Busted Rio pump took down my entire tank..

xtm · 08/05/2006, 10:55 PM

It was a mistake in my part.. I knew these pumps are HAZARD waiting to happen and I still used it. So what happened was I finally bought a chiller and with the SoCal heat into the 100's, I knew my tank can't go through another day without a chiller-- problem is that I didn't have a decent pump. I only had an old RIO 800 that I use for mixing salt-- so I said maybe I can use this until Saturday (today) when I have the time to go to my LFS to buy a Mag Drive..... maybe I can use it for just ONE DAY.

It was a fatal mistake.

I came home last night and immediately I saw the whole display tank is dark - EVERYTHING looked bad. One damsel dead, my yellow tang was swimming erratically and I couldn't find the rest of the fish. All corals were retracted. I was flabbergasted as to what might have caused this - I opened my sump door and immediately noticed the smell of burnt rubber.. this can't be!!!

I used to read about these kinds of things on Reefcentral.. now it happened to me..

Not to mention I have tons of accounting reports that I brought from work that I need to turn in to the bank and it has a deadline (Sat morning!!)

So without further BS, I pulled out my mixing tubs and prepp'ed 50 gals of salt mix.. I did a water change and ran carbon but everything is still dead. I finished up around 1AM this morning.

Still with salt on my elbows and wet shirt, I proceeded upstairs to my home office and worked on the month-end reports which pretty much took me until 5AM this morning

This is INSANE!!

here's what brought the whole tank down- note the burnt epoxy seal

another shot

here's my (used to be) very healthy digitata... all bleached and wrapped with a dark filmy stuff

my crocea.. still blue but notice the gapping.. the shell closed up with the mantle still extended

Dead Torch coral.. the other head just melted away

here's my Derasa that I took care of for about 2 years.. he's now the size of a football.. but he might die soon

I had some really nice blue shrooms all over my tank.. now all shriveled. they might recover but they still don't look good.

Oh yeah... all Green Star Polyps.... DEAD. I found the mats stuck against my overflow

Bebo77 · 08/05/2006, 11:01 PM

man those Rios are really a mess.. sorry to hear about the loss.....

trlrider77 · 08/05/2006, 11:05 PM

Sorry about your loss. I am running a Rio 2100 in my sump. I don't want to highjack your thread but what are the problems the pumps have? I need a replacement but I am still pretty new and I am not sure what to get.

xtm · 08/05/2006, 11:32 PM

trlrider - Welcome to Reefcentral.

I've used Mag Drives for years without problems.. I just clean them once every 3 months or so

I only used Rio's for mixing saltwater. They have a poor track record when used nonstop for extended periods of time.

Hope that helps

Hop · 08/06/2006, 12:03 AM

Sorry, I hope things rebound! Definitely do some hefty water changes and run some carbon!

And to think that only a few weeks ago I was slammed and called a liar about the rio pumps.

reefshadow · 08/06/2006, 12:26 AM

So sorry to hear about that! The same exact thing happened to me, down to the same crack in the seal of the Rio. Luckily I was home and so had no loss of power, I actually smelled the burning. It left a slick of some oily substance on the water and alot of carbon floating around. Also lucky for me, this was a newly set up 125 with very little livestock. I was using the old Rio as a temporary pump as well.

As others have stated, water changes and carbon are in order. I would also suggest some Polyfilter as well to help remove any residual metals from the burn out.

Any way you can move the more valuable livestock to a trusted friends system temporarily?

WTH don't they do a recall on these dangerous pumps? I'm sure they're aware of the problem due to communication from very irate reefers.

Again, sorry and good luck

bearpeidog · 08/06/2006, 07:36 AM

Was this on a GFI circuit? I'm wondering if that would have minimized the damage. If its not I'd highly recommend you ensure all your tanks electrical is on a GFI.

I know this isn't going to sound right but you are lucky...People have lost entire rooms/houses due to fires caused by things like this.

I wish you the best on the recovery and keep us posted on how things go.

davocean · 08/06/2006, 05:05 PM

Friends don't let friends buy RIO's!

