let's thrash rio pumps one more time

[the barking coral]

Let's hear the honest truth!
I read a rolling message the other day how a lot of folks have learned the hard way that rio pumps stink. I thought that I was the only one.
I have two and they make more racket then a truck w/o a muffler... and if you dare unplug them, it takes a wack on the side to get them going again. What's with the manufacture, do they think we're dumb or something?
<img src="graemlins//yell.gif" border="0" alt="[yell]" /> <img src="graemlins//eek.gif" border="0" alt="[eek]" /> <img src="graemlins//urrr.gif" border="0" alt="[urrr]" />

 

[beth]

LOL. Best get those rumbling rios out of your tank, before they explode!

 

[broomer5]

Unfortunatly when a company designs and manufactures a cheap, inexpensive piece of junk product, and does a good job marketing it, and getting it out in the hands of most every lfs and online supplier out there, they will be sucessful selling A LOT of these products.
Especially if the seller of the product can make a few bucks doing it.
IMO - this is the case of TAMM Inc., and the Rio brand of water pumps/powerheads.
So many of these have been built, sold and used by hobbyists, that the number of failures are clearly a result of poor design and workmanship. With such a huge installed base, these failures pop up all over the place, and everyone begins to talk.
It seems to me like a "hit or miss" situation with these Rio's.
Some folks have no problems.
Some folks have problems.
Too many people have major failures and problems, but it seems as if the manufacturer has chosen to ignore this - and continues to market these "sub-standard" P.O.S. powerheads and pumps.
Although I've never experienced the total meltdown problems others have, and I've used several over the years, I've got one left - I plan to replace it soon.

 

[twoods71]

I just got one, came with the ecosystem. So far so good but its only a few weeks old.

 

[galina]

Mines been working fine ever since I got it.. but from hearing about all of your problems, I will not buy from them in the future. The one I have works just fine but I don't want to chance another one not. From all these bad reviews, I'll go with a better brand.
Galina

 

[blondenaso1]

So are Mags the pump of choice? What other brands have people found luck with? I have a Rio now that isn't too old, but for the future I would like to know what the proper investment would be.

 

[von_rahvin]

i had a rio meltdown a litttle bit ago! it was the most awful stench and it messed up the water in one of my tank. i had to do a huge water chnage as fast as possible. I ams lowly changing everything over to mags. they are sooo much better!!!

 

[wamp]

I like mags but only as "utility pumps" like skimmers and returns. I have a power sweep in my tank and was told it will not last. Well I read the directions , does not happen often, and they say to run a prefilter. I did and it has worked fine. I have had it running for about 4 months and has never locked up yet! I say that and as I speak its probably in there smoking!

 

[blondenaso1]

So do you use the mags as powerheads too or do you prefer to use something different. I was looking at the swivel powerheads.

 

[fshhub]

rios, the pump of choice, so they say, anyway, i too have never had one personally, but von rhavin is not the only one i ahve ever heard of this happening to(some of my friends), soemtimes they short, often they have to be restated like sammy said, and often when they do die completely they puke(this one is my biggest fear) and i have too often heard of them spewing grease into the tank when this happens, for me to even attempt to trust one
as for choice, i will only buy aquaclear and maxi jets, the maxis are very inexpensive but i have one nad know many others too and for the price they are darn good last long and cheap
the aquaclears are one of my fav's but, they are a bit bulkier and more costly(all i buy anymore is them, na one more POS to go=some other cheapie)
HTH