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Following up our Best Aquarium Wavemakers Review post, it would be natural for me to write about the best aquarium return pumps next. Return pumps are an essential component for many fish tanks. They are used in all-in-one tanks, water changing stations, and in aquariums sumps or refugium sumps. It is the heart of the aquarium and thus the very piece of equipment in your setup that you do not want to fail. You can argue that next to an Aquarium Heater, a failed return pump can be disastrous not only for your livestock, but to your home in the event of a flood or leak.
The goal with this post is not to point you to the cheapest aquarium return pumps or the most expensive ones. I’m going to point you to the highest quality and reliable pumps available today on the market. This is a component of your system that you should not skim on. You want an aquarium return pump to last forever, be quiet, and to be relevantly maintenance free.
What Is An Aquarium Return Pump?
The first question you may be asking is why do I have to use a return pump versus say a wavemaker or powerhead. The main difference here is that return pumps are designed to pump water uphill and are made to handle head pressure. Wavemakers are meant to pump water within the aquarium and a powerhead is not suited to handle the head pressure that a return pump is design to take.
AC vs. DC Return Pumps
Return pump manufacturers have been really pushing DC return pumps a lot recently. It makes a lot of sense given the control features that DC pumps offer. Nearly all DC return pumps are controllable with precision and have feed modes to instantly shut off the water pump when feeding your fish, plants, or corals. Some return pump come with smart phone apps that makes monitoring and setup a breeze. They are also a lot more energy efficient.
However, they come with some big advantages. Reliability is the number one concern I would have with a return pump. You see, a large number of DC return pumps are made in China and the same manufacturer often makes several re-branded pumps (e.g. – Jabeos). Sometimes the quality control simply isn’t there. Other times, the warranties are very short because the manufacturers are well aware of the issues — especially if they operate in saltwater aquariums. A DC controller with have 3 failure points that you will need to deal with:
- The controller
- The power supply
- The motor
The motor will be the most reliable part of your DC return pump and the controller will be the least reliable. Often times when I see a DC return pump failure, it will usually be the controller.
AC pumps are a tried and true in this industry. The benchmark of this engineering comes from Italy. Italian engineers had developed the Askoll Motor Block.
Askolls motor blocks are known for their extreme reliability in the aquarium trade with many motor blocks easily lasting over 10 years. The manufactures will also back up their models with long-term warranties, typically at least 3 years or more! The motor block is the only failure point to be concerned with on an AC aquarium return pump. As you can see, they are very worry free!
AC pumps also come with some big disadvantages over DC pumps. Several are not adjustable aside from the flow rate reducer, which means the pump will always run at full power and the decreased flow rate results in head pressure (e.g. – more wear and tear). Nearly all will not have a feed feature and the energy consumption is a lot more. Several AC pumps are also loud, which is a big consideration if you are working with a setup in a study or bedroom.
Internal Versus External
An internal return pump can only be run submerged in water.
An external return pump is made to operate solely outside of the water. They can handle pushing water over long distances due to their designs. Nearly any return meant to work externally only is going to be extremely reliable. Not having the pump inside the water, especially not in saltwater increases the reliability of a return pump immensely. Many of these pumps will operate for years without maintenance. They will also offer the higher flow rate. They are commercial sized external water pumps that can handle flow rates for large displays, ponds, and fish stores.
The main drawbacks with external return pumps are that they are large, loud, and expensive. An external return pump is best operated for people who have basement sumps or fish rooms where water needs to travel long distances.
Our Criteria
Having criteria to rate these pumps are important. Here is what we looked at
- Warranty – A quality brand is backed with a long warranty. 1 year or less on the warranty is suspect in our mind
- Gallons Per Hour (GPH) – The GPH output of these pumps are very important and even more so if they operate will under longer distances
- Noise – A funny thing about DC pumps is they can be noiser than AC pumps because of the DC “whine”
- Price – While great pumps can be expensive, they aren’t for everyone. I want to find good pumps for every budget.
Top of List
Below is the list of recommended aquarium return pumps. They range between AC & DC pumps and external and submersible. All will have uses in your aquarium.
In a hurry? I recommend Sicce Syncra SDC Pumps!
The Top Units (2023 Reviews)
1. Sicce Syndra SDC – Finally a DC Unit with Sicce Reliability!
Editor's Choice
The Syncra is a perfect combination of DC control with AC reliability. Backed by a 5 year warranty and the legendary Sicce brand name
I have gotten comments from readers and folks I know that I am an anti DC pump hobbyist. There is one DC return pump that completely closes the door on the anti DC pump view I have. It is the Sicce Syncra SDC return pump. Without a doubt, this is the best DC pump you can purchase hands down on the market. Nothing comes close to it. It is a version of the legendary Syncra AC pumps now in DC form.
