rio 1300 vs mag drive 9.5

nocNoc · 12/19/2007, 06:01 PM

I ordered a mag 9.5 from pet solutions which hasn't come yet, and while I am waiting I bought this rio 1300 used for $5. I am using it for 2 retuns, but its not really pushing much water. Will the mag 9 be better or do I need a bigger pump?

mg426 · 12/19/2007, 07:38 PM

I use a mag 9.5 as a return on my 125. It is plenty in that application. Just what Rio do you have?? I have heard of/seen the 1400 but never the 1300.

kdblove_99 · 01/16/2008, 06:16 AM

I would not use a RIO. they are garbage. I like Oceanrunners

Tom Fay · 01/16/2008, 12:48 PM

Rios get a bad rep because they wear out when used as a return pump. The head pressure wears out the impeller. I've had the same Rio 2100 running my skimmer for 7 years. Of course like all things you get what you pay for. If you use a $40 pump for something demanding like a sump return, your going to see it fail sooner than normal. I vote for getting a real external return pump, not a submersible powerhead. If you go to the head pressure calculator on this website and enter a dual return configuration from a single Mag9 with 6 feet of verticle head, you only get around 500 GPH. On a 125 with dual returns you would want more like 900-1000 GPH.

12/19/2007, 06:01 PM	#1
nocNoc Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: san mateo Posts: 6	rio 1300 vs mag drive 9.5 I ordered a mag 9.5 from pet solutions which hasn't come yet, and while I am waiting I bought this rio 1300 used for $5. I am using it for 2 retuns, but its not really pushing much water. Will the mag 9 be better or do I need a bigger pump?

12/19/2007, 07:38 PM	#2
mg426 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: maryland Posts: 6,923	I use a mag 9.5 as a return on my 125. It is plenty in that application. Just what Rio do you have?? I have heard of/seen the 1400 but never the 1300. __________________ I found a way to make a small fortune running a reef tank. Start with a large fortune. Unofficial President of the SEACLONE haters club Current Tank Info: 125 mixed reef 110 lbs LR, 1x250watt XM 20K MH 2x175watt XM 20K MH on Magetics 2X96 watt actinic PC, 220 watt VHO actinic, 30 gallon refugium, closed loop system powered by Sequence Dart MSX 200 skimmer 38 gallon sump, Oceansmotions squirt

01/16/2008, 06:16 AM	#3
kdblove_99 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Frederick,CO Posts: 8,683	I would not use a RIO. they are garbage. I like Oceanrunners

01/16/2008, 12:48 PM	#4
Tom Fay Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 120	Rios get a bad rep because they wear out when used as a return pump. The head pressure wears out the impeller. I've had the same Rio 2100 running my skimmer for 7 years. Of course like all things you get what you pay for. If you use a $40 pump for something demanding like a sump return, your going to see it fail sooner than normal. I vote for getting a real external return pump, not a submersible powerhead. If you go to the head pressure calculator on this website and enter a dual return configuration from a single Mag9 with 6 feet of verticle head, you only get around 500 GPH. On a 125 with dual returns you would want more like 900-1000 GPH.