Will the real DC pump manufacturer please stand up?

It’s inevitable that the question of “what return pump should I get?” always comes up. I’ve been a pretty big fan of the Jebao DCP line, and/or the Coralbox DCA line, which I usually refer to as “toyota and lexus” of the same design. The DCA line having a few extra features, like 0-10v integration. However, over time, it became obvious to me that many DC pumps share lineage with the jebao pumps. I have even caught manufacturers claiming that jebao is “copying” them or some such, however, I believe this to be untrue, given many of the pumps on this list are very very similar in design, I suspect there is a common factory that makes these motor blocks, and Jebao is just one of many companies utilizing them. I also know for a fact that there are numerous Chinese companies who will white-label a pump that looks like these. Who is truly copying who here?

The easiest way I can usually tell a pump is based off this Chinese motor block lineage is with two variables – the first being the impeller/rotor design, which remains very similar between them all. The next one is the flow rate and wattage – often times wattage being the best indicator as to which is which, as they all tend to fudge the flow rate numbers a bit.

To keep things easier to interpret, I’m going to just refer to these as “jebao-style” blocks, but, for all I know, it’s some other company behind them with a name I can barely pronounce. I’m hoping to update this page with more photos and documentation as it becomes available to me. I do suspect this information might stir the pot a bit, so I’m also expecting a lot of push back. I have already had representatives from some of these companies argue with me and insist otherwise, but, ultimately, it has never panned out to any proof to the contrary, and trust me, I did request it! That said, these are my honest observations, and nothing more.

Jebao DCP, DCP-M, DCW, DCQ, DCS, DCT, DC	Various revisions of the jebao style motor block we all have come to love.
Coralbox DCA	The “upscale” model of the jebao, with 0-10v support built in. Some of the larger models seem to have screws to hold in the volute, unlike the DCP series, which are mostly twist-on.
Hygger HG-915	These look nearly identical to the Jebao DCP line, with a slightly different strainer
Ecotech Vectra	These appear to follow a similar path as the jebao pumps, new models being released every few years. Ecotech clearly makes their own controllers in-house, possibly in america, but the motor block looks to have jebao-style origin. Prior to using the Jebao-style motor block, a prototype using a messner-style block had appeared in the wild. This is unrelated to messner’s own “eco-tec” pumps. (A photo of this prototype “ETM TiTech 7500” does exist)
Reef Octopus Varios, RODC, and Diablo	As with many other pumps on this list, they seem to be gradually following the updates that we also see with jebaos over the years, with the RODC and Diablo line being the older models, and the Varios sharing a newer lineage. The varios is very similar to a coralbox DCA, both having 0-10v input and following the typical jebao wattage/flow rates.
Red Devil	These look extremely similar to the older model Jebaos, and they seem to come from around that same time-frame.
Neptune COR	The impeller is clearly jebao-style, possibly a DCP-8000 sized one, but I suspect they’ve had some factory changes like temperature monitoring added. However, for the most part, these also appear to be jebao style blocks with some minor changes. They have screws to hold on the volute, similar the larger DCA line and some others.
Hydor Seltz D	Yet another pump that looks to share jebao lineage, with red accents, and a nearly identical foot.
Innovative Marine MightyJet	These look very similar to the smaller Jebao series pumps, like the DCW series and the smaller DCA series as well.
AquaMedic DC Runner	These have a clear volute, but otherwise look very similar to the jebao-style blocks, including a very similar mounting foot.
Current eFlux	These have a screw-on volute similar to some of the jebao models, and look very similar with a few minor changes to how the feet mount
Maxspect Jump	This is a relatively new pump that has a very dramatic looking “turbine” strainer on the front. However, the wattage and flow rates look to follow the jebao schema nearly perfectly, and the impeller appears to be similar as well. I haven’t yet taken one of these apart to confirm for sure, but I’m suspecting its jebao-style with a more unique style plastic case and controller.
Sicce Syncra SDC	These look a bit different from a jebao, sharing the body shape with many other Sicce pumps. The impeller looks vaguely similar to the older model jebaos, that had a swirl-shaped impeller as opposed to centrifugal, however, it looks to be a bit more three-dimensional in it’s mold, so it may be unique. The mounting style is a little bit different on them as well, not sharing the typical oval pins to hold it in place. The wattages and flow rates seem pretty similar to some jebao style blocks. They do claim to be made in italy and provide a 5 year warranty, so they seem to stand behind it, but whether that’s “all parts made in italy” or simply “assembled in italy” remains to be determined. They do seem to be a little more unique than most other jebao-style pumps on this list, so the word is still out on these.
Aquamaxx/Sunpole Magnus	These appear to follow the screw-on volute style jebaos, with the body rotated 45 degrees so that it’s sort of in a “diamond” position, much like the Ecotech pumps. They also have a unique foot. Otherwise, the impeller and sizing pretty much follows the jebao design.
RLSS Waveline	These clearly have some strong Jebao block lineage, again with screw-on volute. Very similar otherwise.
Simplicity DC	These look nearly identical to the jebao DCS series
Royal Exclusive Red Dragon	The larger red dragons look very similar to some Messner pumps, and have similar looking titanium impellers. However, the smaller red dragon pumps appear to now share the jebao lineage. They claim to be made in germany, and if they share parts with messner, that might make sense, but I suspect the smaller models are “assembled in germany with parts from china”
Abyzz	They seem to be unique and I don’t see any obvious shared lineage with these. You do pay quite a bit extra for a one-off like this, however.