This is a well engineered DC pump that is built in Italy. Sicce continues to stick with its high quality manufacturing and R&D process that has earned its reputation for long lasting pumps. This is the only DC pump I have seen that is backed by a 5 year warranty. There is only one other that I know that exceeds this warranty — and those pumps are nearly 3 times the price of the SDC!
Not only do you go the great reliability of Sicce, but the controller is excellent. It runs of a mobile app. It runs off wifi, so this is a completely mobile app unlike the Current USA bluetooth accessories that require you to have a device nearby. You can run the app on your phone and it will alert you if the pump goes offline. For a piece of equipment as critical as a return pump, that is big time piece of mind.It has the same closed pump feature that the EcoTech pumps have as well.
This is the DC pump to buy if you want a DC pump. Unfortunately, it comes with a high price tag. It should last you a lifetime like all Sicce pumps — something that nearly all DC pump manufacturers these days cannot say with confidence. The Sicce Syncra SDC is now my pump of choice for all premium builds. See Full Review.
Pros
- Sicce name and quality – made in Italy not in China!
- 5 year warranty on a DC Pump!
- Fully controllable via mobile app
Cons
- Expensive
2. Sicce Syndra – Quiet & Reliable Unit That Lasts A Lifetime
Best Value
An Italian made, high quality pump. AC powered for maximum reliability. These are built to last a lifetime
The Sicce Syndra aquarium return pump is the first pump I recommend to clients when building an aquarium. Their final selection will vary depending on their budget and their desire for control on their return pump, but the Sicce is also the benchmark I start with. I always start with a Sicce pump because they have the best engineering, best reliability, and best warranties in the industry.
I didn’t even mention how quiet they are. They are insanely quiet. Many DC pumps are louder than these in comparison. It’s all due to their 35+ years of Italian engineering and care in manufacturing. The pump is equipped with a synchronous motor and advanced rotor which cuts down on the noise significantly.
Sicce tops off all these features with a gold standard best in industry 5 year warranty. No maker unless you spending way more in the DC category (looking at you Abyzz) offers a warranty like this. There is absolute confidence from Sicce that this pump will serve you for a lifetime. I have seen many of these pumps in tanks run smoothly for years.
Sicce’s reliable and engineer are well earned and as a result, these pumps are on the pricey side. However, knowing that the return pump is the heart of an aquarium system I see no problem in spending a little more for a pump that will offer me a lifetime of worry free operation.
Pros
- Quiet (virtually dead silent!)
- Industry best 5 year warranty
- Can be run internally or externally
Cons
- Expensive
- Suctions instead of rubber feet
- Needs a gate valve for true precision adjustments
3. Jabeo DCP Sine Wave – Affordable DC Power
Budget Option
Easily the best Jabeo DC pump ever released. Great budget price and quiet operation
The Jabeo DCP Sine Wave return pump is the first Jabeo return pump that I am comfortable putting under a recommended list. Everyone is always asking me if Jabeos are worth buying and in the past I was 100% against them because of reliability issues. This particular model however, has my interest because of the Sine Wave technology that makes them crazy quiet. Sine Wave removes that annoying humming noise so common with your average DC pump.
It’s frankly annoying to the ear to hear it throughout the day. I know some clients who hate that DC hum so much that they end up going with a Sicce AC pump instead because they can’t stand it! The Sine Wave tech on this pump puts out about 25% less noise then the previous Jabeo generation (the DCS).
This pump features a controller than can adjust the pump from 30% to 100% power and comes with a feed mode that will shut off the pump for 10 minutes. Perfect for coral feeding or hand feeding shy inhabitants in your tank. This pump is also compatible with Jabeo’s battery backup (the IceCap battery backup will also work) solution giving you hours of operation in the event of a power outage.
The DCP Sine Wave is also the one variant of Jabeo that you will not see clones for. There are a lot and I mean A LOT of Jabeo clones and even American sellers who rebrand Jabeo pumps like Simplicity, but the Sine Wave tech is exclusive to the Jabeo brand so if you are going to use a Chinese made DC pump that is not a major brand, this is the one to look at.
