To Rio or not to Rio.....

Reeferz412

Reeferz412

Coral Hoarder
I recieved a Taam Rio 600 RVT (rejuvenating venturi) Powerhead/Pump with a CPR Bak Pak I purchased. I hear Rios have a bad rap but the "REJUVINATING VENTURI" bewilders me. I am curious if anyone uses this pump and if they have improved performance wise (finer bubbles, less noise, overall better) on their CPR Bak Pak. Also, will changing the air adjustment valve to a fine needle adjustment valve make a difference?
 
I did some lurking, apparently it does not use an adjustment valve! It uses a "muffler" according to CPR, how strange.
 
I don't know of any "bad rap" for Rio pumps. I have 400's and 600's that have been kicking around for 15 years. I use them to stir fresh salt water and pump water out for water changes. Before that the ran non stop in my freshwater tank for years and years. I think they are indestructible. Or at least they were. Maybe they have cheapened up, I don't know.
 
Gotta try it before you knock it. Since you have it already, use it. If it doesn't perform to your standard then consider switching it out.
 
Yeah I have ran the MJ1200+CPR Bak Pak, it is very very very noisy (I got used to it but people ask me wth that noise is). I am going to give the RIO a run, do a fish line mod if I am not pleased, and if that fails switch back. I lurked and lurked all they way back to 2007 and have not found anything saying which is better. Some say the Rio, others say the MJ1200. I checked Marine Depot (+50 reviews on the pump) and everyone has mixed reviews but most say it was reliable and pretty quiet (quieter than the MJ1200). I am actually excited to see.
 
Plus the fact that A LOT of people have these skimmers, I am suprised no one has actually done a RIO vs. MJ1200 vs. Acela pump review.
 
Haven't used a Rio in some time, but many moons ago, I used them for a Bak Pak skimmer, to mix salt water for water changes, for circulation in my DT, and if memory serves for an ETS mini-skimmer. They all died within a few months of purchase. I recall reading outraged posts on the CompuServe reef forum reporting that rios cooked their tanks.

Remember CompuServe? Where have you gone Larry Jackson, a nation turns its lonely eyes to you, woo woo woo.
 
rios are great pumps for freshwater. they've ruined a lot of reeftanks in the past though. To me its not worth the risk and I would never add one to my system.

just me though.
 
I've had a bakpak with rio pump for about 6 years no problems. I was wondering myself if the new accala pumps improve the skimmer any?
 
I just got back from work and school, I will be plugging it into my CPR Bak Pak now. Updates soon to come.... I am tempted to buy an Acela for shiz and giggles as well now
 
Plugged it in. I must say, WAY less noisier than the MJ1200. Almost inaudible. It is slightly small than the MJ1200 because the MJ has the outlet for the adjustment hose which makes slightly larger. The RIO is actually making finer bubbles than the MJ1200.....
 
Here's another question, I mine as well give you the run down on what I have: I got two CPR Bak Paks, one with the MJ1200 and the other with the RIO. I had another MJ1200 so I have been using that on my skimmer. So I switched it. Now, what I noticed is that one CPR Bak Pak has a slant piece and one straight piece inside the acrylic to control microbubbles entering the tank to the outlet while the other has three divisions of just straight acrylic. Is one a CPR Bak Pak 1 and the other 2? Which one is which? And another question! I recieved a spare inlet tube (the one that connects to the pump inlet pipe from the inside) But one is longer than the other! Which one should I use?
 
I've used the same rio for 5 years with no problems. I had a mag that was on the same tank and it died after 1 year. I used the mag for my chiller and the rio for the return. I think there was a problem, with the older 2 prong rios's but the 3 prong one I have is bullet proof.
 
doonan75 said:
I've used the same rio for 5 years with no problems. I had a mag that was on the same tank and it died after 1 year. I used the mag for my chiller and the rio for the return. I think there was a problem, with the older 2 prong rios's but the 3 prong one I have is bullet proof.
Click to expand...

This Rio I have is 3 prong, I had to clean in it inside and out, I like the fact you can completely dismantle it and clean it. The previous owner did not clean it... ever lol.

Just an hourly update before I hit the sack, I figured out what the long tube was. It was for the outlet of the skimmer! instead of the water just pouring out of the elbow outlet, this long tube was provided so it gets sucked up from the bottom through this tube to the elbow outlet! I have never seen a Bak pak like this with a "tri chamber" and this long tube for the outlet.
 
Here is a photo of what I am talking about with the long pipe connected to the elbow outlet and my three fingers are over the "tri chamber" pieces of acrylic
aleon020
but usually it is differently setup.
 
Years ago RIO had a problem with there pumps. That was years ago they took care of the bad set of pumps. I have been using them for 4 years and no problems
 
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