[lefty53]

I am setting up a 75 gallon reef and now have 2 Roi 1700 running. What direction should the flow of water be ? Also will these powerhaeds be adequate to do the job?

[Reefland]

Hi lefty53,


First, Rio's have a bad reputation in the hobby for early failures and even wiping out an entire system. I personally would not use them. However to answer your question, there is no optimum direction to aim powerheads. The only direction that can be given is to aim them in a manner that the output is not directly hitting any coral and that they are aimed in a manner that provides the most complete current by eliminating as many dead spots as possible.

[lefty53]

Thanks You say early failures Does that mean that they are better now?

[Reefland]

I can't comment if they are any better now or not. With their reputation, they aren't used very much any more. When I said early failure, I meant that the pumps failed after only a short preiod of operation. It is not uncommon to hear of them dying after 2-3 months of use.

[ANGRY JOHN]

there was somthing about oil leaking out of the casing that cracked or failed that killed almost everything in the tank. dont know anyone who uses them and if they come on a pice of equipment i find somthing else compairable and replace them. on another note aiming powerheads to cause the most water movement is the best. usualy one on each side pointing at each other works great because you get a back and forth and if there both on at the same time a lot of turbulence to mix things up. wave timers are great.

[spankerbob]

I have had three rio pumps and all of then fail with in ten months of use. I had one 3100, and two 14hf's. The 3100 shorted out, the two 14hf's just stopped working. I do have three seio's and they seem OK, but the 1100 does not start by it self I have to turn it by hand to get it going, the two 820's I have seem to work good no problem yet, but these will be the last RIO products I ever buy, because of those first three pumps.
As far as your 75 and the two 1700's that produce about 640gph, I don't think it is enough flow if you are going to have sps, but for lps and sofies it should be fine.