Plumbing RIO 3100 as a return

BigBs · 08-23-2001, 02:05 PM

Hi,
I am going to be using a RIO 3100 as my return pump from my sump. I plan on using 1" pvc for my return line. My question is how do i connect the 1" to the RIO? I believe the RIO has a 7/8" O.D. output. The pump has not arived yet so im not sure if I will getting any parts that will help with this. Any suggestions?
Thanks Brian

**golfish** · 08-23-2001, 07:44 PM

You should be able to figure something out using a short piece of flex line and barbed fittings. You'll want to use the flex line to take some of the vibration out and make the pump less quite. Before you use a RIO I would do a word search on this pump. Many people my self included have had these pumps fail and leak oil into the tank. Most of the ones that fail are used as sump return.

Mark

murchadh · 08-23-2001, 07:44 PM

Is there and adaptor of some sort?

BigBs · 08-23-2001, 07:52 PM

Thanks for the reply. But how do i connect 7/8" to the 1" PVC? Is the output of the RIO barbed? If not how do i connect a barbed fitting to it or can i just slip the tubing on it and secure with a clamp?

**golfish** · 08-23-2001, 08:03 PM

you can slip flex line over the output of the skimmer and secure it with a plastic clamp. I would take the pump to your local pumbing shop when you get it. Try to use some flex line to help with vibration. It will quite the pump down and also keep any joints from breaking loose.

G · 08-29-2001, 01:44 PM

The mere fact that you intend to use a RIO as a return scares me!

BigBs · 08-29-2001, 01:54 PM

Why cant I post a message on this forum and ask for some help from someone and not have people trashing the stuff that i buy??? I am new to this hobby and dont have tons of money to spend on the top of the line equipment. Peolple like you scare new people away from posting messages here. I have read plenty of posts on here from people that have been using RIO's for many years with no problems. I didnt ask for an opinion on the quality of the pump just how to plumb it.

mastaJ · 08-29-2001, 03:07 PM

It is just the fact that MANY ppl have had problems with rios and personally I wouldn't risk it...

When you get the pump I would take it to the hardware store they have many sizes of tubing availible then figure out a connection i guess, thats what I would do...

MarkS · 08-29-2001, 04:56 PM

BigBs, in defense of everyone that posted, you will get these kind of replies on any board.

While it is true that many people have had good sucsess with RIO's, a fast growing majority are reporting them COMPLETELY killing their tanks. Which is better? Buying a cheap pump, stocking your tank with hundreds, if not thousands of dollars in livestock only to watch it all be destroyed by the cheap pump. Or would it be better to buy a more expensive pump with a good reputation that will not destroy your tank?

These boards are here to help as are the members. You should be glad that they/we care enough to tell you where you are going wrong; even if the replies have nothing to do with the subject. As I stated above, you will recieve these replies on any board.

Since finding these boards, I have been warned against:
1.) Seaclone skimmers.
2.) Normal output lighting on reef tanks.
3.) Wet/Dry filters.
4.) Undergravel filters.
5.) RIO pumps. (litterally within days of deciding to buy one)
6.) Many mail order fish stores including: ETropicals.com(although this is under new managment and has improved greatly) and PetSWarehouse.com.
7.) Almost all additives, especially Marc Wiess products, et. al.
8.) 99.99% of the advice of most LFS because 99.99% of the advice they give is for an above mentioned procuct.

The list goes on an on. While at the time, I was upset the I could not afford the better products, I quickly learned to trust everyone's opinions here.

If even one person said that a certain product killed his tank, I would be very wary of that product. But when one more person says the same thing and then another and then another and another.... You decide. Who would you listen to? Would you risk it?

Mark

**Ninong** · 08-29-2001, 06:22 PM

Hi BigBs, welcome to Reefland!

Nobody's "trashing" your choice of pumps. All golfish said was: "Before you use a RIO I would do a word search on this pump. Many people my self included have had these pumps fail and leak oil into the tank. Most of the ones that fail are used as sump return."

