Boyu · Water / return pump
FP Series Submersible Pump
- Flow
- 300–1,350 L/h
- Power
- 5–19 W
Adding gentle, spread-out circulation to a medium tank or powering a simple internal filter.
4 models
Gear catalogue · 47 pumps
Aquarium pumps, compared properly
Return pumps, powerheads and wavemakers for flow and circulation. From Boyu, Dophin, Eheim, Oase, SunSun, UNS. Match them to your tank, then put up to four side by side.
TL;DR, choosing aquarium pumps
Extra flow fixes a lot of planted-tank problems. Dead spots behind hardscape collect debris and grow algae, and CO2 and fertiliser only reach plants that water actually moves past. A small circulation pump or wavemaker placed to push water along the long wall solves that without upgrading the filter. Return pumps are for sumps and DIY builds, where the rated flow and the head (how high the pump can lift) both matter. Choose a pump with adjustable flow if you can, so you can tune it for the fish.
How to choose
- For circulation, add enough to reach roughly 10 times turnover with the filter included.
- Check the head figure for return pumps; flow drops sharply as height increases.
- Adjustable or DC pumps let you dial flow down for gentle fish.
- Guard intakes in shrimp tanks.
Boyu · Circulation / wavemaker
HL Crossflow Wave Pump
- Power
- 25–200 W
Long tanks where you want even flow across the whole front-to-back depth.
4 models
Boyu · Water / return pump
PGB Series Submersible Pump
- Flow
- 740–1,565 L/h
- Power
- 12.5–28 W
Undergravel plates, sump returns or DIY top filters that need decent head in a narrow space.
3 models
Boyu · Water / return pump
SP-100 / SP-101 Series Powerhead
- Flow
- 300–1,850 L/h
- Power
- 4.5–35 W
Anyone needing a cheap general-purpose pump for circulation, a DIY filter or a small sump return.
9 models
Boyu · Water / return pump
SP-1000 Series Submersible Pump
- Flow
- 300–1,400 L/h
- Power
- 8–34 W
Small sump returns, DIY filters and general water moving jobs around the fish room.
5 models
Boyu · Circulation / wavemaker
WM Series Wavemaker
- Flow
- 5,500 L/h
- Power
- 7–28 W
Medium and large planted tanks with dead spots behind hardscape, where you want circulation without a blasting jet.
7 models
Boyu · Circulation / wavemaker
WM-50 / WM-102 DC Wavemaker
- Flow
- 13,000 L/h
- Power
- 40 W
Large tanks where you want adjustable, pulsed circulation from a controller.
2 models
Dophin · Water / return pump
AA Series Submersible Pump
- Flow
- 300–4,300 L/h
- Power
- 4.3–125 W
A sump return or water-transfer pump where you need decent head height for the money.
8 models
Dophin · Water / return pump
ECO DC Variable Pump
- Flow
- 6,000–10,000 L/h
- Power
- 70–115 W
A sump return on a large tank where turning the flow down precisely matters more than raw price.
3 models
Dophin · Water / return pump
P Series Submersible Pump
- Flow
- 320–3,000 L/h
- Power
- 5.1–88 W
Driving a DIY filter, a sump return or a water-change setup on a budget.
7 models
Dophin · Water / return pump
P-608 / P-908 Power Head
- Flow
- 1,080–1,550 L/h
- Power
- 16–29 W
Driving a top filter or giving an old-school tank extra flow.
2 models
Dophin · Water / return pump
PC Series Submersible Pump
- Flow
- 300–5,000 L/h
- Power
- 4.5–120 W
A return pump for a sump, a DIY filter or water changes, sized to your head height.
7 models
Dophin · Water / return pump
PH Series Submersible Pump
- Flow
- 300–1,250 L/h
- Power
- 3.3–30 W
A small paludarium water feature, a DIY sponge or box filter, or topping up from a bucket.
5 models
Dophin · Circulation / wavemaker
WP Wave Pump
- Flow
- 2,000–5,000 L/h
- Power
- 3.8–6 W
Adding gentle circulation to a larger planted tank to move CO2 and nutrients into dead spots.
2 models
Eheim · Water / return pump
compactON
- Flow
- 300–5,000 L/h
- Power
- 7–70 W
Return pumps for sumps, DIY filters or water features in a planted setup.
6 models
Eheim · Circulation / wavemaker
streamON+
- Flow
- 3,500–9,500 L/h
- Power
- 2.5–12 W
High-tech planted tanks that need extra circulation to push CO2 and nutrients into dense stem groups.
3 models
Eheim · Water / return pump
Universal
- Flow
- 600–3,400 L/h
- Power
- 10–80 W
Sump returns or external plumbing on larger planted systems where you want a very durable pump.
4 models
Oase · Water / return pump
OptiMax
- Flow
- 300–5,000 L/h
- Power
- 5–82 W
Sump returns, DIY filters, water changes or extra circulation in a larger planted tank.
8 models
SunSun · Water / return pump
CDP DC Frequency Pump
- Flow
- 3,500–10,000 L/h
- Power
- 30–100 W
Sump returns on mid to large tanks.
3 models
SunSun · Water / return pump
CHJ Multi-Function Pump
- Flow
- 500–6,000 L/h
- Power
- 7–100 W
Sump returns and powering filters on tanks of most sizes.
10 models
SunSun · Water / return pump
CTB Frequency Pump
- Flow
- 2,500–7,000 L/h
- Power
- 15–70 W
Mid to large sump returns.
6 models
SunSun · Water / return pump
CTP Frequency Pump
- Flow
- 3,000–16,000 L/h
- Power
- 10–140 W
Sump returns on large tanks.
