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Jebao SLW-30, MLW-30 & DLW-30 Fish Guard and Anemone Guard | Design, 3D Printing & Creation


Jebao SLW-30, MLW-30 & DLW-30 Fish Guard and Anemone Guard | Design, 3D Printing & Creation

Engineering a Better Way to Protect Fish, Anemones, and Reef Tank Livestock

The Jebao SLW-30, MLW-30, and DLW-30 are among the most powerful and affordable wave pumps available for medium and large reef aquariums. Their wide flow pattern, compact design, quiet operation, and impressive water movement make them an excellent choice for reef hobbyists looking to create natural circulation without spending a fortune.

Whether you're maintaining a mixed reef, SPS-dominated aquarium, LPS system, or a large soft coral display, proper water movement is one of the most important factors in long-term reef success.

Unfortunately, every high-performance wave pump shares one common problem.

The same strong flow that benefits your corals can also pose a serious risk to wandering anemones, small fish, shrimp, snails, and other valuable reef tank livestock.

That challenge inspired this project.

In this video, I take you behind the scenes as I design, engineer, prototype, 3D print, test, and refine a custom Fish Guard and Anemone Guard specifically for the Jebao SLW-30, MLW-30, and DLW-30 wave pumps.

The objective wasn't simply to cover the intake.

The goal was to engineer a guard that protects valuable reef livestock while preserving the exceptional water flow that makes these pumps so popular.

One Guard Fits the SLW-30, MLW-30 & DLW-30

One question I receive frequently is:

"Will this fit my MLW-30 or DLW-30?"

The answer is yes.

Although Jebao markets these pumps under different names, the SLW-30, MLW-30, and DLW-30 all use the same wet-side pump housing. The primary differences are found in the controller technology.

SLW-30

Features a traditional wired controller with multiple flow modes.

MLW-30

Uses a WiFi-enabled controller with smartphone app connectivity for programming and control.

DLW-30

Offers an updated wireless controller platform with additional programming features and enhanced connectivity.

Because the physical pump body remains the same, this Fish Guard and Anemone Guard is compatible with all three models.

It also fits pumps sold under both the Jebao and Jecod brand names.

Why Does the SLW-30 Need a Fish Guard?

Strong water movement is essential for maintaining a thriving reef aquarium.

Proper circulation helps:

  • Deliver nutrients to corals

  • Improve oxygen exchange

  • Prevent detritus buildup

  • Remove waste

  • Promote coral growth

  • Simulate natural reef conditions

The SLW-30 excels at all of these tasks.

However, its powerful intake can create risks for aquarium livestock.

Common concerns include:

Wandering Bubble Tip Anemones

Bubble Tip Anemones are beautiful additions to reef aquariums, but they occasionally decide to relocate.

Changes in lighting, water chemistry, coral growth, or flow patterns may cause an anemone to move.

If it encounters an unprotected powerhead, the results can be devastating.

Small Fish

Clownfish, gobies, blennies, firefish, dartfish, cardinalfish, and juvenile fish can occasionally become trapped against strong pump intakes.

Snails

Turbo Snails, Trochus Snails, Cerith Snails, Nassarius Snails, and other cleanup crew members seem to enjoy exploring every surface—including wave pumps.

Shrimp and Other Invertebrates

Cleaner shrimp, peppermint shrimp, porcelain crabs, emerald crabs, and other mobile invertebrates frequently investigate powerheads.

A properly designed fish guard provides an additional layer of protection without sacrificing the circulation your reef depends on.

Why I Designed an SLW-30 Fish Guard

After designing Fish Guards for the Nero series, the Hygger 1600, the SLW-5, SLW-10, and SLW-20, one request kept appearing from the reefing community:

"When are you making one for the SLW-30?"

The larger SLW-30 moves considerably more water than its smaller siblings, making livestock protection even more important.

Rather than adapting one of my previous designs, I started from scratch.

The goal was to engineer a guard specifically around the unique geometry of the SLW-30 pump housing while maintaining the same clean appearance and performance characteristics that reef hobbyists expect.

Defining the Design Goals

Every successful product begins by identifying exactly what it needs to accomplish.

For this project, the goals were clear.

Protect Livestock

Reduce the risk of fish, anemones, shrimp, snails, and other reef inhabitants coming into contact with the intake.

Preserve Water Flow

Maintain the broad, high-volume circulation that makes the SLW-30 such an effective wave pump.

Easy Installation

No tools.

No modifications.

Simply install the guard and enjoy added peace of mind.

Professional Appearance

Create a product that looks like it belongs on the pump—not an oversized aftermarket accessory.

Long-Term Durability

Design for years of use in the demanding saltwater environment of a reef aquarium.

Measuring the SLW-30

Every project begins with precision.

The first step involved carefully measuring every critical feature of the SLW-30 wave pump.

