rcpiv93
Active Member
Most of the reviews that I've seen for the VorTech clones from Jebao are relatively old, most of them from fall of 2024. So, I thought that I would add my two cents now that the products have been on the market for a while.
For context, I have four MP40s on a 200g system. Overall, I love them. They are well-constructed, quiet, and extremely versatile--especially given the different modes available. That said, I recently set up a 45g cube and couldn't justify spending another $400 on a simple softy/lps system. Now was the perfect time to give the DMPs a try.
Price vs. Build Quality: the build is extremely cheap compared to the VorTechs. Of course, the price is also extremely cheap. I purchased the DMP-20 for $125. It's stronger than the MP10 which retails for $380. So, the knock-off comes in at 1/3 the price of the VorTech. Is it 1/3 the quality? It's probably better. Cheap, yes. But acceptably built given the savings.
Noise: the pump is definitely louder than the VorTechs. In fact, this pump is much smaller than my MP40s, but also a good bit louder. Whereas the MP40 produces a soft whirring sound as it ramps up and down, the DMP produces more of a soft, plastic rattle. It's not so bad as to suggest that something is misaligned, but it is noticeable when sitting right next to the tank. One benefit of the DMP, however, are the suction cups that seem to dampen the noise just a bit. I notice that when they are not suctioned adequately, the noise is more noticeable.
Heat: perhaps it is the smaller size, but these run cooler than my MP40s. I do not have an MP10 to compare them to, but I was impressed with the lack of heat that they produce
Flow: these things are strong. The flow is narrower than my VorTechs, so keep that in mind. But I have been very happy with the amount of water that they move. What I am not a fan of, however, is the controller. I love the fact that I can change the modes on my MP40s and have them cycle throughout the day. As far as I know, with the DMPs you have to select a single mode, and you can only change the mode manually; you cannot set a program for automatic fluctuations in mode/power.
Overall, I give these guys 4/5 stars. They definitely have their place in the hobby. I am not sure that I would use them on an SPS dominate system, especially a large one like my 200g. I want optimal control in these situations, and the DMPs are a bit too limited for my liking. That being said, I think that they are a perfect budget solution for softy/lps systems. I don't need to spend 3x as much for the bells and whistles to keep GSP and duncans alive. So, if this is the situation that you find yourself in, I would 100% consider the DMPs.
For context, I have four MP40s on a 200g system. Overall, I love them. They are well-constructed, quiet, and extremely versatile--especially given the different modes available. That said, I recently set up a 45g cube and couldn't justify spending another $400 on a simple softy/lps system. Now was the perfect time to give the DMPs a try.
Price vs. Build Quality: the build is extremely cheap compared to the VorTechs. Of course, the price is also extremely cheap. I purchased the DMP-20 for $125. It's stronger than the MP10 which retails for $380. So, the knock-off comes in at 1/3 the price of the VorTech. Is it 1/3 the quality? It's probably better. Cheap, yes. But acceptably built given the savings.
Noise: the pump is definitely louder than the VorTechs. In fact, this pump is much smaller than my MP40s, but also a good bit louder. Whereas the MP40 produces a soft whirring sound as it ramps up and down, the DMP produces more of a soft, plastic rattle. It's not so bad as to suggest that something is misaligned, but it is noticeable when sitting right next to the tank. One benefit of the DMP, however, are the suction cups that seem to dampen the noise just a bit. I notice that when they are not suctioned adequately, the noise is more noticeable.
Heat: perhaps it is the smaller size, but these run cooler than my MP40s. I do not have an MP10 to compare them to, but I was impressed with the lack of heat that they produce
Flow: these things are strong. The flow is narrower than my VorTechs, so keep that in mind. But I have been very happy with the amount of water that they move. What I am not a fan of, however, is the controller. I love the fact that I can change the modes on my MP40s and have them cycle throughout the day. As far as I know, with the DMPs you have to select a single mode, and you can only change the mode manually; you cannot set a program for automatic fluctuations in mode/power.
Overall, I give these guys 4/5 stars. They definitely have their place in the hobby. I am not sure that I would use them on an SPS dominate system, especially a large one like my 200g. I want optimal control in these situations, and the DMPs are a bit too limited for my liking. That being said, I think that they are a perfect budget solution for softy/lps systems. I don't need to spend 3x as much for the bells and whistles to keep GSP and duncans alive. So, if this is the situation that you find yourself in, I would 100% consider the DMPs.
