Let's Count the Broken RIOs

[The Aquarist]

http://www.riopump.com/ seems to be gone! I hope RIO doesn't change it's name and appearance and come back! I wasted a lot of money on their garbage. I'd hate to see other aquarium keepers have their reef experience affected by more of this undependable junk.

All of mine went in the trash! .. Even the ones that were still running! I cut my losses and got impressive Quiet One replacements. It's nice knowing I can put my hand in the tank without feeling voltage now! I can shut my replacement pumps and know they will come back on later too! I also haven't needed any new impellers for the new Quiet Ones I bought. My last RIO 2100 I had, needed an impeller very soon after I bought it and all the others needed at least one.

I know this wasn't everyone's RIO experience, but I'm far from the only one who had these problems.

 

[Runner]

My first and only RIO (a small one -- 160) just died on me after about 18 months of continuous service. I turned the power off the clean the cannister filter last week and, when I turned power back on 10 minutes later, the RIO would not start. Not too bad for a cheap pump. I am planning on trying to clean it out and use it for my mixing bucket. I have since replaced it with a Powersweep 214 (which people also seem to whine about). With Powersweep, though, you can easily open it up and clean it out. Annecdotes say that it keeps sweeping if you actually clean it. I reckon I'll find out for sure soon.

 

[chetscc]

I have too many RIO pumps to count them all and I have noticed that the RIO 1100 and up run great if <b>never</b> shut off, however, if you unplug them then plug them in they will not start again.

I love the Rio 800 model and under if run constantly and not on a wavemaker.

Never have had any pump fail.
I own:
1-Rio 1700
1-RIO 50
1-RIO 800
1-RIO 180
2-RIO 400
1-powersweep
2-shark undergravel filter powerheads
1-Hagen aquaclear402
1-Mag 24
1-Mag 2.5
1-not sure of brand name at the moment

 

[phishy4]

My rio just broke on my precision marine skimmer but luckily I had another old rio that I took parts off of and I fixed it. The tiny flanges on the impeller rubbed down and the propeller was not catching right.

 

[rhiggsbear]

Mine are still runnnnnnnnniiiiiiiiiggggggggggggggggg. Lets see, must be nearly 8 years. Think it is time to clean it yet?

 

[z28pwr]

DING DING.

Chalk (1) Up.

Rio 2100

The thing burned up and stunk the house.

 

[Uncle Gillbert]

of 4 down
one blew the top off inside my tank bolts of elec everywhere
3 just stoped.(smashing them around wouldnt start them)
1 im using for water changes(i have to smash it to get it going)

and the good news is ive been running a new hyper 17 (rio tamm)
for almost 2 yrs(i think) and its perfect so far.
(knock on rio)

 

[Steve_B]

0/6
never had any 'melt down', had to replace impellar on 1. They do have to be hit a couple times after being turned off, I don't mind thou(hope it never breaks my tank).

If you have a power failure, when the power comes back on the pump will not because your not there to whack it. It happened to me with catastrophic results.

 

[Steve_B]

hey guys, does anyone know where the RIO web page is? I tried looking it up on google but couldn't find it.

I want to write a letter to them telling them they are losing customers and I was gonna paste the link to this thread.

I was also gonna suggest that they send each one of us a pump to make up for our troubles .

If you find the page feel free to do this too!

I wrote them a letter a couple of years ago and pointed out that the pump failure wiped out my tank. It took me a year and $600-$700 (cost of fish) to get my tank to where it was, not to mention just feeling sick to find all of my fish dead. Their response was NOTHING! They did not even acknowledge receiving the letter, dirty
F*%$*&G Bas%^&#s!

 

[kmatwill]

rio - 1
other - 0

 

[rstark33]

2100 just buzzes
2500 burned up in the tank, you gotta love it!
I will never touch one again.

 

[Steve_B]

I was just thinking that the problems may have something to do with the calcium additives that are used in a lot of peoples tanks. I used to have a PH problem and I would add buffer into the sump. My rio 3100 was in the sump and the buffer was sucked right into it. I only use buffer now in newly prepared water for water changes and no longer use it in the display tank. I may be insane, but yes I have continued to use Rio pumps because they fit into my sump properly and have the flow rate I need. I have not had a problem in over a year and a half (since I stopped puting buffer in the tank). Could this have something to do with it?

 

[robert3000]

Maxi 500 2 dead
2 Rio 600 have be going for 8 years now

 

[wwxc]

I had a rio last 3 years. No Problems at all.

 

[jimroth]

I have a Rio 3100 going for 4 years as return pump on my 90g without problems. On my turboflotor skimmer, I go through a Rio 2500 every year or even 8 mos -- they don't last in that "free-spinning" role, I guess they like to get a little head pressure.

 

[Doppler]

My 3100 was smoking in my sump,I got home just in time the room was filled with smoke.When i inspected it water was getting in where the power cord goes into the pump and was shorting it out...I'll stick with Danner mag drive pumps

 

[DonEd]

Came home tonight to find all of my tanks pumps and lights shut off. The 20Amp main breaker had tripped. On investigation, it turned out that the Rio 2100 running my Turboflotor protein skimmer had failed. It ran fine for about 5 years, then one night poof. I opened the back cover, and the epoxy is cracked and the thing smells like an electrical fire. I just hope my tank remains OK.

I don't think anything but a Rio will work on my skimmer, so I guess I need a new skimmer (not a new Rio!!!)

 

[Sallylightfoot]

Good decision!!!

 

[Doppler]

Reef Devil

 

[thedude]

I've lost two Rio's. One ran fine for several years, then I was using it to mixup some saltwater, it quit running, and suddenly there was an oil slick on the new water. The other one died a few days later doing the same thing!!!!

Fortunately they weren't in my tank yet.