Rio Pumps Suck!

wildbunch

Member
Don't make the mistake and buy a RIO Pump. I have bought 4 of these pumps in the last year. Three of the four pumps have gone bad. Both 2500's have an electrical problem and will shock you if you put your hand on them when running. Even worse when you touch the water with them running. No need for coffee, if you get my meaning. The 1400 won't turn over when the power goes off and comes back on, but the UV filter will. Therefore, I could have burned up my UV filter if I hadn't noticed within 45 minutes. I probably did damage to the UV cause it overheated.
Learn from my mistake and don't purchase a RIO.
 

oneflysi

Member
this is hilarious. i literally just got off the phone with reeffanatic.com from purchasing a rio2100. hahaahaaha...it would figure i would just order it, and then hear a couple of people complain how they suck. oh well, i have 2 small generic PH's in my tank now and they have done ok for me....what is one more cheap one? well, i only paid $24 for the 2100 shipped, so i don't feel to bad. lol at this post...
-One
 

reeferx

Member
I actually went to my lfs yesterday to replace the noisy RIO in my turtle tank with a Mag Drive. They wanted $40 for the smallest pump Mag makes. This is high right?
I seem to recall a Mag Drive 'pond' pump in my hardware store that was bigger and cheaper. Anyone use these?
 

reeferx

Member
Cool. I have heard a lot of good things about them (Mags) here. I seem to recall someone saying the 'pond' version was essentially the same without the gouge from the lfs. Do you know anything about the pond version Sammy?
 

oneflysi

Member
well sammy, i am only using my powerheads for current...so the rio should do fine then huh? i'm really gonna use it as a wave maker....just have it pointing towards the surface of the water to get some ripples.
-One
 

taku

Member
How much do RIO's go for? My LFS is charging me $54 for one that fits inside my hangon-skimmer box. I'm not sure what model.
 

bagofsalt

Member
yeah, I have one too (I believe the 2100 model) It just RESIST to run one day for no apparent reason. So I drove to my LFS and got myself a Mag-Drive 3. The RIO ... well, I throw it out off the ditch by the Highway on my way home ... goodbye.
P.S. I should've save the plug tho <img src="graemlins//yeahright.gif" border="0" alt="[yeahright]" />
Reuben.
 

reeferx

Member
In terms of the pondmaster, no, it has nothing to do with gouging. They charge about $5-$10 more than the regular mag drive pumps, but they are worth it in my opinion. You get the 18ft cord, rather than the 6' cord. That 18ft really comes in handy though. . . <hr></blockquote>
Thanks Anthem. 18' ! damn!
 

aczmey

Member
Mag pumps are the best and problem free, I had couple Rios and they went bad. You get what you paid for. Same rule applies to cheap protein skimmers as well.
 

randolph

Member
all this rio talk has got me worried again. i'm using a rio on my skimmer 600 does just fine, and i think a 3500 for return pump doing fine also. had a 2500 for return and change for more flow. i use the 2500 to stir my salt in the bucket. i don't think my 3500 pumps as much as it did when first put in though. they say you should clean them often, i've never cleaned mine. running it for about 6 months now, all okay. does anyone know about little gaint pumps, good or bad? prices are reasonable for them. i think i will change mine out, won't buy another. :)
 

fishead

Member
Bought a Sealife Systems skimmer, Came with a CA 2200 pump that $h!t@d out already. SS is replacing it (warrentee) with a Rio 2100, same output. You got me worried now. <img src="graemlins//eek.gif" border="0" alt="[eek]" />
 

teetee

Member
Yep, been there. Had an extremely near disaster with a 2100 doin the meldown in my reef set-up. Stay clear from this horrible product! <img src="graemlins//bah.gif" border="0" alt="[bah]" /> <img src="graemlins//yell.gif" border="0" alt="[yell]" /> <img src="graemlins//eek.gif" border="0" alt="[eek]" /> :mad: <img src="graemlins//dead.gif" border="0" alt="[dead]" />
 
S

starfishjackedme

Guest
I agree, Magdrives RULE!!! :p
I have a mag9.5, mag7, mag12 for different things on my 200 gal reef. I have never had any problems and they are very dependable. So far I have a perfect running record with these. I wouldn' buy anything else. :cool:
 

broomer5

Active Member
Rio's do suck <img src="graemlins//uhuh.gif" border="0" alt="[U-Huh]" />
I still have one - 2100 - :(
I am foolish to even keep using it <img src="graemlins//urrr.gif" border="0" alt="[urrr]" />
Plan to get a new MagDrive tomorrow :D
I'll toss it in the trash or use it to mix saltwater <img src="graemlins//yeahright.gif" border="0" alt="[yeahright]" />
Thanks for reminding me to get a new pump ;)
 

wamp

Active Member
I have the same Mag pump running my skimmer that I had on my first reef tank about 6 years ago. The pump is bullet proof. Don't belive me? Throw some green star polyp mat in the intake and you get soup on the output!
I have never taken it apart to clean it or had to replace anything on it.
 

wamp

Active Member
P.S. Wildbunch or any others... If you have a complaint or a good story to tell about something please vivit my new website at:
<a href="http://www.aquariumreviews.freeservers.com" target="_blank">http://www.aquariumreviews.freeservers.com</a>
I need more peoples horror stories or good reviews to make this work. I love this BB and want people here to have somewhere to go to find out about products people like you have used and your view on them.
Thanks.
If you dont have the time to write thats cool too you can read others stories!
 
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