Gear
Wave makers and powerheads: what reef keepers commonly use
Powerheads that move water around the display. Below are 2 items we see often, each with our honest note and where to view it in the UK and the US.
We sell nothing and earn nothing from these links. Prices are as each retailer's page showed them on the date checked, and they change. How this guide works
Listings checked . How we check
What should you look for in wavemakers?
- A magnet strong enough for your glass thickness. Check the maker's glass range against your tank.
- A feed mode, and a guard over the intake so fish and snails are not pulled in.
- Varied or random flow modes, which suit most mixed reefs better than one steady jet.
Commonly used wavemakers
Specs are as published on the listed pages. Where the US and UK pages give different figures, we show both.
Jebao SLW-10
Brand: Jebao
Our note. An inexpensive magnetic wave maker with several flow modes, suited to small and mid tanks. Magnet strength and controller quality are the usual complaints, so check your glass thickness.
Key specs
- 1,065 GPH (listing title)
- Magnetic mount; sine wave and random modes
UK listing
Amazon UK (UK): opens the retailer's page for Jebao SLW-10 in the United Kingdom- Price as shown
- Price not shown on the page when we checked
- Checked
US listing
Amazon.com (US): opens the retailer's page for Jebao SLW-10 in the United States- Price as shown
- Price not shown on the page when we checked
- Checked
AI Nero 5
Brand: AquaIllumination
Our note. A slim app-controlled powerhead for medium tanks with random, pulse and scheduled modes. It is not controllable from an Apex, and the published glass limit differs between US and UK pages.
Key specs
- 3,000 GPH / 13,500 lph
- For 40 to 100 US gal tanks (BRS)
- 30 W max
- Glass up to 16 mm (BRS) or 13 mm (Kraken)
UK listing
Kraken Corals (UK): opens the retailer's page for AI Nero 5 in the United Kingdom- Price as shown
- £239.99
- Checked
US listing
Bulk Reef Supply (US): opens the retailer's page for AI Nero 5 in the United States- Price as shown
- US$259.99
- Checked