audible.
AND BEWARE! Maxspec gyre fx350 is significantly more powerful even though power is similar (40W vs 45W) ... as I had found out to my horror. bought xf350 2 pump kit to replaced all jebaos .. and run it on my 550L DT opposing sides at slow alternating gyre mode up to 20% power (think washing machine like setup -thankfully corrals don't seem to mind ) ... and I would like to run it lower but 10% does not move water at all... ****** controller with limited power settings, jebao has 1% steps why not Maxspec? They have a true 3 phase brushless motors + the rotary encoder on the controller is an abomination)

 

[Fishingandreefing]

on max power it was qyuite audible.
AND BEWARE! Maxspec gyre fx350 is significantly more powerful even though power is similar (40W vs 45W) ... as I had found out to my horror. bought xf350 2 pump kit to replaced all jebaos .. and run it on my 550L DT opposing sides at slow alternating gyre mode up to 20% power (think washing machine like setup -thankfully corrals don't seem to mind ) ... and I would like to run it lower but 10% does not move water at all... ****** controller with limited power settings, jebao has 1% steps why not Maxspec? They have a true 3 phase brushless motors + the rotary encoder on the controller is an abomination)

The scp120 start making noise after power 3. The rest, dead silent even at 100%.

 

[Anchor]

Yes you can but pump is still not ramping or adjustable. And the we unit is extra money and space.
I'm not saying it does not work, but it's not an apples to apples comparison and still quite a bit more expensive. Not vortech more but in my calculations it's at least double if you include wave maker.
Oh and my pums definitely did not rattle the tank ... imbalanced impeller - bad luck. I'm not defending jebao quality - its a bit of a lottery. (mine were audible on max but not rattling)

lemme say, unbalanced impeller = Jebao quality...

And a reminder, the OP has a 29 cube.. so some of the stuff you are adding in is kind of irrelevant.

As to the Sicce, the controller handles 2 pumps.. one controller..

2 nano pumps and one controller.. OH I found it at $30 less on Amazon by the way.. so at $130, its 2 pumps and a controller. Jebao is then 2 pumps and 2 controllers.. = more room or depending on size.. the same amount of room.. so about the same price or close enough in my book.. And Sicce is far better quality.., It may not use the sine wave and uses a square wave off and on.. but i have not found that to be a problem... Also, the pump IS adjustable via the controller. You can control the power to the pump and slow it down or ramp it up.. I guess I am not seeing your argument for Jebao over the Sicce.. Having used both.. I guess I am leaning Sicce still

So @tnewell, is any of our arguements helping you decide...

 

[Anchor]

I have a concession to make.. Sicce Nano's are about 20% larger body wise than the SW-4

 

[Joseph Disalvo]

Eflux current USA. Use 2 2100 pumps on gyre surge on a 120 gallon. Bang for your buck

 

[Anchor]

Eflux current USA. Use 2 2100 pumps on gyre surge on a 120 gallon. Bang for your buck

How many of those for a 29 gallon cube that the OP is asking about?

 

[GlassMunky]

If you’re handy at all you can get another small return pump like the one used in the back chamber or something like a maxi jet 900 or 1200 and cut a small second hole by the main return and have 2 return pumps so you get the Beni fit of the added flow but don’t loose any display space for corals.

 

[GlassMunky]

Here’s my biocube with the mod I mentioned

 

[GlassMunky]

They're insanely priced. Get yourself a jebao slw-10. Save yourself $200+.

As someone who owns Jebao, VorTech, Tunze and others I can say for a fact that Jebao and VorTech are not even playing the same ball game let alone in the same park.
I have multiple VorTech that are over 10 years old still in use today, still able to Be upgraded and work with newer apps and have never needed repairs. Meanwhile I have a box full of old Jebao parts that stopped working in under 6 months.

You get what you pay for.

 

[Squidward]

As someone who owns Jebao, VorTech, Tunze and others I can say for a fact that Jebao and VorTech are not even playing the same ball game let alone in the same park.
I have multiple VorTech that are over 10 years old still in use today, still able to Be upgraded and work with newer apps and have never needed repairs. Meanwhile I have a box full of old Jebao parts that stopped working in under 6 months.

You get what you pay for.

Seen quite a lot of rust issues for a $360+ pumps. I guess plenty of people got jipped then for something that can rust. I could buy 4 jebao slw 30s for one mp40.