I have had quite a few skimmers and my personal fav is still my Aqua Medic Turboflotor 5000 Shorty. I have mine set up as a recirc outsside of the sump and it performs flawlessly. It is truly a set and forget skimmer, and the build quality is awesome.

when size dous not matter
 

I run a DIY skimmer on my 450 gal total water volume

guided by the aqua medict turbo fl. 5000, it is

6 feet tall,
8 inch clear pipe
uses 160W in power
and pushes 3500 L of air into it,

skimmer is runing great, a tweek here and there once in a while, more becouse I feel like it (to se if it could run even better) than that it has to, as it is running fine, and paremeters in tank are all in check

cost, far, far, far below any other skimmer for a tank this size, I think I can build 5 for the cost of one fair brand name.

when you have the space, and dont mind a DIY project, than go for it.

maintanance wise, I clean the cup each 2 to 3 days, as I like to keep it clean and viseble what is happening --- and thats it

I cant upload the pic. I want, as it only alows 600 x 400 (a wide picture) and not a standing picture of 360x 550, se my photo album under my profile for the picture, it is in there

I run a dual Beckett on my larger tank and although it is certainly not cost-efficient and definitely noisy, (that's why I keep it in a closet) I love it.

Running a BK mini 180 here.......I dont know that it is worth over $1000.....after all, it is just some acrylic and a pump.....but I do know that it is by far the best built and quietest skimmer Ive even had the pleasure of owning/seeing/worked with......oh....and it has bling factor:mrgreen:

where did you find the plans for that skimmer?

+10! Wait...why else does one sport a BK?

I'm rockin a Bubble Magus 220CS. My favourite skimmer so far. Easy on the wallet and easy to use. Sure it is made in China but seriously, what isn't? Just about every other piece of equipment I use is made in china, including my iPhone :)

it was build out of the spec from AM, however the famouse Sanders skimmer has about the same spec (only thy have a mazzie ventury that alows them to draw air)

http://www.aqua-medic.com/products/d...y_twn_sngl.pdf

http://www.aqua-medic.com/products/d...y_twn_sngl.pdf

what I found was that with the introduction of some more air, it foams better.

the skimmer neck I first had was 3 1/2 inch however changed it into a 5 inch and a world of diferance.

overall great skimmer, thinking of building a new one, based on the AM TF 10.000 Sander helgoland 500

not that the one is not preforming, more tho se is I can build it (winter time is coming so, would be a nice project

Even things made elsewhere have parts of it made in china.