That's just a friendly word of warning in case you were not familiar with the well documented problems involving these pumps.

All G said was: "The mere fact that you intend to use a RIO as a return scares me!

" It scares a lot of us.

I have personally read AT LEAST three dozen different horror stories involving Rio pumps on the various boards. But if you are determined to purchase an ungrounded pump that does not have a thermal cutoff, and that is known to have its flimsy cord separate from the housing, exposing copper windings inside to saltwater, then that's your business.

I believe others were just trying to warn you to look both ways before you cross the street.

Regards,

Ninong

08-23-2001, 02:05 PM	#1
BigBs Just Moved In Join Date: Aug 2001 Posts: 5	Plumbing RIO 3100 as a return Hi, I am going to be using a RIO 3100 as my return pump from my sump. I plan on using 1" pvc for my return line. My question is how do i connect the 1" to the RIO? I believe the RIO has a 7/8" O.D. output. The pump has not arived yet so im not sure if I will getting any parts that will help with this. Any suggestions? Thanks Brian

08-23-2001, 07:44 PM	#3
murchadh Citizen Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Vista, Calfornia! Posts: 123	Is there and adaptor of some sort? __________________ And God said, Let there be fish. And there was. And God saw that they were good.

08-29-2001, 03:07 PM	#8
mastaJ Council Join Date: May 2001 Location: Lakeville, MN Posts: 294	It is just the fact that MANY ppl have had problems with rios and personally I wouldn't risk it... When you get the pump I would take it to the hardware store they have many sizes of tubing availible then figure out a connection i guess, thats what I would do... __________________ -mastaJ

08-29-2001, 06:22 PM	#10
Ninong Moderator Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Louisiana Posts: 19,393	Hi BigBs, welcome to Reefland! Nobody's "trashing" your choice of pumps. All golfish said was: "Before you use a RIO I would do a word search on this pump. Many people my self included have had these pumps fail and leak oil into the tank. Most of the ones that fail are used as sump return." That's just a friendly word of warning in case you were not familiar with the well documented problems involving these pumps. All G said was: "The mere fact that you intend to use a RIO as a return scares me!" It scares a lot of us. I have personally read AT LEAST three dozen different horror stories involving Rio pumps on the various boards. But if you are determined to purchase an ungrounded pump that does not have a thermal cutoff, and that is known to have its flimsy cord separate from the housing, exposing copper windings inside to saltwater, then that's your business. I believe others were just trying to warn you to look both ways before you cross the street. Regards, Ninong P.S. - Quote concerning Rio pumps lifted from the homepage of Dr. Sanjay Joshi, Professor of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering at Penn State Univ: 3 Rio 2000 (these pumps suck and have since been replaced by 2 Mag 500 pumps. I would not recommend anyone to use the Rio's. All the rio's I have had have shorted out. The epoxy coating surrounding the motor windings had cracked in all of them. I almost electrocuted myself with these pumps. I will never use a RIO pump again !!) P.P.S.- Here are a few reports of Rio pump disasters: http://www.thereeftank.com/cgi-bin/u...c&f=6&t=000025 http://www.thereeftank.com/cgi-bin/u...c&f=1&t=002331 http://www.thereeftank.com/cgi-bin/u...c&f=1&t=002399 http://www.thereeftank.com/cgi-bin/u...c&f=1&t=002293 http://www.reefcentral.com/vbulletin...&highlight=Rio http://www.reefcentral.com/vbulletin...&highlight=Rio http://www.reefcentral.com/vbulletin...&highlight=Rio http://www.reefcentral.com/vbulletin...&highlight=Rio http://www.reefcentral.com/vbulletin...&highlight=Rio http://www.reefcentral.com/vbulletin...&highlight=Rio http://www.reefcentral.com/vbulletin...&highlight=Rio http://www.reefcentral.com/vbulletin...&highlight=Rio http://www.reefcentral.com/vbulletin...&highlight=Rio http://www.reefcentral.com/vbulletin...&highlight=Rio http://www.reefcentral.com/vbulletin...&highlight=Rio http://www.reefcentral.com/vbulletin...&highlight=Rio http://www.reefcentral.com/vbulletin...&highlight=Rio http://www.reefcentral.com/vbulletin...&highlight=Rio http://www.reefcentral.com/vbulletin...&highlight=Rio http://www.reefcentral.com/vbulletin...&highlight=Rio http://www.reefcentral.com/vbulletin...&highlight=Rio http://www.reefcentral.com/vbulletin...&highlight=Rio http://www.reefcentral.com/vbulletin...&highlight=Rio http://www.reefcentral.com/vbulletin...&highlight=Rio http://www.reefcentral.com/vbulletin...&highlight=Rio http://www.reefcentral.com/vbulletin...&highlight=Rio __________________ Ninong

