Is there a small reliable DC pump option?

[Ruu]

I'm looking for something controllable to replace my somewhat old waveline on my new system, which has been very reliable, but is just pumping too much water (and isn't configurable enough - it goes from pushing nothing to pushing way too much in a single power increment in the new tank).

I'm really looking for something that can be reliably tuned down to less than 1000gph.

Thoughts?

Dave

[gargoylenest]

depends on your budget. But ecotech Vectra would be a dependable one. Or you can pay less and get a jebao, which is, imao, a great pump for the price.

[Navig8tr]

Tunze 1073.050

[outy]

Originally Posted by gargoylenest

But ecotech Vectra would be a dependable one. .

Probably one of the worst DC pumps for reliability is vectra.

Jebao seems to have a better track record, but what I have found is that none of the cheaper DC pumps out shine one another.

Almost all of these cheaper DC pumps are Chinese made and all suffer a lack of long term reliability.

[scuzy]

Red dragon has a mini one that just came out. But it's bank


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[HBtank]

Reef Octopus, Ecotech, and Skimz have smaller DC pumps sold by reputable sellers that will provide good service. There are more options (more are released every day, such as Apex, Current USA, etc..), and I would stick with a company/seller that has solid warranties or returns when it comes to DC. Other cheaper brands are a gamble, since you are on your own if it does not work.

[outy]

Originally Posted by HBtank

Other cheaper brands are a gamble, since you are on your own if it does not work.

Not true, fishstreet offers returns and is a usa distributer.

All cheap DC pumps are a gamble.

Nice thing about Jebao is that they are 3 X less price wise, and have the same reliability as every other brand you mentioned. They are all Chinese in origin and many come out of the same factory as Jebao

#1 pump sold right now is the second gen DCP line on ebay.

[HBtank]

Originally Posted by outy

Not true, fishstreet offers returns and is a usa distributer.

All cheap DC pumps are a gamble.

Nice thing about Jebao is that they are 3 X less price wise, and have the same reliability as every other brand you mentioned. They are all Chinese in origin and many come out of the same factory as Jebao

#1 pump sold right now is the second gen DCP line on ebay.

The manufacturers warranty.... good luck with that.

http://m.fish-street.com/returns_and_refund

Defective Item:
Be sure to read the manufacturers warranty on any product you purchase. Most manufacturers prefer to deal directly with the end user on any warranty issues. If you find an item to be defective, please fill out our RMA Request Form .

Like I said, it’s a gamble. I don’t know why you are trying to pretend Jeboa is going to be replacing pumps.....

[Ruu]

Most of the options I have seen from Ecotech, Reef Octopus etc are probably a bit too powerful (and the Neptune isn't readily available yet) - when I say under 1000 gallons I mean well under 1000 gallons (I think I would be happy in the 500 range). The Jebao ones actually look to be sized for what I want to do, and since I'm using a pair of pumps it wouldn't be a disaster to have one quit. It's either that or the Tunze for the gph range I'm looking at, and the Tunze is $200 for something that has no controller (a quick read of the manual says *maybe* it is controllable manually via a screw - be nice if it was a bit clearer on exactly how that might work, since I might be more inclined to buy it if I could be sure). I could have a Jebao and one for backup and another one for backup of the backup for the same price.

I don't mind spending money to get something that is just right, but the more expensive options are seemingly too big. If I had the money for a Red Dragon or an Abyzz, I probably wouldn't be talking to you peasants on here.

Dave

[outy]

Originally Posted by Ruu

The Jebao ones actually look to be sized for what I want to do, and since I'm using a pair of pumps it wouldn't be a disaster to have one quit.

Dave

That's the whole point, same quality, and you can buy 2 for the price of one of the other cheap Chinese pumps.

With DC pumps your plumbing is key, and the beauty is you can turn them down.

If you go DC and go Jebao, make sure you get the second gen DCP controller.

at 9' I'm getting 600 gph using only 55W with a DCP 10000

[outy]

Originally Posted by HBtank

Like I said, it’s a gamble. ..

Like I said 3 X less price, for the same reliability, not a gamble when you can buy 3 pumps for the price of one with a hair better warranty.

The manufacturers warranty....

No different then any other cheap Chinese pump

Jeboa sells more DC pumps than all the others combined, and there are very few complaints about the DCP line of sine wave DC pumps that use much less wattage then older style DC pumps.

[LQT]

The newer Tunze DC 1073.05 have a dedicated controller and is easily controllable. Plus, Tunze reliability and service through Roger Vitko is second to none!

[HBtank]

Originally Posted by outy

Like I said 3 X less price, for the same reliability, not a gamble when you can buy 3 pumps for the price of one with a hair better warranty.



