Jebao SOW-9 Wave Maker fit check
Jebao SOW-9 Wave Maker is a DC controllable sine-wave wavemaker rated 185-2377 GPH (1000-9000 L/H) at 23W. On its own it supplies comfortable flow for about 120 gallons of soft coral, 80 gallons of mixed reef, or 50 gallons of SPS, before placement and mode settings.
Jebao SOW-9 Wave Maker: fits roughly 30-90 gallon systems. Specs, compatibility math, sizing risks, and alternatives before you buy.
Who it is for
Good fit for
- ✓ 30-90 gallon systems, per the catalog fit range.
- ✓ About 80 gallons of mixed reef or 120 gallons of soft coral on its own.
Not a fit for
- ✕ Tanks under about 30 gallons; it is sized above them.
- ✕ Systems over about 90 gallons without adding capacity elsewhere.
- ✕ SPS tanks over about 50 gallons unless paired with more flow.
Compatibility math
Turnover contribution
Example: 2,377 GPH contributes about 32x 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-9 Wave Maker fits roughly 30-90 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 SLW-20 Compact Wave Maker
2,642 GPH vs 2,377: more flow.
- AquaIllumination Nero 3 Wave Powerhead (2000 GPH)
2,000 GPH vs 2,377: less flow for smaller systems.
- IceCap 2K Gyre Flow Pump (2000 GPH)
2,000 GPH vs 2,377: less flow for smaller systems.
Livestock this affects
- Montipora
High flow need; plan strong, varied flow.
- Montipora digitata
High flow need; plan strong, varied flow.
- Bubble coral
Low flow need; keep this pump's output indirect nearby.
- Chalice coral
Low flow need; keep this pump's output indirect nearby.
Full spec snapshot
- Category
- Flow Pumps
- Build tier
- Budget
- Estimated price
- $80 est.
- Tank fit range
- fits roughly 30-90 gallon systems
- Format
- DC Controllable Sine Wave Wavemaker
- Maximum flow
- 2,377 GPH
Related reading
Questions
How many Jebao SOW-9 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 2,377 GPH rated, that is about 1 of these at full output, before return-pump flow and mode settings.
What tank size is the Jebao SOW-9 Wave Maker for?
ReefCrafter's catalog fit range for it is 30-90 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-9 Wave Maker against?
Jebao SLW-20 Compact Wave Maker (2,642 GPH vs 2,377: more flow); AquaIllumination Nero 3 Wave Powerhead (2000 GPH) (2,000 GPH vs 2,377: less flow for smaller systems); IceCap 2K Gyre Flow Pump (2000 GPH) (2,000 GPH vs 2,377: less flow for smaller systems).
