Let's Count the Broken RIOs
- Thread starter tyesmithND
- Start date
timespinner
New member
Rio = not recommended by my local store
Maxi Jet = 3, no real trouble with normal maintenance (4 years old)
Mag = 2, no real trouble (2 years old)
PanWorld 100PX = 1, no trouble (1+ years old)
Maxi Jet = 3, no real trouble with normal maintenance (4 years old)
Mag = 2, no real trouble (2 years old)
PanWorld 100PX = 1, no trouble (1+ years old)
scooters reef
New member
Rio = 2
Others, no clue as it's been too many years. However, I don't ever recall one I couldn't fix with just a new impeller if I wanted to. The two Rio's I had were terrible from the start. Well, let me correct that: They worked GREAT, until power went out. Neither would ever restart without taking it apart or beating it. Finally finished unpacking and found my old Mag pumps to solve the problem. Now have all external pumps though.
2 was enough for me. Both went in the trash. I wouldn't have even given them to someone else for free.
Others, no clue as it's been too many years. However, I don't ever recall one I couldn't fix with just a new impeller if I wanted to. The two Rio's I had were terrible from the start. Well, let me correct that: They worked GREAT, until power went out. Neither would ever restart without taking it apart or beating it. Finally finished unpacking and found my old Mag pumps to solve the problem. Now have all external pumps though.
2 was enough for me. Both went in the trash. I wouldn't have even given them to someone else for free.
NorthernCF
Premium Member
rio = 3 including electrocution!
other = 0
other = 0
Ah64av8tor
Premium Member
rio = 3/3 including 1 electrocution, 1 meltdown (killed 75g) and 1 fire, (burnt up the wire and killed Icecap M660 and smoaked out the hood) never again!
MJ1200 = 1/10 it was 10 years old
MJ1200 = 1/10 it was 10 years old
DrMilhouse,
Personally, I would not buy another RIO pump.
The pumps that actually failed for me were purchased at the same time so I had not previous experience with them.
The 2500 that I did the postmortem on was sent to me by a person who had their tank wiped out by it.
It was so burnt that I have no doubt that it would have been an issue for any system that it had been part of.
But as an electrical hardware engineer, I would probably take a look at a current production run example and try to determine if the previously identified issues had been rectified.
Regards,
Scott
Personally, I would not buy another RIO pump.
The pumps that actually failed for me were purchased at the same time so I had not previous experience with them.
The 2500 that I did the postmortem on was sent to me by a person who had their tank wiped out by it.
It was so burnt that I have no doubt that it would have been an issue for any system that it had been part of.
But as an electrical hardware engineer, I would probably take a look at a current production run example and try to determine if the previously identified issues had been rectified.
Regards,
Scott
About 6 months ago, I bought a SEIO. I did add it to my tank, and to date, it's running fine. I occasionally unplug it, just to see if it starts back up after being off for a few minutes. It has not failed yet. It does appear that an improvement has been made in the new line of RIO pumps.
midnightmadman
New member
Are the majority of the meltdowns with the Rio Aqua pump or the Rio Hyperflo???
In any case what is an equvilant pump that I can use to replace a hyperflow 10HF for my Excalibur skimmer?
In any case what is an equvilant pump that I can use to replace a hyperflow 10HF for my Excalibur skimmer?
exoticaquatix
In Memoriam
well, ive had 3 rios for about 7-8 years and only one developed a hole in the "potting" stuff sround the windings. it was a pond model 2500 or something. i only noticed this after i tore down my 65 about 5 years ago. my old boss seemed to like them, maybe cause he was a cheap a**. im using the other 2 one is a 2500 and the other a 3100. both are fine, not all that great but already payed for. 
i have had 3 maxi jets for even longer. 2 of them need new impellars and the other one is in my buddies reef, just remembered that. they work fine otherwise. i had a penguin a while back and the impellar rusted so bad i couldnt pull it out. so that equals.....
rio 1 of 3 dead
maxi 2 good 1 stolen
penguin 1 of 1 dead
i have had 3 maxi jets for even longer. 2 of them need new impellars and the other one is in my buddies reef, just remembered that. they work fine otherwise. i had a penguin a while back and the impellar rusted so bad i couldnt pull it out. so that equals.....rio 1 of 3 dead
maxi 2 good 1 stolen
penguin 1 of 1 dead
exoticaquatix
In Memoriam
oh, and i have a seio 620 that i am very happy with. i will be buying another only an 820 the next time.
Polyptician
Premium Member
3 rios
NorthernCF
Premium Member
And how many were good for how long?BryanBusza said:
I purchased a Rio+ 1400 a month ago, before I found this thread. Right now it is just running a skimmer on some live rock that I am curing. After looking at a lot of the Rios, I noticed that they only had a few models that were UL listed. Most of them aren't and my LFS says that TAAM never sends there pump through testing. Are they right? I am already looking for a replacement just to be safe. I was wondering how many of the pumps that failed were UL listed? If the chance of massive failure less with my pump being one of the UL models?
NorthernCF
Premium Member
Thats what this thread is about. Informing our fellow reefers. You need to make that decision yourself.
I personally have been shocked AKA electrocuted. IMO keeping a pump around to save the origional purchace + say 100 bucks for a new one, is not worth being shocked. I did buy a electrical ground probe for the fish tank (before I knew other brands wouldn't likely shock me). Even then, how much does the shocks effect the tank friends? Perhaps that is not a concern, I don't understand electricity well. But, I do know pain!
I personally have been shocked AKA electrocuted. IMO keeping a pump around to save the origional purchace + say 100 bucks for a new one, is not worth being shocked. I did buy a electrical ground probe for the fish tank (before I knew other brands wouldn't likely shock me). Even then, how much does the shocks effect the tank friends? Perhaps that is not a concern, I don't understand electricity well. But, I do know pain!
Steven Pro
New member
I have had about a half dozen or more simply fail to operate anymore after about one to two years of use and I had one of the smaller ones that comes with a Bak-Pak (600 or 800 I believe) give me a jolt of electricity. That was the last straw. I replaced all the Rio's I have in my accounts with comparable Mag-Drives or Maxi-Jets.
midnightmadman
New member
Once again... is ANYONE talking about the Hyperflow pumps?
Ah64av8tor
Premium Member
Has anyone come up with a total from this thread?
midnightmadman
New member
The total must some how be figured out and divded between the old style pumps and the hyperflows... There is a major difference.
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