Jonathan76 · 08/06/2006, 08:23 PM

Rio's are trash, plain and simple.

maddyfish · 08/06/2006, 09:24 PM

Here's a 600

Serioussnaps · 08/06/2006, 10:35 PM

I had a 600 that did it and took down about half the corals...all fish were ok....get some polyfilters off of marine depot....i did 30% wc's every day for a few days.....that torch and the mushrooms will live ...that torch isnt dead yet.......

so sorry man...we both learned the hard way...i hope people see this thread and dont let it happen to them(good pics///good proof)

RIO NEEDS TO STOP MAKING PUMPS OR STOP SELLING THEM....and everyone needs to quit buying them

CeeGee · 08/06/2006, 11:28 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by trlrider77
Sorry about your loss. I am running a Rio 2100 in my sump. I don't want to highjack your thread but what are the problems the pumps have? I need a replacement but I am still pretty new and I am not sure what to get.

replace that rio with an ehiem. Don't even futz with a Mag. Although they are better than the rio they can't touch an eheim.

CeeGee · 08/06/2006, 11:30 PM

xtm,

Did the yellow tang make it or did it eventually succumb as well?

I am sorry about your tank. That really sucks.

aclos3 · 08/07/2006, 12:03 AM

Yikes, I'm terribly sorry to hear about this loss. I currently have two small Rio 180s in my tank. One runs 24/7, the other is off a night and randomly throughout the day.

Should I be worried? Do their small ones also burn out quickly? I have been happy with these powerheads so far, but if they are ticking time bombs, I will start looking for replacements.

MSAreef · 08/07/2006, 12:24 AM

Just 2 weeks ago my rio 600 did the same thing, but luckily in my saltwater mixing container in the garage. I went into the garage and smelled a strong burnt rubber odor and searched the entire garage thinking something was on fire. Finally, I realized it was coming from the saltwater container. I will never buy rio again.

Freed · 08/07/2006, 01:49 AM

As far as Rio is concerned, they are still selling them and people are buying them unaware of the issues AND they know full well they are at fault but as far as they are concerned it's the fault of the people buying them that is causing these massive loss' of life in their tanks. TAAM should be closed down but who's going to do it? None of us can ulness "WE" stop buying them.

maddyfish · 08/07/2006, 07:46 AM

Anybody have any more pictures?

raskal311 · 08/07/2006, 08:11 AM

All of the rio user should start a support club.

reefdiva · 08/07/2006, 08:12 AM

Well glad I read this post...I use Rio's on two tanks on my return lines..diffenatey going to buy new pumps..you guys say Mag's are good..what about this Enheim someone mention..anyone know if these are anygood? Lordy I hope mine don't burn out...darn. Just when you think you leveled out...lol.

PrangeWay · 08/07/2006, 08:27 AM

It's definetly best to use Rio's only for salt mixing. Though how the Rio can be so bad and the Seio so good is baffling (must be diffrent plants).

As for "TAAM should be closed down", I hope not, as their OceanPure Salt is one of the best out there consistentcy wise.

I'd go with Eheims over Mags more for heat issues, I like Mags as they provide good pump head, but they are heaters as much as pumps.

PW

reefdiva · 08/07/2006, 09:00 AM

Thanks,,Enhiem it is then,,diffenately don't need more heat in my tanks,,especially since I've yet to buy a Chiller..lol..Thanks again for the heads up on Rio's folks.

clkwrk · 08/07/2006, 09:54 AM

Sorry to hear . I have had 2 rio pumps do that in the past .........also yesterday I had a German Aquabee 2000/1 do the same thing but I caught it before it split.

IndyMatt · 08/07/2006, 10:22 AM

Had a Rio 800 get jammed, melted the powercord at the base of the pump. It was on a GFI, luckily so, I didn't notice anything until I realized the mixing trashcan was really quiet (after I already put my hand in the water). Not sure what caused it to get jammed since it was in a mixing trashcan. Luckily it wasn't in my main tank.

CeeGee · 08/07/2006, 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by reefdiva
Well glad I read this post...I use Rio's on two tanks on my return lines..diffenatey going to buy new pumps..you guys say Mag's are good..what about this Enheim someone mention..anyone know if these are anygood? Lordy I hope mine don't burn out...darn. Just when you think you leveled out...lol.

The eheims are the best of the best.

coralnut99 · 08/07/2006, 10:37 AM

When I first started expanding my fishroom, Rios were my pump of choice. Of course! they were the cheapest out there, and it seemed somebody always had them on sale. Over the course of a year, twelve Rios from an 80 all the way to 2100's all seized up. Small power iinterruptions are fatal to them.

