Let's Count the Broken RIOs

[astronaut]

uhh, i just counted 94 on the first 2 pages?? anybody count all of them?

[Smaster121]

My Rio 1400 just gave up after about 3 years of semi-reliable service.

I see one mention of OTTO pumps, and not a favorable one. I ordered one today because they are carried by the same company that carries the lights I use and I needed to order them as well. It is reasonably priced and comes in the GPH value AND form factor I wanted. MaxiJet does not.

Any experience out there with OTTO pumps?

[BrianPlankis]

Well,

my Rio 2500 would frequently quit working after more than 2 weeks without cleaning. So since I started up my tank again in January I have been religiously cleaning it every Sunday. For the last two weeks it would need to be "love tapped" to start up again right after the cleaning.

Today I came home to no sound from my skimmer(run by the 2500). I checked and it wasn't running. I disconnected it and the pump was HOT, it was not comfortable to touch. I also noticed my tank temp was 84, which it hasn't been above 82 since I installed my fans. I'm lucky I check my tank every time I come home, if I waited until tomorrow morning I think it would have melted down.

So the 2500 has been removed from service, permanantly, and will be replaced by a Mag7 tomorrow morning. I'll never buy another Rio.

B.

[Ehydo]

Didn't you realize that if you had to tap it every time to start it that when the power flickers and you are not home it would overheat?

Mine has been running for over a year and turned off for five minutes every day for feeding time.

[kenny77]

2 Rio down in less than 5 month.

Caps are great. i have 2. no problem with them. they never get hot. i only clean the outside of the pump, so far no problem and they have been with me for much longer time that the Rio. but sonn im will replace the for SEIOS

[slik_dude@yahoo]

My first rio just came as the head to the CPR HOT Fuge. It wouldn't start until I took a toothpick and spun the litte propeller. I'm concerned.

Does anyone know if any other brand will work as a head to the CPR HOT Fuge????

Thanks

[josh_peter]

1 down...never again after reading this

[sscherin]

Just to add to the List


2 Rio 600's, replaced 1 for not restarting
1 Rio 2100 (needs kickstarting sometimes)
2 Penguin 660, (replaced 1 impeller)
1 maxijet 1200 (it's a rock, never quits)
1 hagen 301 (sometimes needs a tap to re-start)


2 Rio 600's in Action running skimmers
One in a Pro 75 Sump and one on a CPR Backpack
Replaced the packback's 600 impeller after 3 years because it wouldn't restart reliably, replaced entire pump after 5 years with a fresh 600 for the same reason.
Sometimes the venturi gets cloged.. 99% of the time it's something they sucked up and you can blow them out.. the rest of the time it's calicum buildup on the inlet elbows.. easy to fix.

2100 as the returm pump for the sump
It came with the Pro 75 sump I bought used..
Replaced the impeller (1 vane was missing) and it's been working great for the last 3 years though it sometines needs a kickstart.
It isn't exactlythe best at moving water uphill so it'll be replaced sooner or later and used to mixing salt and water transfer.

The penguins, Hagen and maxijet are just for circulation in the tank. I'll remove the maxi from time to time and use it for mixing salt.

[BrianPlankis]

Originally posted by Ehydo
Didn't you realize that if you had to tap it every time to start it that when the power flickers and you are not home it would overheat?

Mine has been running for over a year and turned off for five minutes every day for feeding time.

It wasn't every time, only the past two weeks did I need to tap it to restart it. I used this pump for a total of 10 months and in the last 5 months I was cleaning it religiously, including taking the impeller out and removing the gunk that clogs it eventually.

I do have a Rio600 that also stops from time to time, but I only use it for mixing salt, so that may have something to do with it. I have another Rio600 that runs my CPR skimmer that has been great for 1.5 years.

I think their bigger pumps have more problems (I have a Rio1700 also used to mix salt that stops sometimes). I had another Rio1700 fail that was replaced under warranty (at least their warranty and customer service was fine).

I started running my skimmer with my Mag7 today(rated at 700gph, Rio 2500 is 782gph) and the skimmer produces a LOT more fine bubbles than with the Rio, even with an extra 90 I had to add to the new plumbing. I don't know why that is, but I think my skimmer just got more efficient (Time will tell though).

B.

[jarhed]

Ya know, it would seem to me that Rio knows about this issue since just about everyone on this forum has had these very very dangerous and hazardous issues. Is anyone from Rio reading this? Think it might be time for a major redesign?

I have a couple rios running on my 40-gal, never had any issues (knock on wood), but I assure you that there will be NO place for a Rio in my 180.

This stuff is just scary!

[dominga]

Rio's 2 out of 2
1 melt down, hi risk
electricity+water=disater.
The other, the impeller broke in thre parts.

[Gawain1974]

Rio 600 failed after 16 months. It was attached to my CPR backpack (another POS IMHO). After finding RC and reading other Rio posts, I upgraded my system and skimmer, and I kept the Rio600 for mixing water. I always did maintenance on the pump, and it died the second time I used it to mix water. After reading ALL of this thread, I'm glad I pulled this powerhead out of my tank.

I have two Penguini powerheads...one running for 3+ years without a problem...the other is 18 months old, and no problems. I also run two AquaClear powerheads, one for my skimmer and the other to pump water from my sump to my HOB fuge. My sump came with a CAP pump....hmmm...I'm wondering if I should be looking to replace that as well. (it's only been a couple of months or so, but why chance fate?).

What I don't understand is why so many equipment manufacturers continue to supply Rios with their products. Also, all my local LFS carry only Rios...so any poor unsuspecting soul getting into the hobby ends up purchasing these things. Yes, all equipment has the risk of failure, but it certainly seems as if the Rios (especially the larger ones) carry a much higher risk.

[outprowllin]

if your rio frequently wont restart after it has shut off, twist off the cap covering the impeller. on the inside of the cap there is a little rubber bushing that the impeller shaft rides in. remove this bushing and put it back together with out it. they will work fine after that. for some reason the bushing seems to swell and cause resistance in the shaft. i have removes all bushingd from my rios and they continue to run strong. out of three in use at this time two are nearly 6 years old. i have had them melt down but the 2 that did both had the bushing still in place.......

[ohioreef]

Originally posted by jarhed
Think it might be time for a major redesign?

I think that their HF series probably is the redesign.

[FishnChips04]

My Rio 26 didn't really fail, It just failed when I ran it over with my truck because it lost presure two day after a fresh rebuild.

Rio.... 1 down
mag9..... still going strong

[FishnChips04]

26hf that is, still sucks...

[ohioreef]

I have a 12HF that has been going for well over a year with absolutely no problems.

[samwheat]

Had 2 rio 800s short out in my sump.

[melev]

samwheat,


To Reef Central

[sublime250]

Rio 600 Burnt up after power outage. Strange smell woke me up. Did water change next day with no loss.

I will never buy a RIO again

ps. Anyone wanna trade a mag for rio 2100?

[Ebisan]

Had a rio for the hob fuge. Died within a month. Love my Seio though.

[timespinner]

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)

[DRC69]

I like them , sorry (Rio).
I also use Mag, no problem with them.
1-2500Plus , 1-2100Plus , 1-1400Plus
Going to use a 9.5 mag on the next tank in Nov. for a return.
Sorry All,
DC

[scooters reef]

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.

[NorthernCF]

rio = 3 including electrocution!
other = 0