Now let’s talk about issues with this pump. In my own personal experience, the controller is the Achilles heal of this unit. It is fairly common to have a unit shipped with a faulty controller and it will generally fail right away. I’m not sure why they fail so much, but make absolutely certain that you purchase this pump from a seller who can ship you a replacement fast and with no added cost if you have to return it (like Amazon).
Once you have a working controller, these units last a decent amount of time. They haven’t been out for too long, but I do know of several installs with these going two years now and still working like new. Given the price of these units, that’s pretty good if you are working with a budget.
Pros
- Cheap!
- Sine Wave tech = more silent than many DC Pumps
- Lots of output options available
Cons
- Controller reliability
4. Current USA EFlux – Affordable DC Power and Reliability
Use Coupon Code ASD15 At Checkout!
A budget friendly offering from Current USA. Integrates well with all Current USA products with its unique controller
Current USA starts off our list with a very competent Eflux DC Pump offering. This water pump is well made with a controller that can adjust the flow rate from 1% to 100% using a dial. It has the advantage of hooking integrating with the Eflux Wavemakers and Loop LEDs for a complete package. It is a compact for the power it brings and I really like the rubber feet that come with it so you don’t have to worry about placing a silicon mat underneath it.
Current USA’s customer service has also been in my experience excellent and one of the reasons I go with them for many system components.
The main thing I don’t like about this DC return pump is the lack of a true feed mode. There isn’t even an option to do a feed mode out of the box. You get a feed mode when it’s linked to the Loop Led manifold or the Bluetooth accessory, but the feed mode is a 30% dial down mode not complete shut off. This makes it disappointing if you want a button for a feed mode, but since I tend to hook systems up with switch boards or a controller it is a non issue for me.
I would say this is the weakest offering of the Loop trio though, with the EFlux wavemakers being the strongest product offer of theirs.
Pros
- Works with Current USA Loop System
- Adjustable by dial so it can go from 1% to 100%
- Current USA customer service
Cons
- Does not have a true feed mode
- Dial can also be a disadvantage
5. Fluval Sea SP – Askoll Motor + Warranty = Ultimate Reliability
Designed with the reliable Askoll motor, these Italian made AC return pumps are a great pickup
The Fluval Sea SP series return pumps are a throw back to the reliable Askoll motor design. Italian engineered and backed by a benchmark 3 year warranty, the Fluval Sea offeres reliable, powerful, and quiet operation. Yes, that is right, these Fluval Sea have been reported to be quieter than old generation Jabeo DC pumps. They can also be run internally or externally. It is a great all around pump.
My main nitpick with this water pump is there is no flow rate regulator out of the box. In order to tune down this pump, you are required to use a gate valve in your plumbing. While a gate valve is recommended in any sump design, this can be an added expense and time cost for some who is looking to save on design costs. These are all power hungry and large pumps so don’t expect energy savings from them.
Pros
- Askoll Motor & Italian engineering
- Lots of GPH sizes for an AC pump
- Runs internal or external
Cons
- Water pump does not have a flow rate regulator out of the box
- Large compared to DC pumps
- High wattage consumption
6. EcoTech Vectra – High End DC Unit With Smart Phone App Features
The Vectra offers a lot of premium features such as auto calibration and closed mode. It is one of the more advanced pumps available today
The EcoTech Vectra is loaded with lots of smart features like auto calibration which will adjust itself automatically to the overflow drain of your tank. It is compatible with the EcoTech battery backup system, which can power the water pump for a couple of days. It can work with the ReefLink app giving you full access to your operations on your computer.
My favorite offering is the closed mode. I am a big fan of doing closed loop systems – especially for smaller tanks where you can eliminate a wavemaker and have more room for your corals and fish. The closed loop options offer wavemaking features like gyre and reef crest random modes giving you the random flow rate you need for a reef tank.
As with all EcoTech products, this is an expensive DC return pump. I’m not too upset about the price though. It’s the warranty that really bugs me. EcoTech only backs this up with a 1 year warranty, which is a big shame for a return pump that is supposed to be the heart of the aquarium.
Pros
- Smart features like auto calibrate
- Compatible with EcoTech Battery Backup System
- Close Loop Modes
Cons
- Only a 1 year warranty
- Expensive
7. Eheim Universal Hobby – An Oldie but Goodie
An old, but very reliable design. There are many of these pumps still in service that have run for over 15 years!
The Eheim Hobby Pump is an extremely reliable aquarium return pump that has been around for many years in the hobby. I know a number of hobbyists who use this water pump with many still running after over 15 years of usage. The reliability of these pumps are virtually unmatched. They only come in smaller gallon per hour outputs, but for the what they are capable of, they are great additions to a system.
