Never Trust a RIO Pump!

[Troy F]

I just wanted to add one more thing to this thread. I did a quick search and couldn't find the exact thread I was looking for but I've cut and pasted one of TDWyatt's posts on the subject.

I normally don't comment on the equipment side of posts, but on this particular topic, I have PLENTY to say. I did use rios at one time, for the money, they put out a lot of output, are submersible and definitely cheap, About 2 or 3 years ago, though, there seemed to be a glut of folks over on AOL having burnouts with the 2500 and 1800 model that ended up poisoning the tanks with pcb's. The problem with the pump is not necessarily that they are shoddy, but that they have no thermal protection circuit. The scenario then plays out like this: Rio's use a cheaper fine wire in the windings for the motor (at least, 2 years ago they did, I dissected 3 of the 2500's after they got REALLY hot in my systems) and although it allows them to work well, when the load gets too much or if the insulation starts to degrade due to the heat, the windings are more susceptable to little shorts, which leads to more heat, which leads to more insulation failure, which leads to more shorts; a vicious cycle. In many PH's and submersible pumps, there is a thermal protection circuit that either temporarily cuts off the motor (ie when the load is too heavy for that motor) or completely shuts off the motor and requires a replacement of a "fusible" link. Maxijets are, for sure, thermally protected, as are many "UL" listed pumps. the Rio's are not. Period. This means that as the pump begins to fail, it will get hotter and hotter until either a major shortout occurs; in which much of the plastic casing will melt and the wire will (hopefully) short out to prevent a grounding event in the tank (at 110 v 15 amps in the US in most households) or the breaker or fuse box activates and the breaker trips or the fuses (in older homes) blow. God forbid that one of these systems fails and the current stays on... I have had people post that there has been a fire at the location of the electrical systems for their tanks using Rio pumps (I believe Alice was on-line on AOL when this was posted a few years ago) For this reason alone, and the fact that your tank will have difficulty recovering from the release of the meltdown products of the pump (even a slow release of the isnulation failure products), please make sure that any equipment that you use is thermally protected, and I would suggest that you have your system's electrical circuits isolated (put on a seperate breaker) from the rest of the power systems in your homes. I'd even put the MH's on a seperate system from the pumps, heaters, etc, just in case the lights trip the breaker (then you wouldn't loose your pumps/circulation if the lighting trips the breaker)

Please, the combination of SW and electricity is bad enough as it is, make sure to take the time to protect your critters (and yourself) from any unnecessary risks. Use GFIC outlets for all your devices going to the tanks, and have an electricial check your wiring for load if you are not sure of the capacity of your home's wiring. I'd much rather read that you lost a coral (I can't believe I said that) than hear that you lost a room, your home, or a life to an electrical short...

Thought it may make a decision easier during your next shopping spree ;) .

[Skimmerking]

Man i feel bad ,I sold my skimmer to a guy in B.C in surrey. Man i feel bad for him buying it.
Well I hope that he doesnt have a problem with it ..

[Bob I]

and I would suggest that you have your system's electrical circuits isolated (put on a seperate breaker) from the rest of the power systems in your homes.

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">As a qualified electrician, I would suggest this is quite impossible to do in an existing home. There are 12 outlets on each circuit in a home, and to remove one to put it on a separate circuit would mean you would have to remove all the wallboard, and rewire that circuit. You would be better off building a new home.

[Troy F]

I did it, or I should say my Dad did it [img]smile.gif[/img] . I had him put two 20Amp breakers with each running 4 outlets. My breaker box just happened to be right beside the tank. Does this make sense?

[StirCrazy]

Bob, it is actual wuite easy to do prioviding you are doing it on interior walls and not exterior walls, all you have to do is fish the new wires to a new outlet. doesent take any more work realy than new construction except you realy should have two people to do it hehe..

Steve

[Bob I]

Well Steve, it totally depends on the walls of course. In some cases it would indeed be easy, but in some others it would be close to impossible. I definitely would not want to try it in my place.

Troy F, I hope your dad used 12 gauge wire, and 20 amp receptacles, as normal receptacles are not rated for 20 amps.(this is an electrician, who is opposed to code violations talking) :D :D

[ 17 July 2002, 17:04: Message edited by: Bob Ipema ]

[Samw]

Hey Andrew. You should post your experience to this current RC thread on Broken Rios:

http://www.reefcentral.com/vbulletin...hreadid=103466

[mutabaruka]

Ok, so I'm convinced I don't want to put my Rio in my sump(runs my T-1000) What can I replace it with? Any suggestions?

[EmilyB]

Suggestions:

web page

[mutabaruka]

Thanks EmilyB