Measurements included:

  • Pump diameter

  • Intake geometry

  • Curved housing surfaces

  • Flow openings

  • Mounting locations

  • Internal clearances

These dimensions were recreated inside CAD software to produce a highly accurate digital model of the pump.

This digital reference became the foundation for every stage of development.

CAD Modeling and Engineering

With the digital pump model complete, the engineering work began.

One of the biggest challenges when designing any Fish Guard is balancing competing priorities.

Smaller openings increase protection but restrict water movement.

Larger openings improve flow but reduce protection.

Every rib, vent, and structural feature was carefully positioned to maximize livestock safety while preserving the pump's performance.

Multiple concepts were evaluated before arriving at the final design.

Bringing the Design to Life with 3D Printing

After the CAD model was complete, prototype production began.

3D printing allows rapid product development that would be impossible using traditional manufacturing methods.

Each prototype was evaluated for:

  • Fitment

  • Structural strength

  • Ease of installation

  • Water flow

  • Print quality

  • Appearance

  • Livestock protection

Every prototype revealed opportunities for refinement.

The design evolved through multiple iterations before reaching its final form.

Real-World Reef Tank Testing

Computer models can predict performance.

Real reef aquariums prove it.

The Fish Guard was tested under realistic operating conditions to evaluate:

Water Flow

Maintaining the broad circulation pattern that reef hobbyists expect from the SLW-30.

Fish Protection

Helping reduce opportunities for fish to contact the intake.

Anemone Protection

Providing additional protection for wandering Bubble Tip and Rock Flower Anemones.

Cleaning

Ensuring the guard could be easily removed for maintenance.

Long-Term Durability

Verifying reliable performance inside a saltwater reef aquarium.

Benefits of the Finished Fish Guard

The completed design offers numerous advantages.

Fish Protection

Helps reduce the likelihood of fish contacting the intake.

Anemone Protection

Provides an additional layer of defense against wandering anemones.

Snail Protection

Helps prevent snails from interfering with pump operation.

Shrimp Protection

Offers greater protection for mobile invertebrates.

Excellent Water Flow

Maintains the wide circulation pattern of the original pump.

Quick Installation

Installs in seconds without modifying the pump.

Clean Factory Appearance

Designed to complement the aesthetics of the SLW-30 rather than distract from them.

Who Should Consider an SLW-30 Fish Guard?

This accessory is ideal for reef hobbyists keeping:

  • Bubble Tip Anemones

  • Rock Flower Anemones

  • Clownfish

  • Gobies

  • Blennies

  • Firefish

  • Cleaner Shrimp

  • Peppermint Shrimp

  • Turbo Snails

  • Trochus Snails

  • SPS Reefs

  • LPS Reefs

  • Mixed Reef Aquariums

  • Large Reef Systems

If your reef contains valuable livestock, adding a Fish Guard is an inexpensive way to reduce one of the most common pump-related risks.

Watch the Complete Design and Creation Process

This project involved dozens of hours of:

  • Product Design

  • Engineering

  • CAD Modeling

  • Prototype Development

  • 3D Printing

  • Testing

  • Refinement

  • Final Production

Watch the complete YouTube video to see how this Fish Guard evolved from an idea into a finished product.

Whether you're interested in reef aquariums, engineering, CAD design, product development, or 3D printing, you'll get a behind-the-scenes look at the complete creation process.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this Fish Guard fit the MLW-30?

Yes. The MLW-30 uses the same wet-side pump housing as the SLW-30.

Does it fit the DLW-30?

Yes. The DLW-30 shares the same physical pump body, so the guard fits all three models.

Does the Fish Guard reduce water flow?

Every intake guard creates some restriction, but this design was engineered to preserve as much flow as possible while significantly improving livestock protection.

Will it protect my Bubble Tip Anemone?

No guard can eliminate every possibility of an accident, but it greatly reduces the likelihood of an anemone reaching the pump intake.

Is the guard reef safe?

Yes. The production version is manufactured using materials intended for long-term reef aquarium use.

More Reef Aquarium Projects Coming Soon

The SLW-30 Fish Guard is part of a growing collection of custom reef aquarium accessories developed here at iSeaLive.

Current and future projects include:

  • Aqua Illumination Nero Fish Guards

  • EcoTech Marine VorTech Fish Guards

  • Jebao SLW Series Guards

  • MLW Series Guards

  • DLW Series Guards

  • Hygger Wave Pump Guards

  • Roller Mat Accessories

  • Light Shades and Diffusers

  • Custom Reef Aquarium Equipment

  • 3D Printed Reef Tank Accessories

Every project begins with one mission:

Design innovative products that solve real-world problems for reef hobbyists while protecting the animals we love to keep.

If you'd like to see future projects, subscribe to the iSeaLive YouTube channel and explore the growing collection of reef aquarium innovations.

Thank you for following along on another design and creation journey. Happy reefing!

 

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