Rio Pumps, yes or no??

rickh · 05/13/2007, 02:44 PM

I am thinking of replacing the MJ1200 with a Rio 1400 on my Remora skimmer. The Mag 5 is probably too big. Somewhere I recall horror stories about Rio pumps catching fire of something. What do think??
R

jbeltmann · 05/13/2007, 05:37 PM

I think you are referring to when they seize up they leak oil into the tank. I personally use one in my fo tank but would never advise using one in a reef.

Freed · 05/13/2007, 05:43 PM

Please use the RC search function later on in the evening and search for the dozens upon dozens of tanks, etc. that have been wiped out because of the faulty Rio pumps. No other has such a poor success rate.

McCrary · 05/13/2007, 05:58 PM

You could always use the Mag 3.5, the Pro version of the Remora uses this pump and it should work well for your remora if you need more power.

rickh · 05/13/2007, 06:28 PM

Thanks for the info. R

smatter · 05/13/2007, 08:45 PM

Rio pumps do not contain any oil, and I have never had a problem with one in over 12 years. Everyone better throw out their Seios too, they are Taam products. They were the most commonly used pumps for years, so if someone had a problem with a pump it was probably a Rio, hence the bad rap. The dog breed responsible for the most bites is the Golden Retriever, not because they are a bad breed, the odds are against them simply because everyone has one.

Robert German · 05/14/2007, 06:49 AM

Over the years I've probably used 6 Rios and never had a problem. Cleaning them every other month helps with their operation. I once modded a Bak-Pak with a MJ1200 and got minimal skimmate,so I modded that out with a Rio 800 and it produced good skimmate. The MJ1200 needs a different Impeller to realy produce good micro bubbles in my opinion.

jbeltmann · 05/14/2007, 08:54 AM

For a couple dollars more you can get a pump that doesn't have problems seems like cheap insurance to me. As far as seio goes, yes they are the same parent company, but built totally different. I wouldn't even screw around with it considering how much is spent on every other aspect of this hobby. If you can't get the search function to work go to the home page and on the left side you will see "search rc" which always helps me find what I'm looking for.

tkeracer619 · 05/14/2007, 09:30 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by smatter
Rio pumps do not contain any oil, and I have never had a problem with one in over 12 years. Everyone better throw out their Seios too, they are Taam products. They were the most commonly used pumps for years, so if someone had a problem with a pump it was probably a Rio, hence the bad rap. The dog breed responsible for the most bites is the Golden Retriever, not because they are a bad breed, the odds are against them simply because everyone has one.

I use one of the newer ul listed pumps, it still is junk. You need to realize the pump has nuked a lot of tanks over the years. The pump does contain oils. When the pump overheats it causes it to leach out of the plastics. Many unfortunate people have lost their tank this way. If in doubt, do a search, you will find plenty of examples. Wish I had spent the extra $$ on a mag or ehiem.

MusMusculus · 05/14/2007, 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by smatter
Rio pumps do not contain any oil, and I have never had a problem with one in over 12 years. Everyone better throw out their Seios too, they are Taam products. They were the most commonly used pumps for years, so if someone had a problem with a pump it was probably a Rio, hence the bad rap. ...

My experience with Rio pumps includes one that leaked voltage into the tank (a 400 I think) and one which does not start reliably after power loss (Hyperflo 2100 [Edit: it is the 12HF, not the 2100. I mix salt with it now.]). Those were my only two Rio pumps. Perhaps I'm just unlucky, but I have yet to have a problem with Aquaclear or Maxijet pumps, and I have probably owned more than 2 dozen of these pumps.

jmp998 · 05/14/2007, 10:36 AM

I had an almost new one seize up and release oily residue (probably melted epoxy/plastic) several years ago, supposedly the new ones are better, however I don't plan to try one myself-just not worth the small cost savings to me when you can potentially lose hundreds or thousands in livestock. It also took me forever to clean all the gunk out of my sump.

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...hreadid=923207

hahnmeister · 05/14/2007, 11:52 AM

best pump for remora = eheim 1250.

dhnguyen · 05/14/2007, 12:27 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by smatter
Rio pumps do not contain any oil, and I have never had a problem with one in over 12 years. Everyone better throw out their Seios too, they are Taam products. They were the most commonly used pumps for years, so if someone had a problem with a pump it was probably a Rio, hence the bad rap. The dog breed responsible for the most bites is the Golden Retriever, not because they are a bad breed, the odds are against them simply because everyone has one.