Unfortunately, as of this post, they are becoming more and more difficult to find as the manufacturer is phasing them out for a more mainstream and cheaper pump. If you can find these pumps for sale, they are worth every penny for their reliability.
Pros
- Eheim name
- Extremely reliable
- Works submersed in water or externally
Cons
- Difficult to obtain
- Expensive for an AC pump
- Not designed for hard PVC installs
- Needs a gate valve to fully control flow rate
8. Eheim CompactON – New Generation Units
This Eheim pump is the successor to the Compact + series. It is a budget friendly version of the Eheim hobby pumps
The Eheim CompactON aquarium return pumps are the newest generation of pumps from Eheim. These pumps are the successor of Eheim’s popular Compact+ series pumps. What you get here is a compact fit that fits in tight sumps and all in one aquariums with the reliability of the the Eheim name. The ceramic bearing construction makes for a silent water pump. There is an easy to access adjustment dial near the outlet to adjust the flow rate. It comes with accessories so you can either do a hard or soft plumbing install.
Like many Eheim products, these pumps are on the pricer side of AC return pumps, but you are getting a more reliable water pump spending more.
Pros
- Eheim Name
- Has accessories for soft and hard plumbing installs
- Small footprint
Cons
- Expensive
- Hard to find
9. Iwaki External – Japanese Quality with Long-Term Reliability
A japanese made motor and external pump makes these ironclad reliable. Excellent for basement sumps and ponds
The Iwaki Magdrive Pumps are the first external aquarium pump on this list. Iwaki is a very well known brand in the aquarium and pond industry due to their reliability and performance. The main difference between these aquariums and internal return pumps is the head pressure they can handle. They can work across longer distances making them perfect for basement sump and fish room installs.
External pumps come with a number of drawbacks. They are big and loud and can only be installed externally. They are not ideal for below the cabinet installs due to this and really are best for separate room installs. They are expensive, but one of these will last a lifetime and well worth the money if you have a specialized install.
Pros
- High quality build and motor
- Handles a lot of headpressure (great for basement sumps/fishrooms)
Cons
- Loud and big
- Can only be used externally
- Expensive
10. MightyJet DC – DC Power for All In One Tanks
A compact, yet powerful DC return pump. Its small size make them a perfect upgrade for all in one tanks
The MightyJet DC Pump by Innovative is the perfect aquarium return pump to upgrade to if you are looking for a DC powered pump in your all in one aquarium. They come in either 326 GPH or 538 GPH sizes, with both models being small enough to fit in the return chamber of your all in one.
It has many of the features you would expect with a DC pump drawing little power, having a feed mode, and being fully adjustable. The 326 GPH model uses only 15 watts at 100% so in a backup situation it can be dialed down and can operate for a long-term with a UPS or battery backup system.
Because this is a name brand DC pump, they are expensive given the output. There is also no sound dampening features like silicone or rubber feet like you get with the Current USA and other name brand DC offerings. It is a great water pump that works for all in one tanks and should also be a consideration for those if you running nano reef tanks with sumps.
Pros
- Small enough to fit in all in one aquarium chambers
- Good GPH output given size
- Fully adjustable
Cons
- Expensive compared to similar AC powered pumps
- No sound dampening feet
11. Panworld External – The Choice for Basement Sumps
Panworld External Pumps offer a very reliable return pump for a reason price. I see many basement sumps and fish rooms run these pumps for years. They are pretty common place in the reefing community with their great price point and reliability.
Panworld’s price point comes from their 26 years of pump manufacturing experience, using Japanese pump technology and having manufacturing based in Taiwan.
As with any external pump, they are best for applications where you are moving water to an outside location like a basement or a fishroom. They are too big and bulky to be placed underneath cabinets and they are loud. They are amazing to use in water changing stations and various other external applications.
Pros
- Cheap for an external return pump
- Sturdy and reliable
Cons
- Big and bulky
- Loud
- Only works externally
12. ReeFlo – Lots of Power for External Applications
An external that is designed to be quiet. They have models that can push over 5,000 gallons per hour!
Did I mention that external return pumps are loud? Well, the Reeflo External Return Pumps kick that concern to the curb. Don’t believe me? Just check out this field test video below and hear it yourself:
Pretty quiet isn’t it? Not only are they quiet, but they are very powerful. The entry level dart models produce a flow rate of 2600 GPH and their gold models can easily push out 5500+ GPH!. These are the pumps for you monster keepers or those with big fish rooms with lots of water to move.
