Let's Count the Broken RIOs

[RooFish]

We had one big one start shocking us at work, but we didn't know it was there and it took us a while to find it. (New owners, hard to see into sump, pump not doing anything but circulation)

BUT, it seems to me that the big ones are the only ones that die. I haven't heard of the ones smaller than the 800 having a lot of problems, and certainly not having more problems than other comperable sized pumps. I could be wrong, but you always hear the stories about the big pumps dying, not the little ones.

 

[celica]

One down for me. The only reason I had it running was because it came with my skimmer. Now the skimmer uses an Eheim. No problems with that one.

 

[zimmy]

2 Rio 1400's. Worthless, rattling, freezing up, cheap peices of Royal $#!#. I mean that too! Same thing with my 1700 although less problems.
If there ever was a company that need to fold, it certainly is the makers of Rio. If a car company made cars with so many defects, the govermant would close them down until they fixed the problem. No one would continue to buy their cars anyway so they would fold.

Boycott TAAM and spread the word. When they no longer sell and their profits suffer, the manufacturer will either discontinue the line or fix it.
zimmy

 

[fishsuse29]

3 rios none are broken but they all crap out once and a while so i have to fiddle with them to get them to start again. and they are loud.

 

[kstagg]

RIO = 4

Other = 0

 

[Bad case of crabs]

The two rio's that came with my cpr bakpak and refugium have not given me any problems. That may be because they were never taken out of their boxes and are somewhere in the depths of my garage. Oh wait, when i first got them i remember one fell off a table onto my toe. So I guess that they have upset me!

 

[bt_1999_66]

I have been using Rio's for 2.5 years and never had one blow up, burn, electrocute, or fail in any way...

Just wondering how many of us are telling the whole story about them failing, and how many of us will not admit that they had or where being run dry when it happened...

Not trying to flame anyone or start anything, just hard to believe that I am currently running 5 of them and have been this lucky so far....

 

[syow]

My RIO didn't die, but didnt consistently turn on after being powered on and off... since it was a return pump it made me uneasy (given power outages) - so i replaced with a MAG.. Mag working great for the last year

 

[csanchez77]

Had 3 rio 90's go bad
Had 2 slightly larger ones that needed to be manually started (sucks for wavemaking)
Had 1 600 go bad (came with CPR bakpak) and 1 800 that was also a btch to start (replaced the 600)

This was all in 2 1/2 years.

Got a MJ and loved, my next tank will be all MJ's (untill I get closed loop).

BTW, what is the total? Maybe with the large membership here, we can influence some shops to quite carrying them so unexpected customers dont purchase as well.

 

[SawCJack00]

Neither one of the Rio's that crapped out on me were run dry. They also weren't run in pressure rated functions. They simply suck!

 

[SteveP]

Lost my one (and only ) 2100 after 33 days of use. Just past the time when my vendor would replace it so I had to go to Rio to do it. I didn't bother and got myself an AquaClear. That was over a year ago and it's still running great.

Steve
8{I

 

[aschroeder]

I have to use a Rio

I have to use a Rio

I run a Turboflotor Skimmer that requires a Rio pump to operate it. Does anyone know if I can swap it with a different brand. Will a Mag work? I'd like to get it out of my tank before it craps out on me.

 

[Tennsquire]

Man, I love the smell of blood in the water. Smells like.......VICTORY!

Screw getting stores to stop selling them. Maybe TAAM needs to have some $$$ taken off their hands so they realize the importance of making safer products. Hmmmmmm.......

I've only ever had one Rio, a 600 on a BackPak skimmer, and it was okay and never crapped out on me. The big ones sound scary. I use MagDrives for my bigger pumps. I've also had some Hagen's since like 1995, and they still run fine to mix salt and so forth (not in dedicated tank use).

 

[dragon0121]

Rios owned 2 / 2 failed each at about 6 months
MaxiJet owned 7 / 0 failed, although 2 won't restart after power outage, smack them around to go. 3 @ 2+ years, 4 @ 1+ years.
1 Penguin given with fresh water tank, won't restart after power outage, smack it around to go.
2 Mag12 pumps been running 2+ years, no problem.

 

[grafxguy]

Rio 7/0 - never any problems just noisy at start-up
Penguins 3/1 - just stopped working, no harm
MJ 8/0 - by far the best and quietest

The thing with RIOs is that you have to use them like powerheads not like pumps. Even though the large ones are dubbed as "PUMPS" they are just big powerheads.

Anything can fail. Use what you like and be happy.

eric

 

[tyesmithND]

All right folks,

As the starter of the thread I think it might be safe to say that for a large number of people the Rios have been a real disappointment. I didn't want to waste the time to count but I think the number from the post is well over 40 and counting.

If any of you run across a new member to RC who is seeking advice about return pumps or power heads please kindly direct them to this post.

Thanks for everyone's responses and maybe we will save someone a buck or two.

Have a good one

Tye

 

[Kaos]

Rio's owned=1 (came with skimmer and still running, 4 months)
Shark = 2 (8 months old, still running)
Regent= 2 (don't joke their on my premixed salt water container,
BTW, they are over 1 year old, and still work perfect)

I have never had any trouble (fingers crossed) with restarting the Rio on my skimmer after I cleaned it. Maybe I shouldn't have said anything I have to go out of town tonight, I hope that Rio doesn't burn my skimmer and tank out tonight,:sad2:

 

[Canada_Dry]

Wouldnââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢t it be much easier to just count the WORKING RIO's? LOL.

 

[cruehead]

I think Canada_dry has the right idea!!
anyways put me down for 3

 

[Kevin Williams]

What really pi$$es me off is that many companies that make skimmers use Rios because to the best of my knowledge they are the only rejuvenating power heads available. Skimmers like the Excalibur that are junk because of the crap powering it. Hey I have an idea. Until these companies replace the pumps, quit buying their skimmers. I did. I will not touch anything that comes with a Rio. The manufacturers of Rio pumps should see this thread. Perhaps we could file a class action lawsuit against them and then they would listen.