No different then any other cheap Chinese pump

Jeboa sells more DC pumps than all the others combined, and there are very few complaints about the DCP line of sine wave DC pumps that use much less wattage then older style DC pumps.

You are saying the warranty and service from Ecotech and Jeboa are the same............... really

[Ruu]

Originally Posted by LQT

The newer Tunze DC 1073.05 have a dedicated controller and is easily controllable. Plus, Tunze reliability and service through Roger Vitko is second to none!

Erm.. do they? I've looked through everything I can find, including a read of the manual (hell, I read the manual more thoroughly than if I had actually bought the damned thing), and I see no mention of it coming with a controller (feel free to link me to something). I suspect that somewhere in a box I have at least one, if not two Tunze wave controllers that might work (back from when men were men, and Tunze's were square), but now I'm spending $200 dollars and I have to go and fight a squirrel in the shed as well.

Dave

[outy]

Originally Posted by Ruu

Erm.. do they?
but now I'm spending $200 dollars and I have to go and fight a squirrel in the shed as well.

Dave

Not only that you may not get 400gph at 6' head height for 200 bucks. Pass its a small pump.

for $75 you get triple the flow almost the same head height and a controller


proves my point 3 X cheaper and its actually a decent product.


I purchased a DCP 10000 and was impressed so I purchased a DCP 2500 for my GEO calcium reactor. Its dead silent and I'm only using 6.9W

[LQT]

Originally Posted by Ruu

Erm.. do they? I've looked through everything I can find, including a read of the manual (hell, I read the manual more thoroughly than if I had actually bought the damned thing), and I see no mention of it coming with a controller (feel free to link me to something). I suspect that somewhere in a box I have at least one, if not two Tunze wave controllers that might work (back from when men were men, and Tunze's were square), but now I'm spending $200 dollars and I have to go and fight a squirrel in the shed as well.

Dave

Here's my newer generation. I bought it new for $170 using a coupon. My tank is not set up yet. Regardless of what others say, I have no issues paying for Tunze reliability and service.

[JUNBUG361]

Simplicity dc return pump has a 2 year warranty, price is fair

[outy]

Originally Posted by JUNBUG361

Simplicity dc return pump has a 2 year warranty, price is fair

They are rebranded jebao

[cincyjim]

I used a Tunze 1073.05 for years. It's dead silent and completely controllable (out of the box) not to mention you get several battery back up options. The only reason I'm not using it anymore is because I upgraded from a 75g to the 150g and I didn't feel it was pushing enough water for me. You will not be disappointed in this pump!

[ca1ore]

Originally Posted by outy

Probably one of the worst DC pumps for reliability is vectra.

Certainly there have been a lot of reports of the L1 failing, not so much for the M1. The smallest model, the S1, hasn't been out long enough to know .... unless you are just 'assuming' it will be unreliable based on the L1.

[tkeracer619]

I suspect the actual number of L1s sold vs failure rates is rather low, you just hear more about it than someone who bought a pump with the intention of tossing it in the trash when it died early.

I've been running mine without issue in the sump. It's a sweet pump!

[outy]

Originally Posted by ca1ore

Certainly there have been a lot of reports of the L1 failing, not so much for the M1. .

That's what I'm basing my opinion from. If a brand fails early or people have a problem, they come here and we hear about it. People have a good experience you may never hear from them.

I think the only reason we see these reports is because that brand sells so many pumps, and is probably in the top 3 brands sold.

I'm sure its a fine pump and it has designs details I like better then the two DC pumps I run.

[outy]

Originally Posted by tkeracer619

I suspect the actual number of L1s sold vs failure rates is rather low, you just hear more about it than someone who bought a pump with the intention of tossing it in the trash when it died early.

I've been running mine without issue in the sump. It's a sweet pump!

Agreed. They sell a lot of these pumps.

[outy]

Originally Posted by cincyjim

The only reason I'm not using it anymore is because I upgraded from a 75g to the 150g and I didn't feel it was pushing enough water for me.

That's my problem with this $175 pump, not enough flow for as real return pump, and a high price. Its why I don't own a single bit of tunze equipment.

In 25 years I have heard nothing bad and more complements then one can list, less price.

[ca1ore]

Originally Posted by tkeracer619

I suspect the actual number of L1s sold vs failure rates is rather low, you just hear more about it than someone who bought a pump with the intention of tossing it in the trash when it died early.

I've been running mine without issue in the sump. It's a sweet pump!

Maybe, no way to know of course. I also get the privately happy-publicly unhappy notion, but there do seem to be a disproportionately high number of reports of problems with the L1. My M1 has run flawlessly for me for 2 1/2 years now.