Smallest wave maker / circulation pump

8675309TT · May 30, 2021

Hello, I have a Fluval Evo 13.5 and wanted a very small wave maker circulation pump since tank space was at a premium. After a lot of research, this is the smallest I have found.

e.g.
Hygger 1.5 x 1.5 inches (better reviews than Jebao)
Jebao SLW 5 is 2.5 x 1.5 inches (some poor reviews)
Fluval Sea CP1 3.6 x 5.6 x 3.8 inches!!!

Hygger 1600gph, 3-25 gallon:

lapin · May 30, 2021

I use 2 jebao 10's in my 20g set on low. Alternate timing (on off). They do get dirty fast and I have to clean them weekly with a bottle brush.

happyhourhero · May 30, 2021

I run 2 of the hyggers in my 25. They are good so far.

monkeyCmonkeyDo · May 30, 2021

I think im gonna go with the slw 5
Mines a 3gal. I would do a 10 and a 5 on urs. Or the 1600gph hagger
D

Jdadams · May 30, 2021

Hyyger all the way. I have had one for a few months now along with my mp10 and it’s great!

Deyan · May 30, 2021

8675309TT said:
Hello, I have a Fluval Evo 13.5 and wanted a very small wave maker circulation pump since tank space was at a premium. After a lot of research, this is the smallest I have found.

e.g.
Hygger 1.5 x 1.5 inches (better reviews than Jebao)
Jebao SLW 5 is 2.5 x 1.5 inches (some poor reviews)
Fluval Sea CP1 3.6 x 5.6 x 3.8 inches!!!

Hygger 1600gph, 3-25 gallon:

Might be over kill but small and very controllable - Nero 3 (I got those in a 5 gallon nps tank - and 4 on my 50 gallon. Love them

c_johns89 · May 30, 2021

I like the hygger. It has a pretty small profile and it was more than enough for my 20 gallon. Still works well (bought it in January).

aSaltyKlown · May 30, 2021

I had the Hygger mini in mine and still seemed like too much flow on the lowest setting. I have since taken it out and am only running the Sicce Silent .5 in the return with two RFG's. I also have a Sicce Nano stream that I have not tried yet. I only have softies and LPS.

I've also had the Jebao OW-10, SW-2 and SLW-10 and did not like their quality and how the blades stopped during the pulse mode.

Jedi1199 · May 30, 2021

8675309TT said:
Hello, I have a Fluval Evo 13.5 and wanted a very small wave maker circulation pump since tank space was at a premium. After a lot of research, this is the smallest I have found.

e.g.
Hygger 1.5 x 1.5 inches (better reviews than Jebao)
Jebao SLW 5 is 2.5 x 1.5 inches (some poor reviews)
Fluval Sea CP1 3.6 x 5.6 x 3.8 inches!!!

Hygger 1600gph, 3-25 gallon:

I have the same Hygger in my 32 Biocube. Small profile, good flow.. I have it on the opposite side of the tank from the return to create crossflow. Seems to work well if maybe a bit strong.

Cássio H. C. Gebara · Mar 31, 2023

Hello !

I´m looking for a very small wavemaker for my 8G reef and found this old topic on R2R (long time with no access...).
On a yesterday search, I found :
. TMC Reef Flow 2.0 4000 12v DC Wavemaker Pump
. Hygger Wavemaker pump (1600gph)
. AL Nero 3 (2000gph)
. Sicce Nano Voyager (1000 l/h)
. Hydor Pico EvoMag (650l/h)
The last two are not a wavemaker.
My main consearn is the size once if I adopt a eletronic one, the flow rate can be managed.
I really need a very small one.
Do you guys know another option ?
Tks in advance.
Regards !

Deyan · Apr 1, 2023

I like the Nero 3. You’ll just have to dial it really low.. maybe in ur size tank 18 max speed.. depends on rock placement etc… bit overkill in small tank but you won’t regret the flexibility in programming.

Hooz · Apr 1, 2023

Jebao MLW-5 is a tad bigger than the Hygger, but has half the flow.

Jebao has a new, smaller one out now, though. It's the ELW-3m. I ordered one from AliE, but who knows when it will get here.

Cássio H. C. Gebara · Apr 3, 2023

Deyan and Hooz,

Tks for your feedback, but both are still big wavemakers, regarding dimentions.
I understand that if it is controled, the flow rate is not a big deal, but size...
People ask me, Why a wavemaker on a small nano...Well, I have a huge amount of corals and just one (or sometime two) Better Mini-C pump (www.https://gruposarlo.com.br/produto/motobomba-mini-a/), which just one continuous flow mode.
If you guys have another sugestion, please let me know !
Tks in advance !

Regards !

Subliminal · Apr 3, 2023

Bah, put whatever you can get a good deal on in there. There's plenty of space.

Thats a Sicce nano 2000...its a relatively large unit, but it doesn't stick out any further than the returns.

fish farmer · Apr 3, 2023

I've been using the hygger wavemaker HG-951 on my standard sized 29 gallon for a couple months. It doesn't put out noticable flow past 12 inches, but in a pulse mode I do get a back and fourth flow in parts of the tank. I do like the options of different modes and it has a small foot print. I may stuff it in another spot and just hang it without the magnet. My other flow pump is a tunze nano stream that really moves water.

I also had the sicci nano voyager, which still works, but I really don't like the attachment design. It's a little plastic post that sticks into the wet side of the magnet. Mine was in a tight spot so it was difficult to align in the hole and then adjust after cleaning.

Hooz · Apr 3, 2023

The MLW-5 really doesn't look that big in the tank. I have one in an IM Nuvo 10 and even with an anemone guard, it doesn't seem huge in there. I'm excited for the ELW-3m to get here (maybe next week). The dimensions are smaller than the MLW-5, enough smaller to make me think it'll be pretty tiny in person.