Best return pumps in the industry: Who gets your vote?

[MT_is_a_Pisces]

What's the community's thoughts on Jebao 4000 dc return pumps? I see the major online retailers don't carry them.

 

[MT_is_a_Pisces]

Sicce and Jebao here. Sicce for known reliability and longevity. Jebao DC pumps are just so enticing coming in at around $100 for the largest in their line. I ran one on my personal tank for 6 years before it failed. For never having been cleaned, it ran quiet for the entire span after the break in period.

I'm leaning towards the jebao dc 4000 for my 90g. Noise is not an important factor. Is this a good choice

 

[kingb4c0]

Eheim pumps are the best in the industry, I have a few running for over 15 years without any problem.

 

[don_chuwish]

@revhtree why are the Poll results only viewable after voting? I'm interested in the results but don't really have an educated vote to offer. This thread comes up prominently in web search results if you are looking for 'best return pump', so the results are a great resource for anyone interested.

My Waveline DC-6000 has been great for 3 years, but didn't come with any snail guard. So a couple of times now it has eaten some baby Trochus and the impeller blades show the wear. I'm starting to think about having a replacement on hand so this thread is great for the research.
I find that I don't use the variable flow as much as I'd expected. Great for tuning the flow initially. But for 'feed' I just have Apex turn it off. Reducing the flow rate just makes the Shadow overflow get crazy noisy. It's been at 65% (just over 1000GPH) since the initial setup mostly because that was the highest I could take it while staying quiet.
I DO like the low power use (48W max, more like 31W in my 65% case) and low noise.
I DON'T like that they don't even sell it anymore, not even a newer version. Doesn't speak well for expected longevity.

For DC options:
- VarioS-6 is looking like the best price/feature fit, but I worry about the flow degradation issue people have noticed. And just generally I've started to rethink the DC return pump idea.
For AC options:
- Sicce Syncra Silent 5.0 (1321GPH) - would do the job, but at 105W! $205
- Sicce Syncra Pro (1000GPH) 60W - but pretty low flow $142
- Sicce Syncra Pro (1500GPH) 110W! - $217
- Sicce Syncra ADV 5.5 (1500GPH) 50W - much better. $160... but Out of Stock everywhere...?
- Sicce Syncra ADV 7.0 (1900GPH) 55W - nice, but huge. $203
- EHEIM CompactON 5000 (1320GPH) - 70W $200

On specs alone the Syncra ADV has me sold, now I just gotta do some more hunting. CompactON looks good too but with a higher price and power draw it falls a little short.

 

[Fritzhamer]

IME the Syncra sounded like a jet engine. Maybe that’s exaggerating but it was by far the loudest thing on my tank. It was close to the sound output of my dehumidifier. I reached out to Sicce stating how much I love their pumps and their “silent” line.

They responded by stating that the “sicce silent” is a brand name and in no way do they imply that it is silent or even quiet. Yeah, nice.

I love my Cor pump, varios is great too but dollar for dollar you really can’t beat the Jebao return pumps.

 

[roberthu526]

I have had good results with Waveline too. Only had to clean once a year

 

[BrianReefer]

@revhtree why are the Poll results only viewable after voting? I'm interested in the results but don't really have an educated vote to offer. This thread comes up prominently in web search results if you are looking for 'best return pump', so the results are a great resource for anyone interested.

My Waveline DC-6000 has been great for 3 years, but didn't come with any snail guard. So a couple of times now it has eaten some baby Trochus and the impeller blades show the wear. I'm starting to think about having a replacement on hand so this thread is great for the research.
I find that I don't use the variable flow as much as I'd expected. Great for tuning the flow initially. But for 'feed' I just have Apex turn it off. Reducing the flow rate just makes the Shadow overflow get crazy noisy. It's been at 65% (just over 1000GPH) since the initial setup mostly because that was the highest I could take it while staying quiet.
I DO like the low power use (48W max, more like 31W in my 65% case) and low noise.
I DON'T like that they don't even sell it anymore, not even a newer version. Doesn't speak well for expected longevity.

For DC options:
- VarioS-6 is looking like the best price/feature fit, but I worry about the flow degradation issue people have noticed. And just generally I've started to rethink the DC return pump idea.
For AC options:
- Sicce Syncra Silent 5.0 (1321GPH) - would do the job, but at 105W! $205
- Sicce Syncra Pro (1000GPH) 60W - but pretty low flow $142
- Sicce Syncra Pro (1500GPH) 110W! - $217
- Sicce Syncra ADV 5.5 (1500GPH) 50W - much better. $160... but Out of Stock everywhere...?
- Sicce Syncra ADV 7.0 (1900GPH) 55W - nice, but huge. $203
- EHEIM CompactON 5000 (1320GPH) - 70W $200

On specs alone the Syncra ADV has me sold, now I just gotta do some more hunting. CompactON looks good too but with a higher price and power draw it falls a little short.

I went with the ADV 9 despite not being able to find many reviews about it - mostly because it had the flow rate I wanted and all of the pumps with reviews had mixed feedback. I’m using it on my Reefer 450 with a complex manifold and it’s doing an awesome job for me, I love it!

 

[don_chuwish]

I went with the ADV 9 despite not being able to find many reviews about it - mostly because it had the flow rate I wanted and all of the pumps with reviews had mixed feedback. I’m using it on my Reefer 450 with a complex manifold and it’s doing an awesome job for me, I love it!

Thanks, good to know. Quiet too?

 

[ksed]

I ditone one myself but always heard they are noisy.

 

[jon99]

What's the community's thoughts on Jebao 4000 dc return pumps? I see the major online retailers don't carry them.

