Jebao SOW-4 Wave Maker fit check
Jebao SOW-4 Wave Maker is a DC controllable sine-wave wavemaker rated 132-1057 GPH at 12W. On its own it supplies comfortable flow for about 55 gallons of soft coral, 35 gallons of mixed reef, or 20 gallons of SPS, before placement and mode settings.
Jebao SOW-4 Wave Maker: fits roughly 10-40 gallon systems. Specs, compatibility math, sizing risks, and alternatives before you buy.
Who it is for
Good fit for
- ✓ 10-40 gallon systems, per the catalog fit range.
- ✓ About 35 gallons of mixed reef or 55 gallons of soft coral on its own.
Not a fit for
- ✕ Tanks under about 10 gallons; it is sized above them.
- ✕ Systems over about 40 gallons without adding capacity elsewhere.
- ✕ SPS tanks over about 20 gallons unless paired with more flow.
Compatibility math
Turnover contribution
Example: 1,057 GPH contributes about 14x turnover on a 75g tank before placement and mode settings.
The planner adds all flow pumps together and compares the total to the reef goal.
Risk notes
- Too little flow leaves dead spots. Too much direct flow can strip tissue from LPS and irritate soft corals.
- Price is marked as estimated, so verify current vendor pricing before treating the budget as final.
Professional fit context
- Check controllability, broadness of flow, glass thickness, GPH range, and whether two smaller pumps beat one large one.
- Jebao SOW-4 Wave Maker fits roughly 10-40 gallon systems; confirm that range against the final display volume, sump volume, and livestock plan.
- Treat the displayed price as a budget placeholder until a reviewed vendor page confirms current pricing.
Alternatives to compare
- Jebao OW-10 Wave Maker
1,056 GPH vs 1,057: less flow for smaller systems.
- Jebao SLW-10 Compact Wave Maker
1,050 GPH vs 1,057: less flow for smaller systems.
- Hydor Koralia Evolution 1050 GPH Powerhead
1,050 GPH vs 1,057: less flow for smaller systems.
Livestock this affects
- Birdsnest coral
High flow need; plan strong, varied flow.
- Montipora
High flow need; plan strong, varied flow.
- Blastomussa coral
Low flow need; keep this pump's output indirect nearby.
- Bubble coral
Low flow need; keep this pump's output indirect nearby.
Full spec snapshot
- Category
- Flow Pumps
- Build tier
- Budget
- Estimated price
- $50 est.
- Tank fit range
- fits roughly 10-40 gallon systems
- Format
- DC Controllable Sine Wave Wavemaker
- Maximum flow
- 1,057 GPH
Related reading
Questions
How many Jebao SOW-4 Wave Maker pumps does a 75 gallon mixed reef need?
A 75 gallon mixed reef wants about 2,250 GPH of total flow by ReefCrafter's 20-40x rule. At 1,057 GPH rated, that is about 3 of these at full output, before return-pump flow and mode settings.
What tank size is the Jebao SOW-4 Wave Maker for?
ReefCrafter's catalog fit range for it is 10-40 gallon systems. Confirm that against your final display volume, sump volume, and livestock plan rather than the box label alone.
What should I compare the Jebao SOW-4 Wave Maker against?
Jebao OW-10 Wave Maker (1,056 GPH vs 1,057: less flow for smaller systems); Jebao SLW-10 Compact Wave Maker (1,050 GPH vs 1,057: less flow for smaller systems); Hydor Koralia Evolution 1050 GPH Powerhead (1,050 GPH vs 1,057: less flow for smaller systems).
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