Apparently US$400 for a paper weight:
http://cgi.ebay.com.my/ws/eBayISAPI....3494&indexURL=

;)

If you are looking for inexpensive but good, my experience with the Aquamedic TurboFloater1000 has been excellent . IT is very big (It's only downside in my opinion) but not at all finicky and pulls great skimmate. Only paid $120 used and am very happy with it. Bit of noise but I can't really compare it to anything else as this is all I've used. I currently have a 72G with 25G sump with a pretty high bioload.

Aquamedic
 

X2 Carmen
I really like the Aquamedic, it is cheap and easy to use.

I use an ASM G5 and it is very efficient. There are some very good deals out there on used ASM's.

Tom R

LOL you just got the qoute for the year. Its going to be hard to match this one.

But yes stay far away from the coralife's. all i have heard is bad news. I was in the same position you were in (cause i am a cheap ass) but in the end dishing out the cash for the best skimmer you can afford is the best thing you could ever do with a reef tank. for sure look into vertex and euroreef skimmers. imo they are the best bang for your buck. AC's aren't bad but i heard they are over rated for what they can handle and they are noisey.

J&L is having Vertex on special for 25% off, similar to their Boxing Day sale pricing.

Best bang for the buck for in-sump skimmers at this price-point IMHO.

Anthony

I'm using a ASM G3. I like it, but plan to mod it shortly.

I'd go with a MSX skimmer if I could re-do it (and I will when I get my 180 :))

I love both Octopus skimmer's I've used; NW-200 and the DDNW-250

Brand new the NW-200 is ~$220. The thing worked like a dream, and I never had any issues with it. I regret selling it. You can view them here.

Guide to skimmers
1. Buy what you can afford
2. Buy at least double the capacity
3. Choose between needle wheel and Beckett style
Becketts are better but are sensitive to water levels
4. Choose accordingly to what you want to put in the tank(SPS water quailty requirements are higher)

cheapo inadequate coralife skimmer 125
 

call me a cheapo or whatever you want. i've been running the same crappy(to you folks) underperforming coralife 125 in my 90 + 75 gal sump setup the last 5 years, yup same skimmer + pump still going strong. every month and half i have this urge to go to lfs and pick myself up a bubbleking or a royal exclusive skimmer which are not beyond my means, easily done if i resist impulse to grab those eyecandies for a month or two. then i look at my burgeoning algal growth and the health of things in tank and decided i could wait another month and a half b/4 i commit myself.