I trashed them all. Powerheads replaced by Maxijets, and pumps by Magdrives. I haven't replaced a pump or powerhead in almost 4 years now. Stoopid me even bought 2 seios believing they wouldn't dare put the same motor in these things. Boy was I wrong and a big sucker as well. I ended up giving them away.

Xtm, I'm so sorry for the horror story this product created for you. I only had to deal with them seizing and not re-starting. I can't imagine what would run through my head if one burned up the way yours did. In such a catstrophe, the only bright side is that it didn't bring down your entire house as others have said. If you weren't on the opposite coast, I would be there in a heartbeat to help.

Much has been written about Taam products here on RC. Certainly some folks have been OK with both Rios and Seios. I've categorically struck out with both. I'm starting to wonder if Taam has been reported to any of the various useless government agencies created to protect the public from these products? Does UL even test these things?

While reading this, I remembered that I saw 2 small Rios in a box of hardware in my fishroom over the weekend. They'll be in the trash tonight.

08/05/2006, 10:55 PM	#1
xtm Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Panorama City, CA Posts: 4,703	Busted Rio pump took down my entire tank.. It was a mistake in my part.. I knew these pumps are HAZARD waiting to happen and I still used it. So what happened was I finally bought a chiller and with the SoCal heat into the 100's, I knew my tank can't go through another day without a chiller-- problem is that I didn't have a decent pump. I only had an old RIO 800 that I use for mixing salt-- so I said maybe I can use this until Saturday (today) when I have the time to go to my LFS to buy a Mag Drive..... maybe I can use it for just ONE DAY. It was a fatal mistake. I came home last night and immediately I saw the whole display tank is dark - EVERYTHING looked bad. One damsel dead, my yellow tang was swimming erratically and I couldn't find the rest of the fish. All corals were retracted. I was flabbergasted as to what might have caused this - I opened my sump door and immediately noticed the smell of burnt rubber.. this can't be!!! I used to read about these kinds of things on Reefcentral.. now it happened to me.. Not to mention I have tons of accounting reports that I brought from work that I need to turn in to the bank and it has a deadline (Sat morning!!) So without further BS, I pulled out my mixing tubs and prepp'ed 50 gals of salt mix.. I did a water change and ran carbon but everything is still dead. I finished up around 1AM this morning. Still with salt on my elbows and wet shirt, I proceeded upstairs to my home office and worked on the month-end reports which pretty much took me until 5AM this morning This is INSANE!! here's what brought the whole tank down- note the burnt epoxy seal another shot here's my (used to be) very healthy digitata... all bleached and wrapped with a dark filmy stuff my crocea.. still blue but notice the gapping.. the shell closed up with the mantle still extended Dead Torch coral.. the other head just melted away here's my Derasa that I took care of for about 2 years.. he's now the size of a football.. but he might die soon I had some really nice blue shrooms all over my tank.. now all shriveled. they might recover but they still don't look good. Oh yeah... all Green Star Polyps.... DEAD. I found the mats stuck against my overflow __________________ Function before fashion Current Tank Info: 120g SPS Tank (48x24x24)

08/05/2006, 11:01 PM	#2
Bebo77 Premium Nonpaying Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Lost Posts: 14,377	man those Rios are really a mess.. sorry to hear about the loss..... __________________ Gabriel Current Tank Info: 300 Gal Envision Tank(98Lx30Wx26T) 120 Gal SoCalCreations Sump, Deltec TC2560, 2 LumenarcsMini 1 Reg on a light mover W Radiums 250& 400, Gallaxy ballasts, Red Dragon 10m3 return W/ 2 WavySeas, 2 6155 Tunze streams

08/05/2006, 11:32 PM	#4
xtm Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Panorama City, CA Posts: 4,703	trlrider - Welcome to Reefcentral. I've used Mag Drives for years without problems.. I just clean them once every 3 months or so I only used Rio's for mixing saltwater. They have a poor track record when used nonstop for extended periods of time. Hope that helps __________________ Function before fashion Current Tank Info: 120g SPS Tank (48x24x24)

08/06/2006, 12:03 AM	#5
Hop Carpe Noctem!!! Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Western Colorado Posts: 8,548	Sorry, I hope things rebound! Definitely do some hefty water changes and run some carbon! And to think that only a few weeks ago I was slammed and called a liar about the rio pumps. __________________ Hop Current Tank Info: 300-gallon in-wall system (mixed reef)

