dumb Rio Powerhead 1700 UL

[clown-lover]

what does that mean????? i don't get all the numbers that they put on powerheads.....what would you guys recommend (that i can get on this board) for a 55 gallon tank?
and could you tell me what it mean when you say 'so many-times turnover'
i know these must sound dumb but i thought i would finally ask and not be ashamed!!!

 

[ross]

I would get a mag drive pump. You can find a mag 7 on the internet for about $45 or $50. Turn over is how many gph you have in your tank. For instance if you had a 55g tank and you had 550 gph then you would have 10x turnover. HTH

 

[gatorcsm]

If you're going to use powerheads, I'd recommend the Maxi-Jets... The maxi-jet 1200 should be good, it gives just under 300 gph, so it's enough force to get flow throughout the tank... 2-4 should be good.

 

[gatorcsm]

The mags aren't usually used as a powerhead.. They could be, but kind of cumbersome unless you have a spraybar or some plumbing to make it a little less obtrusive, as if ph's aren't already to big...

 

[ross]

I thought she was talking about a main return pump. Because i thought a rio 1700 was a bigger one? Maybe not? But the maxi jets are the best powerheads.

 

[gatorcsm]

She might be, I just saw the powerhead part and thought maybe she was referring to an in-tank flow device..
Either way, Mag-Drive and Maxi-Jet are both nice.
Those numbers are fairly unimportant. They are just there to arbitruarily label them..

 

[clown-lover]

yes, i was talking about in tank flow
so is what i understand right:
so you wouldn't reccomend any of these on this site for a 55??
and 10X turnover should be good for a 55gal?

 

[clown-lover]

what is the rule of thumb as far a turnover goes?

 

[elfdoctors]

gallons per hour = 10x size of tank

 

[fshhub]

10x minimum, for most reefs, 20 is even b etter, I use over 20x personally
as for what it means, well
dumb=a good adjctive for certain powerheads and pumps
rio=i dont use(wont exactly slam them tho, for leagal reasons)
and the rest= just a model.
personally, I would reccomend either
maxi's, great powerheads and economically priced
hagen , aquaclears, great powerheads but a little more money
or tunzi's, I hear they are great and have no comparable competition, however they are definitely not economic. In fact most of us pass on them bc they are so expensive i comparison.
The only 2 that I use or buy are maxi or hagens.

 

[clown-lover]

lol
fshhub: thanks for the laugh, it's getting late and that helped
thanks all for the advice, i'll go with the maxi's

 

[fshhub]

laugh, who's laughing? about what?
That was no joke at all. you do not want to hear my take on them, not if you own one anyway. I only buy or use hagens or maxis just like i said. and I wont use even a free rio, personally.

 

[bacardibombillo]

Dont use a maxi 1200, instead buy two 900 maxi's because the 1200 is pretty powerful. fish or corals might not appreciate it, put two 900 on each side and get a wavemaker, or the outlet that alternates the pumps. Is much more worth it on the long run. I have a 75gl. 3- 900. and one 1200, and the 1200 is a little to much when it turns on. I have them hooked up to red sea wave maker, so the pumps take turns....
I also bought a rio 2100 for the wet and Dry filter, IT SUCKS, THAT THING MAKES A CONSTANT VIBRATING SOUND LIKE ONE OF THOSE AIRPUMPS THATS CRAPPY TO HEAR THAT, IS NOT A QUIET PUMP.

 

[fender]

The UL on the end means its a UL listed model. Which means it is up to snuff with UL standards....doesn't mean the pump is any better or safer than a non-UL listed pump.
RIOs are good pumps if you never shut them off, clean them periodically and replace them as soon as possible with something better.

 

[fshhub]

ok, jsut to clarify a little so no oone new gets the wrong impression.
rios are not bad pumps, the only reason i will not use them is:
way too many times I have heard and or seen them go bad and when they did, they spewed black ooze into the tank, not sure if it was grease 100%. But, it is only plasitc and metal, so the balck ooze had to come from somewhereANd i definitely do not want that in my tank. I am not speaking from rumors that I have heard but perasonally known friends and aquaintances AND more than a few members on this board. I WILL NOT TAKE THAT CHANCE, with my little friends.
as for the UL listing, it ONLY means they are safe to be used. It does not relate anything to performance, noe does it relate to whether or not it is safe for fish or corals, HECK that does not even mean it is safe for my TV which is on the same circuit breaker. It only means that their use(under normal conditions) will not harm humans.