If you had roughly $1000 to blow on a skimmer...

[llamart]

I love my Precision Marine. Built tough and extremly easy to take apart to clean out.

 

[npaden]

I think the aquamedic twin may indeed be the best bang for the buck.

I really looked hard at getting one but decided it wasn't big enough for my system. I think if you shop around you could get one for less than $1k including shipping.

I ended up with a 6' tall 12" diameter euro-reef external with the genx-6000 pumps. It is a little loud but it is in my shed so noise isn't important and it does skim well. It's over your budget though and I don't think they are making the 6' skimmers anymore.

FWIW, Nathan

 

[Theace50]

FWIW save some more and get the bubbleking its the best out there I just got mine and I am blown away with it my friend sells them here in Staten Island and he has one also they just are simply built to perfection and looks as if its full wit milk the bubbles are so fine and the big kicker is its only 45 watts od power

 

[AllenFord_SC]

Definetly the MR-C8472 .....what a beast!!

http://www.myreefcreations.com/pscommercial.htm

You said give or take a $500 right?

What about if you had $7,000.00 :

http://www.deltecusa.us/proteinskimmers/ap1006.php

I would still take the MR for $1500 over the Deltec for $7,000 if I had Bill Gates money. I mean look at it!

 

[NewMariner]

All you need is a Sea-Clone.....

I have one for sale for 1k

 

[Purple Haze]

some nasty beckett with a bigger than life pressure rated pump.

 

[EmergencyDpt]

Probably consider giving some of my skimmer money to charity... Spending a grand on my hobby at one time would be...ugly.

 

[chucksta1]

I probably could have got a "better" skimmer for that much money, but I wanted it to be...

Quiet,

Small,

Energy efficient,

Plug and play,

Easy to clean,

Plankton friendly (if I so desired)

Reliable,

In sump, no plumbing.

It was Tunze for me.

When I added tax and shipping, there wasn't a lot left from $1000.00 Cdn.