08/06/2006, 12:26 AM	#6
reefshadow Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Central Washington Posts: 1,786	So sorry to hear about that! The same exact thing happened to me, down to the same crack in the seal of the Rio. Luckily I was home and so had no loss of power, I actually smelled the burning. It left a slick of some oily substance on the water and alot of carbon floating around. Also lucky for me, this was a newly set up 125 with very little livestock. I was using the old Rio as a temporary pump as well. As others have stated, water changes and carbon are in order. I would also suggest some Polyfilter as well to help remove any residual metals from the burn out. Any way you can move the more valuable livestock to a trusted friends system temporarily? WTH don't they do a recall on these dangerous pumps? I'm sure they're aware of the problem due to communication from very irate reefers. Again, sorry and good luck __________________ All Your Coral Are Belong To Us Current Tank Info: 30 Deep Blue shallow mixed rimless, MP10, Ecoxotic LED's, SCA 301 skimmer.

08/05/2006, 11:05 PM	#3
trlrider77 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Clinton TN Posts: 23	Sorry about your loss. I am running a Rio 2100 in my sump. I don't want to highjack your thread but what are the problems the pumps have? I need a replacement but I am still pretty new and I am not sure what to get.

08/06/2006, 07:36 AM	#7
bearpeidog Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Milton, Vermont Posts: 560	Was this on a GFI circuit? I'm wondering if that would have minimized the damage. If its not I'd highly recommend you ensure all your tanks electrical is on a GFI. I know this isn't going to sound right but you are lucky...People have lost entire rooms/houses due to fires caused by things like this. I wish you the best on the recovery and keep us posted on how things go.

08/06/2006, 05:05 PM	#8
davocean Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 14,655	Friends don't let friends buy RIO's! __________________ There's a fine line between owning your tank and your tank owning you! Current Tank Info: SCA 120g RR Starfire, Tunze silence 1073.02 return, 40g sump w/ fuge, SWC Extreme 160 cone skimmer,Geismann reflexx 4xT5, 2x Panorama Pro LED strips, Vortech MP40QD

08/06/2006, 08:23 PM	#9
Jonathan76 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Littleton, Colorado Posts: 134	Rio's are trash, plain and simple. __________________ 75 with 1 Radion Pro, Bean Animal overflow, SWC 160

08/06/2006, 09:24 PM	#10
maddyfish Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 330	Here's a 600 __________________ If an expert says it cannot be done, get another expert- David Ben-Gurion Current Tank Info: 75 mixed simple tank 2.5 pico and 20 gallon QUARANTINE

08/06/2006, 10:35 PM	#11
Serioussnaps Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: North Carolina Posts: 3,703	I had a 600 that did it and took down about half the corals...all fish were ok....get some polyfilters off of marine depot....i did 30% wc's every day for a few days.....that torch and the mushrooms will live ...that torch isnt dead yet....... so sorry man...we both learned the hard way...i hope people see this thread and dont let it happen to them(good pics///good proof) RIO NEEDS TO STOP MAKING PUMPS OR STOP SELLING THEM....and everyone needs to quit buying them

08/06/2006, 11:30 PM	#13
CeeGee Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: TN Posts: 3,272	xtm, Did the yellow tang make it or did it eventually succumb as well? I am sorry about your tank. That really sucks. __________________ My algae WAS special. Current Tank Info: 75 gallon display, 40 gallon breeder sump, RLSS R6i, ATI Powermodule, Apex, Ecotech MP40's

08/07/2006, 12:03 AM	#14
aclos3 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 394	Yikes, I'm terribly sorry to hear about this loss. I currently have two small Rio 180s in my tank. One runs 24/7, the other is off a night and randomly throughout the day. Should I be worried? Do their small ones also burn out quickly? I have been happy with these powerheads so far, but if they are ticking time bombs, I will start looking for replacements.

08/07/2006, 12:24 AM	#15
MSAreef Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Bay Area Posts: 176	Just 2 weeks ago my rio 600 did the same thing, but luckily in my saltwater mixing container in the garage. I went into the garage and smelled a strong burnt rubber odor and searched the entire garage thinking something was on fire. Finally, I realized it was coming from the saltwater container. I will never buy rio again.

