Asking this question will result in a war of bias opinions. What really defines the best skimmer anyways? Truthfully as long as you have a skimmer that is not purchased at the local pet store you are usually going to get a good one. Some skimmers are not justified for there price. I don't think a deltec skimmer that sits 2' tall is worth $3000+. These skimmers will remove gunk from your tank maybe 25% quicker than a skimmer that cost $500. If I was going to buy a skimmer for $3000, it will be a skimmer that is 6' tall with a hugh collection cup, doesn't get clogged, and has amazing contact time.
Reef octopus diablo is definately an amazing skimmer in terms of value/price. Diablo and bubble magnus probably are just as quick to remove detrius as a bubble king rated for the same size (but costing 4 times more).
In conclusion i would not buy a skimmer based on price but more on price/performance/ value. If a bubble king or deltec skimmer made a difference such as removing all phospates, all pest algaes, all diseases, etc than the price is justified. But they do the same exact thing as every other skimmer on the market: make bubbles in a chamber and let nature runs it course. mean while you have all these people on reef central debating about how good there skimmers are and showing pictures of there collection cup. It's a skimmer people get skimmate on old undergravel filters tops (when they discovered it). I have used a odyssea $35 skimmer with success when I used a name brand pump. I highly doubt the quality of their build is justified by there pricing. They are build with the same exact material and thickness with the other brands out there. Ultimately, don't go crazy on a skimmer, instead buy them affordable so you can switch them out every few years. No one should be over-stocking there aquariums with too many fish and corals justified by there amazing skimmer.