It’s more of a “budget” pump that may not be the best option for a return, too risky. Don’t get me wrong, I have had one on a closed loop for extra flow for almost 5 years. It’s worked flawlessly, other than locking up one time when I overdosed alk and cal. The white precipitate caked on the magnet and the pump stopped.

IMO, the absolute best option is 2 return pumps. I did this when I ugraded my sump. With two pumps you can use pretty much whatever return pumps you want. If one quits your not completely shut down.

With just one, I would go with one with a longer track record. My sump is essential to keeping everything in the dt alive. I wouldn’t chance it on a cheaper pump.

 

[ReefingwithO]

Red Dragon, Vectra, COR, Sicce, Tunze and Jebao in that order.

The brands above (except Janie) have great support.

Worst pump - Reef Octopus Varios 8 - doesn’t handle pressure well and support sucks, after 2 months my Varios 8 was making a grinding sound - that guy Carlos took my pump. Sent me a video of the pump plugged in and sent it back to me. I said it’s not fixed, he said and I quote “you can pay to ship it back to us again if you want to - but there is no guarantee we are going to find anything and fix it”.

I’ll probably never use another Coralvue product again if I can help it.

 

[shoelaceike]

I'm against using any DC return pump so I will eliminate any of the excellent manufacturers that make them as part of this discussion.

Ehiem and Danner Supreme mag drive pumps are both a great value. Quiet, and they just work.

Sicce - Again, quiet and reliable. Gotta love having a 5 year warranty. Adjustable flow without needing an electronic controller.

Iwaki - About as good as it gets for value in a true pressure rated pump.

Why don't you like DC?

 

[Brew12]

Why don't you like DC?

They have all of the failure modes possible with an AC pump along with possible failure of the controller and power supply. I want my return pump as reliable as possible. If it fails, I lose my heaters, skimmer and chemical control.

 

[roberthu526]

Red Dragon, Vectra, COR, Sicce, Tunze and Jebao in that order.

The brands above (except Janie) have great support.

Worst pump - Reef Octopus Varios 8 - doesn’t handle pressure well and support sucks, after 2 months my Varios 8 was making a grinding sound - that guy Carlos took my pump. Sent me a video of the pump plugged in and sent it back to me. I said it’s not fixed, he said and I quote “you can pay to ship it back to us again if you want to - but there is no guarantee we are going to find anything and fix it”.

I’ll probably never use another Coralvue product again if I can help it.

I had similar experience with Carlos on my Maxspect gyres.

 

[BZOFIQ]

Worst pump - Reef Octopus Varios 8 - doesn’t handle pressure well and support sucks, after 2 months my Varios 8 was making a grinding sound - that guy Carlos took my pump. Sent me a video of the pump plugged in and sent it back to me. I said it’s not fixed, he said and I quote “you can pay to ship it back to us again if you want to - but there is no guarantee we are going to find anything and fix it”.

I’ll probably never use another Coralvue product again if I can help it.

I am reading way too many of these reports to be comfortable. I already bought the 6 and the 8 for dual pump setup. Now I feel that I should have just put this money towards an Abyzz pump down the line.

Crap!

 

[Sleepydoc]

I am reading way too many of these reports to be comfortable. I already bought the 6 and the 8 for dual pump setup. Now I feel that I should have just put this money towards an Abyzz pump down the line.

Crap!

I have a varios 6 that I have never had a problem with. As for pressure, it is similar to many other pumps on the market, so I would count that as a characteristic rather than a fault per se. I've never had to deal with tech support as mine has never had an issue. The owner of my LFS uses the Varios pumps a lot in the installs that she does and has found them to be more reliable than the Vectras, for what that's worth.

 

[BZOFIQ]

I have a varios 6 that I have never had a problem with. As for pressure, it is similar to many other pumps on the market, so I would count that as a characteristic rather than a fault per se. I've never had to deal with tech support as mine has never had an issue. The owner of my LFS uses the Varios pumps a lot in the installs that she does and has found them to be more reliable than the Vectras, for what that's worth.

That's great to hear for a change. Their reviews at BRS seem great but lately I hear nothing but complaints about these.

 

[falconut]

I've got 4 Danner Magdrive pumps:

Magdrive 7: I got it back in 2004 for a return pump, mixing pump, etc. It's still going & I'm using it for a pond fountain.

Magdrive 18: I believe I got it around 2005 for a return when I upgraded my tank.

Magdrive 9.5: About 2006 I got this for a closed loop.

Magdrive 24: I got this a couple years ago for a tank upgrade to a 180, but this thing was so loud. So, it went out to my pond & the Magdrive 18 is still the return.

The longevity & reliability of these pumps is great. I used spaflex for the outlet & the foam/rubber sticker underneath the pump & the Magdrive 18 is pretty quiet. I just stick with what words for me.

 

[BigJohnny]

Sicce syncra silent series

 

[Hog Head]

I've got 4 Danner Magdrive pumps:

Magdrive 7: I got it back in 2004 for a return pump, mixing pump, etc. It's still going & I'm using it for a pond fountain.

Magdrive 18: I believe I got it around 2005 for a return when I upgraded my tank.

Magdrive 9.5: About 2006 I got this for a closed loop.

Magdrive 24: I got this a couple years ago for a tank upgrade to a 180, but this thing was so loud. So, it went out to my pond & the Magdrive 18 is still the return.

The longevity & reliability of these pumps is great. I used spaflex for the outlet & the foam/rubber sticker underneath the pump & the Magdrive 18 is pretty quiet. I just stick with what words for me.

x2 I’ve had 3 Magdrive pumps since 2010 and they are all still running in the system today. MD 7, 9.5 and 18