08/07/2006, 01:49 AM	#16
Freed It's what it's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: 41° 2' 45" N 85° 8' 43" W Posts: 7,579	As far as Rio is concerned, they are still selling them and people are buying them unaware of the issues AND they know full well they are at fault but as far as they are concerned it's the fault of the people buying them that is causing these massive loss' of life in their tanks. TAAM should be closed down but who's going to do it? None of us can ulness "WE" stop buying them. __________________ Freed Current Tank Info: 180gal(1120 watts of MH/VHO light), 60gal "sump", Deltec 601 calcium reactor, Euro Reef CS8-3+ skimmer, 20 gallon QT

08/07/2006, 07:46 AM	#17
maddyfish Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 330	Anybody have any more pictures? __________________ If an expert says it cannot be done, get another expert- David Ben-Gurion Current Tank Info: 75 mixed simple tank 2.5 pico and 20 gallon QUARANTINE

08/07/2006, 08:11 AM	#18
raskal311 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Orange County Posts: 5,274	All of the rio user should start a support club.

08/07/2006, 08:12 AM	#19
reefdiva Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Temple,TX Posts: 100	Well glad I read this post...I use Rio's on two tanks on my return lines..diffenatey going to buy new pumps..you guys say Mag's are good..what about this Enheim someone mention..anyone know if these are anygood? Lordy I hope mine don't burn out...darn. Just when you think you leveled out...lol.

08/07/2006, 08:27 AM	#20
PrangeWay Duke of Monte Fisto Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Fort Worth, TX Posts: 722	It's definetly best to use Rio's only for salt mixing. Though how the Rio can be so bad and the Seio so good is baffling (must be diffrent plants). As for "TAAM should be closed down", I hope not, as their OceanPure Salt is one of the best out there consistentcy wise. I'd go with Eheims over Mags more for heat issues, I like Mags as they provide good pump head, but they are heaters as much as pumps. PW __________________ Dumbest Quotes Ever..... "Great color, great growth" closely followed by "all water parameters fine"

08/07/2006, 09:00 AM	#21
reefdiva Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Temple,TX Posts: 100	Thanks,,Enhiem it is then,,diffenately don't need more heat in my tanks,,especially since I've yet to buy a Chiller..lol..Thanks again for the heads up on Rio's folks.

08/07/2006, 09:54 AM	#22
clkwrk Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Mesa ,Az Posts: 10,257	Sorry to hear . I have had 2 rio pumps do that in the past .........also yesterday I had a German Aquabee 2000/1 do the same thing but I caught it before it split. __________________ ------- Feel free to use my photos for ONLY informative sites, education or enjoyment.All I ask is to include my Reef Central User id and where you got the photo ( RC).

08/07/2006, 10:22 AM	#23
IndyMatt Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Indy Posts: 568	Had a Rio 800 get jammed, melted the powercord at the base of the pump. It was on a GFI, luckily so, I didn't notice anything until I realized the mixing trashcan was really quiet (after I already put my hand in the water). Not sure what caused it to get jammed since it was in a mixing trashcan. Luckily it wasn't in my main tank.

08/07/2006, 10:37 AM	#25
coralnut99 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Bushkill, PA Posts: 3,632	When I first started expanding my fishroom, Rios were my pump of choice. Of course! they were the cheapest out there, and it seemed somebody always had them on sale. Over the course of a year, twelve Rios from an 80 all the way to 2100's all seized up. Small power iinterruptions are fatal to them. I trashed them all. Powerheads replaced by Maxijets, and pumps by Magdrives. I haven't replaced a pump or powerhead in almost 4 years now. Stoopid me even bought 2 seios believing they wouldn't dare put the same motor in these things. Boy was I wrong and a big sucker as well. I ended up giving them away. Xtm, I'm so sorry for the horror story this product created for you. I only had to deal with them seizing and not re-starting. I can't imagine what would run through my head if one burned up the way yours did. In such a catstrophe, the only bright side is that it didn't bring down your entire house as others have said. If you weren't on the opposite coast, I would be there in a heartbeat to help. Much has been written about Taam products here on RC. Certainly some folks have been OK with both Rios and Seios. I've categorically struck out with both. I'm starting to wonder if Taam has been reported to any of the various useless government agencies created to protect the public from these products? Does UL even test these things? While reading this, I remembered that I saw 2 small Rios in a box of hardware in my fishroom over the weekend. They'll be in the trash tonight. __________________ Why can't my wife see this stuff as an investment? Current Tank Info: way too much to list, and still adding more!