You are right AND wrong at the same time

You are right in that Rio pumps are no longer made with oil filled motor chamber. However for a while the Rio pumps WERE infact made with oil and DID cause a lot of problems when the pumps go out in people's tanks.

Commonly used doesn't equate to anything in this instance. Maxijets are just as well known and widely used and yet you would be hard pressed to find anyone with anything bad to say about them.

As far as SEIOs go... Yeah well... They're not that great to begin with.

tkeracer619 · 05/14/2007, 01:10 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jmp998
supposedly the new ones are better

My 17HF (the new style) doesn't ever restart on power off, you have to plug it in 4-10 times to get it going in the right direction. What it did from the day it came out of the box.

The little one on my rio nano skimmer is ok though, its external though so i'm not to worried about it nuking my tank like with any of the other non-ul listed styles.

psyco_guy_abd · 05/14/2007, 01:30 PM

I've been running a 17HF and 21HF for two years now, nonstop and not had any problems. I think that their older pumps had an issue and they now have a bad reputation because of one model line of pumps that aren't made anymore. I'd say if you can't afford the better pump then go with the rio, I know that locally I can buy three rio's for the price of one MAG.

rickh · 05/14/2007, 01:44 PM

Thanks for the info.

smatter · 05/14/2007, 04:12 PM

I guess I have just been lucky with the literally hundreds of them I have used in my own as well as clients tanks since the early 90s.
I am not saying they are the best pumps out there, there are certainly better ones now, and I don't use them in my tanks anymore. They had their time.
The Seio pump is not made totally differently, it is the exact same motor.
The most commonly used equates to everything in this instance, if we are talking about past experiences with Rio pumps, as they were the most commonly used pumps for many years. Simple stats.

mg426 · 05/14/2007, 04:58 PM

I have used a couple of them over the years, I had never had any issues or problems. They are used only as spares now, as I said I never had any trouble but there are lots of horror stories on RC about them.

ccoral · 05/15/2007, 10:27 AM

tkeracer619
Before you make claims that Rio have Oil you better be sure. As far I know all pumps are made the same. Eheim, maxi jet, Rio ect.
Copper coil, epoxy filled and a magnetic rotor and as for searching pumps for problems you can search any pump manufacture and find negitive feed back.
I have used Rio for years without any problems.

ramullinax · 05/15/2007, 11:17 AM

I consider Rios to be garbage. I've been very happy with my Mag3 since I've replaced a Rio 2500 with it.

zeusfc · 05/15/2007, 01:32 PM

I've used a Rio 3100 as both a return pump and as a CL pump... I love it! loads of power for the money.

the "oil" stories seem to be linked to certain models at certain times... not the whole range all the time!

ccoral · 05/15/2007, 02:35 PM

ramullinax,
I consider Rios to be garbage. I've been very happy with my Mag3 since I've replaced a Rio 2500 with it.

Mag 3 does only 350 GPH Rio 2500 does 700 GPH maybe you where using the wrong pump for your specific application or you just want to be negitive. Most pumps are designed with specific flows for specific applications and can not see the 3 or 350 GPH pump be a replacement for a 700 GPH pump.

__________________

05/13/2007, 02:44 PM	#1
rickh Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Lost_in_Michigan Posts: 1,306	Rio Pumps, yes or no?? I am thinking of replacing the MJ1200 with a Rio 1400 on my Remora skimmer. The Mag 5 is probably too big. Somewhere I recall horror stories about Rio pumps catching fire of something. What do think?? R

05/13/2007, 05:43 PM	#3
Freed It's what it's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: 41° 2' 45" N 85° 8' 43" W Posts: 7,579	Please use the RC search function later on in the evening and search for the dozens upon dozens of tanks, etc. that have been wiped out because of the faulty Rio pumps. No other has such a poor success rate. __________________ 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

05/13/2007, 05:58 PM	#4
McCrary Can't Stop Time Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 3,079	You could always use the Mag 3.5, the Pro version of the Remora uses this pump and it should work well for your remora if you need more power. __________________ Matt Patience is the best remedy for every trouble. Titus Maccius Plautus (254 BC - 184 BC), Rudens

05/13/2007, 08:45 PM	#6
smatter Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Madison, WI Posts: 2,055	Rio pumps do not contain any oil, and I have never had a problem with one in over 12 years. Everyone better throw out their Seios too, they are Taam products. They were the most commonly used pumps for years, so if someone had a problem with a pump it was probably a Rio, hence the bad rap. The dog breed responsible for the most bites is the Golden Retriever, not because they are a bad breed, the odds are against them simply because everyone has one. Last edited by smatter; 05/13/2007 at 08:55 PM.