12 models
SunSun · Circulation / wavemaker
CW Wavemaker
- Flow
- 4,000–20,000 L/h
- Power
- 10–60 W
Planted tanks from 50 cm up that need gentle, adjustable circulation.
8 models
SunSun · Water / return pump
HJ Mini Submersible Pump
- Flow
- 200–800 L/h
- Power
- 2–18 W
Nano tanks, all-in-one rear chambers and small DIY projects.
8 models
SunSun · Water / return pump
HJ Series Submersible Pump
- Flow
- 500–6,800 L/h
- Power
- 7–150 W
Sump returns and closed-loop circulation on mid to large tanks.
10 models
SunSun · Water / return pump
HJ-41 Series Submersible Pump
- Flow
- 400–3,000 L/h
- Power
- 5–65 W
Small sumps, DIY filters and general water moving.
7 models
SunSun · Water / return pump
HQJ and CQJ Submersible Pump
- Flow
- 350–1,600 L/h
- Power
- 2.5–20 W
Desktop and small tank filtration, rear chambers and top filters.
10 models
SunSun · Water / return pump
JDP DC Frequency Pump
- Flow
- 1,000–18,000 L/h
- Power
- 12–160 W
Sump returns and closed loops where you want adjustable, quiet flow.
7 models
SunSun · Water / return pump
JGP Low Water Level Pump
- Flow
- 1,000–4,500 L/h
- Power
- 15–130 W
Water changes and draining tanks, shallow sumps.
6 models
SunSun · Water / return pump
JHP DC Pump
- Flow
- 2,000–6,000 L/h
- Power
- 24–60 W
Sump returns where space is tight.
3 models
SunSun · Water / return pump
JP-06 Series Submersible Pump
- Flow
- 450–3,800 L/h
- Power
- 8–95 W
Sump returns and powering external filters on mid-size tanks.
8 models
SunSun · Water / return pump
JP-G Series Submersible Pump
- Flow
- 250–1,800 L/h
- Power
- 2.5–45 W
Nano tank filters, small sumps and DIY builds.
11 models
SunSun · Water / return pump
JP-GL Low Water Level Pump
- Flow
- 600–1,600 L/h
- Power
- 6–30 W
Shallow sumps and emptying tanks during water changes.
5 models
SunSun · Water / return pump
JQP Submersible Pump and Filter
- Flow
- 500–3,500 L/h
- Power
- 5–80 W
Sump returns and filter feeds on small to mid tanks.
10 models
SunSun · Water / return pump
JTP Frequency Pump
- Flow
- 1,800–5,800 L/h
- Power
- 10–38 W
Sump returns where running cost matters.
8 models
SunSun · Water / return pump
JTP-R Frequency Pump
- Flow
- 4,000–16,000 L/h
- Power
- 25–140 W
Large display tanks with a sump.
10 models
SunSun · Circulation / wavemaker
JVP Wavemaker
- Flow
- 2,000–24,000 L/h
- Power
- 2.5–48 W
Adding circulation to large planted tanks so CO2 and nutrients reach every plant.
16 models
SunSun · Water / return pump
STP Eco Pump
- Flow
- 3,000–8,000 L/h
- Power
- 15–70 W
Sump returns and driving external pressure filters.
8 models
SunSun · Water / return pump
XDP DC Frequency Pump
- Flow
- 1,000–6,800 L/h
- Power
- 12–70 W
Sump returns and filter feeds on small to large tanks.
8 models
SunSun · Water / return pump
XGP Low Water Level Pump
- Flow
- 500–3,500 L/h
- Power
- 5–80 W
Water changes and shallow sumps.
6 models
SunSun · Water / return pump
XQP Submersible Pump
- Flow
- 500–1,500 L/h
- Power
- 5–20 W
Small sumps, rear-chamber tanks and DIY filters.
3 models
SunSun · Circulation / wavemaker
XVA Wave Pump
- Flow
- 6,000–10,000 L/h
- Power
- 8–45 W
Circulation in tanks up to about a metre.
3 models
SunSun · Circulation / wavemaker
XVP Wavemaker
- Flow
- 2,500–12,000 L/h
- Power
- 10–40 W
Circulation in mid to large tanks.
3 models
SunSun · Water / return pump
ZHL Low Water Level Pump
- Flow
- 1,000–4,500 L/h
- Power
- 15–100 W
Water changes, tank moves and draining.
6 models
SunSun · Water / return pump
ZSP Frequency Pump
- Flow
- 2,500–14,000 L/h
- Power
- 18–140 W
Sump returns on mid to large tanks.
10 models
SunSun · Circulation / wavemaker
ZZP Cross-Flow Wave Pump
- Power
- 40 W
Larger planted tanks where you want broad, even flow instead of a jet.
1 model
UNS · Water / return pump
Sigma Water Pump
- Flow
- 299–1,499 L/h
- Power
- 5–20 W
Powering the rear chamber of an all-in-one tank, or a small custom filter or sump.
4 models
Frequently asked questions
Straight answers to the questions people ask most when choosing aquarium pumps.
Do planted tanks need a circulation pump?
Not always, but it helps in tanks over about 90 litres or with dense hardscape. If you see debris settling in one area or algae on plants far from the outlet, add circulation.
What does pump head mean?
It is the height the pump can push water to, at which point flow reaches zero. A pump rated at 1,000 L/h and 1.5 m head might only move half that when lifting water a metre.
Where should I place a wavemaker?
Usually at one end, pointing along the long wall so the water rolls around the tank, and away from delicate plants and resting spots.
Can I use a pump instead of a filter?
No. A pump moves water but does not host bacteria or catch debris. It adds flow on top of a filter.
Keep reading
Other gear
Specs come from the maker or a major retailer’s listing and are checked where we can. Makers revise products, so confirm the figures on the product page before you buy. Product photos are supplied by the brands and their distributors.