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08-23-2001, 07:44 PM	#2
golfish Moderator Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Alta Loma,Ca Posts: 2,925	You should be able to figure something out using a short piece of flex line and barbed fittings. You'll want to use the flex line to take some of the vibration out and make the pump less quite. Before you use a RIO I would do a word search on this pump. Many people my self included have had these pumps fail and leak oil into the tank. Most of the ones that fail are used as sump return. Mark

08-23-2001, 07:52 PM	#4
BigBs Just Moved In Join Date: Aug 2001 Posts: 5	Thanks for the reply. But how do i connect 7/8" to the 1" PVC? Is the output of the RIO barbed? If not how do i connect a barbed fitting to it or can i just slip the tubing on it and secure with a clamp?

08-23-2001, 08:03 PM	#5
golfish Moderator Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Alta Loma,Ca Posts: 2,925	you can slip flex line over the output of the skimmer and secure it with a plastic clamp. I would take the pump to your local pumbing shop when you get it. Try to use some flex line to help with vibration. It will quite the pump down and also keep any joints from breaking loose.

08-29-2001, 01:44 PM	#6
G Citizen Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: So. Cal., USC Country Posts: 249	The mere fact that you intend to use a RIO as a return scares me!

08-29-2001, 01:54 PM	#7
BigBs Just Moved In Join Date: Aug 2001 Posts: 5	Why cant I post a message on this forum and ask for some help from someone and not have people trashing the stuff that i buy??? I am new to this hobby and dont have tons of money to spend on the top of the line equipment. Peolple like you scare new people away from posting messages here. I have read plenty of posts on here from people that have been using RIO's for many years with no problems. I didnt ask for an opinion on the quality of the pump just how to plumb it.

08-29-2001, 04:56 PM	#9
MarkS Governor Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: San Antonio, Tx Posts: 1,799	BigBs, in defense of everyone that posted, you will get these kind of replies on any board. While it is true that many people have had good sucsess with RIO's, a fast growing majority are reporting them COMPLETELY killing their tanks. Which is better? Buying a cheap pump, stocking your tank with hundreds, if not thousands of dollars in livestock only to watch it all be destroyed by the cheap pump. Or would it be better to buy a more expensive pump with a good reputation that will not destroy your tank? These boards are here to help as are the members. You should be glad that they/we care enough to tell you where you are going wrong; even if the replies have nothing to do with the subject. As I stated above, you will recieve these replies on any board. Since finding these boards, I have been warned against: 1.) Seaclone skimmers. 2.) Normal output lighting on reef tanks. 3.) Wet/Dry filters. 4.) Undergravel filters. 5.) RIO pumps. (litterally within days of deciding to buy one) 6.) Many mail order fish stores including: ETropicals.com(although this is under new managment and has improved greatly) and PetSWarehouse.com. 7.) Almost all additives, especially Marc Wiess products, et. al. 8.) 99.99% of the advice of most LFS because 99.99% of the advice they give is for an above mentioned procuct. The list goes on an on. While at the time, I was upset the I could not afford the better products, I quickly learned to trust everyone's opinions here. If even one person said that a certain product killed his tank, I would be very wary of that product. But when one more person says the same thing and then another and then another and another.... You decide. Who would you listen to? Would you risk it? Mark

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