[My2heartboys]

Does anybody here have experience with the Rio 2100 pump? If so, please tell me what it has been.

Anne

[scubadude]

Originally Posted by My2heartboys

Does anybody here have experience with the Rio 2100 pump? If so, please tell me what it has been.

Anne

Hey Anne
Rios have a bad rap on the boards but it is because there are mainly hardcore aquarist on the boards that give it the bad rap...there are many pumps out there that are better than Rios, but naturally they are more expensive. The story with rios is they have a history of malfunctioning and even meltdown storys, this usually happens after 3mos-2yrs of use with the pumps and then all of the sudden they come home and there is a burning plastic smell and the pump is shut off and fish/coral are dead....so you can see where rio may have gotten a bad rap when a $22 pump takes out hundreds of dollars worth of fish/corals. Now to RIO's defense I will say that they probably are the biggest producer in aquarium pumps, thus there are more complaints for them they are probably the cheapest dollar per GPH (gallons per hour) pump on the market and is the most popular definately in the LFS's throughout. The main problem that I have read with Rio pumps are the NON UL listed pumps which generally where the ones without the ground probe in the plugin .....ya know if it has 3 probes where you plug it into the wall then its probably a better unit then the 2 probes that plug into the electyrical outlet. Hope that helps ya a little on the history of Rios

[My2heartboys]

Originally Posted by scubadude

Hey Anne
Rios have a bad rap on the boards but it is because there are mainly hardcore aquarist on the boards that give it the bad rap...there are many pumps out there that are better than Rios, but naturally they are more expensive. The story with rios is they have a history of malfunctioning and even meltdown storys, this usually happens after 3mos-2yrs of use with the pumps and then all of the sudden they come home and there is a burning plastic smell and the pump is shut off and fish/coral are dead....so you can see where rio may have gotten a bad rap when a $22 pump takes out hundreds of dollars worth of fish/corals. Now to RIO's defense I will say that they probably are the biggest producer in aquarium pumps, thus there are more complaints for them they are probably the cheapest dollar per GPH (gallons per hour) pump on the market and is the most popular definately in the LFS's throughout. The main problem that I have read with Rio pumps are the NON UL listed pumps which generally where the ones without the ground probe in the plugin .....ya know if it has 3 probes where you plug it into the wall then its probably a better unit then the 2 probes that plug into the electyrical outlet. Hope that helps ya a little on the history of Rios

_______________________________________________

Thank you scubadude, this does help a lot. I did a yahoo search last night and had found several good deals (other than Rio). Unfortunately, the storm caused the power to blink and it was just long enough that my computer rebooted.

I lost the whole list I had managed to collect. Looks like I will be starting from scratch this morning.

Anne Wanger

[Poseidon]

Hi Anne, I can give you a great place to start MaxiJet! I have been running MJ 1200's and they work AWESOME, they are very quiet, move a good amount of water, and seem to be related to the Energizer Bunny somehow!

[dougc]

I had a Rio 2100 melt down on me. What a stink. Fortunately, it was only being used to mix saltwater for a water change. The water was black and there was an oily scum on the bucket. I threw away the pump and the bucket. Never again. As far as I'm concerned, its not worth the risk. Maxijets or MAG pumps are probably a safer bet. Anytime you immerse a pump in water, there is some risk. An external pump represents a much lower risk because the motor is isolated from any contact with water.

[scubadude]

Originally Posted by dougc

I had a Rio 2100 melt down on me.

Hey Doug
Just out of curiousity do you remember if that rio had a ground probe on the plug in?

Anne,
Via Aqua's are another cheaper pump, I dont think they have been on the market as long as Rio's so they very well could still be considered in the Beta testing arena to some but I have heard rumor that they are very similar to Rio's I have used them and havent had no problems with them so far, but im like doug if its a cheaper pump I tend to run it on cheaper duties not reliant on the life of my tank.

[dougc]

No, I don't remember if it had a grounded plug. This was a few years ago and my memory is not THAT good.

[Steven Pro]

I has used a ton of pumps in my many years in the hobby and industry and I can say that I have experienced first-hand a disproportionate numbers of defective Rio's than I have other brands. I now don't use anything by Taam/Rio nor do I recommend others use them either.

For a submersible pump, consider an E. G. Danner/Supreme pump instead. I have found them to be very reliable and inexpensive.

[Reefland]

I agree, can't beat the performance or price of a MAG.