05/14/2007, 06:49 AM	#7
Robert German Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 110	Rio pumps Over the years I've probably used 6 Rios and never had a problem. Cleaning them every other month helps with their operation. I once modded a Bak-Pak with a MJ1200 and got minimal skimmate,so I modded that out with a Rio 800 and it produced good skimmate. The MJ1200 needs a different Impeller to realy produce good micro bubbles in my opinion.

05/13/2007, 05:37 PM	#2
jbeltmann Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: oconomowoc. wi Posts: 287	I think you are referring to when they seize up they leak oil into the tank. I personally use one in my fo tank but would never advise using one in a reef.

05/13/2007, 06:28 PM	#5
rickh Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Lost_in_Michigan Posts: 1,306	Thanks for the info. R

05/14/2007, 08:54 AM	#8
jbeltmann Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: oconomowoc. wi Posts: 287	For a couple dollars more you can get a pump that doesn't have problems seems like cheap insurance to me. As far as seio goes, yes they are the same parent company, but built totally different. I wouldn't even screw around with it considering how much is spent on every other aspect of this hobby. If you can't get the search function to work go to the home page and on the left side you will see "search rc" which always helps me find what I'm looking for.

05/14/2007, 10:36 AM	#11
jmp998 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 97	I had an almost new one seize up and release oily residue (probably melted epoxy/plastic) several years ago, supposedly the new ones are better, however I don't plan to try one myself-just not worth the small cost savings to me when you can potentially lose hundreds or thousands in livestock. It also took me forever to clean all the gunk out of my sump. http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...hreadid=923207

05/14/2007, 11:52 AM	#12
hahnmeister Moved On Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Brew City, WI Posts: 10,156	best pump for remora = eheim 1250.

05/14/2007, 01:30 PM	#15
psyco_guy_abd Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 123	I've been running a 17HF and 21HF for two years now, nonstop and not had any problems. I think that their older pumps had an issue and they now have a bad reputation because of one model line of pumps that aren't made anymore. I'd say if you can't afford the better pump then go with the rio, I know that locally I can buy three rio's for the price of one MAG.

05/14/2007, 01:44 PM	#16
rickh Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Lost_in_Michigan Posts: 1,306	Thanks for the info.

05/14/2007, 04:12 PM	#17
smatter Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Madison, WI Posts: 2,055	I guess I have just been lucky with the literally hundreds of them I have used in my own as well as clients tanks since the early 90s. I am not saying they are the best pumps out there, there are certainly better ones now, and I don't use them in my tanks anymore. They had their time. The Seio pump is not made totally differently, it is the exact same motor. The most commonly used equates to everything in this instance, if we are talking about past experiences with Rio pumps, as they were the most commonly used pumps for many years. Simple stats.

05/14/2007, 04:58 PM	#18
mg426 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: maryland Posts: 6,923	I have used a couple of them over the years, I had never had any issues or problems. They are used only as spares now, as I said I never had any trouble but there are lots of horror stories on RC about them. __________________ 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

05/15/2007, 10:27 AM	#19
ccoral Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 468	tkeracer619 Before you make claims that Rio have Oil you better be sure. As far I know all pumps are made the same. Eheim, maxi jet, Rio ect. Copper coil, epoxy filled and a magnetic rotor and as for searching pumps for problems you can search any pump manufacture and find negitive feed back. I have used Rio for years without any problems.

05/15/2007, 11:17 AM	#20
ramullinax Moved On Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 402	I consider Rios to be garbage. I've been very happy with my Mag3 since I've replaced a Rio 2500 with it.

05/15/2007, 01:32 PM	#21
zeusfc Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Cyprus Posts: 352	I've used a Rio 3100 as both a return pump and as a CL pump... I love it! loads of power for the money. the "oil" stories seem to be linked to certain models at certain times... not the whole range all the time! __________________ STOP TRYING TO READ THE INTERNET AND GO TO BED... Sleep is far more important! Current Tank Info: 16 months with a temporary tank... That Reefspace can't come soon enough!

05/15/2007, 02:35 PM	#22
ccoral Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 468	ramullinax, I consider Rios to be garbage. I've been very happy with my Mag3 since I've replaced a Rio 2500 with it. Mag 3 does only 350 GPH Rio 2500 does 700 GPH maybe you where using the wrong pump for your specific application or you just want to be negitive. Most pumps are designed with specific flows for specific applications and can not see the 3 or 350 GPH pump be a replacement for a 700 GPH pump. __________________