These pumps are built in the USA and small business owned. The motors are fully rebuild-able meaning that you are can ensure that these pumps will operate for a lifetime. All the pumps come with multiple year warranties for worry free operation and purchase.
They are expensive external pumps, but if I was looking for an external water pump for my fish room or basement and silence is a huge priority – this would be the pump I would be looking at.
Pros
- Very powerful flow rate (high GPH)
- More silent than other external return pumps
- Rebuild-able motors
Cons
- Expensive
- Big and bulky
13. Reef Octopus VarioS – Quality Marine Brand DC Unit
A very comprehensive and competent DC pump made by Reef Octopus
The Reef Octopus VarioS return pump offers a fully controllable DC pump. This pump is controller ready, being able to connect with controllers like the Neptune Apex and is meant for aquarists looking for high end equipment.
The controller is pretty comprehensive on it’s own offering a 15 or 16 minute feed mode and several speed settings.
The reef octopus is an expensive return pump, but those looking for a controller ready water pump won’t be disappointed by its performance. It is considered one of the best values for high end name brand DC pumps in the hobby. Reef octopus has a great brand name in our hobby.
Pros
- Aquarium controller ready
- Very comprehensive controller
Cons
- Expensive
- Only a 2 year warranty
Our Recommendations
If you have been reading our other articles, you may be aware of our Sicce bias, but there are options available for every type of build from the list presented above. Below are category recommendations:
- Best Return Pump for All In One Tanks – Sicce Synda (AC) or MightyJet (DC)
- Best AC Pump – Sicce Synda
- Best DC Pump – Jabeo DCP Sine Wave (DC – Budget) or Sicce SDC (DC -Premium)
- Best External Pump – Panworld (Budget) or Reeflo (Premium)
How Many GPH Should My Unit Be?
When selecting a return pump, it is very important to know how many gallons per hour you need and how much water is going to be pushed distance wise. As the distance increases, there is loss on the flow called headloss. Here is a link to a headloss calculator so you can do a best estimate. I would recommend that you slightly oversize your return pump and use the pump’s control features or a gate value to reduce the flow rate to get it to the proper gallons per hour that you need. You may also decided to run additional equipment using a PVC manifold so oversizing would have it’s advantages if you go that route.
Closing Thoughts
Return pumps in my early years of building aquariums with sumps was a very nerve wracking experience. There are many out there and figuring out what the proper gallons per hour that you need and making head loss calculations just made you nervous if you purchased a pump that was too small or too big. DC pumps have really taken out the guess work with their ability to adjust power with the controller and not worry about added stress to the pump over time by having an over-sized and highly restricted return pump.
AC pumps are still extremely valuable with their reliability and performance. If you take your time research the output that you need and get an appropriate gate valve you are set for worry free successor with an AC pump.
I hope this guide helped you in making your decision. If you have any questions, please leave them in the comment and I will do the best I can to address them. Thanks for reading!
- About the Author
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I’m thrilled that you found Aquarium Store Depot! Here you’ll find information on fish, aquariums, and all things aquatics related. I’m a hobbyist (being doing this since I was 11) and here to help other hobbyists thrive with their aquariums! I adhere to a high quality Editorial Process and Review products with real life field usage and practical analysis.
 – AC vs DC Pumps){kind=link}
You forgot about Dolphin Pumps, the Dolphin Diamond Amp Master external pump has a much longer life and doesn’t have the seal breakdown of other brands. So happy with mine, I have been using them for over 20 years! No heat transfer, quiet and hardy. Easy to work on too. I am also in S Florida. Thank you.
Thanks for your suggestion. I agree Dolphin pumps are amazing. Good suggestion!
Hi Robin. A DC pump will not add a lot of heat to your aquarium – especially a larger aquarium like your 220 gallon tank. I like the current line in general and the price point along with their customer service makes them a great choice. I have a current DC Return on my 40G nano setup and have been very happy with it. The lack of feed mode can be annoying, but I have a DJ switch where I can just flip the switch to run a feed mode so it isn’t really that bad.
I enjoyed reading your review. The pump I am interested in is the Current USA 6010 1900GPH for a 220 gallon tank. The pump would be submerged in the wet dry filter. I am curious how much heat will be added to the water with this pump. This would be a freshwater tank to be set up and water temp is always a concern since I live in S Florida. Thanks