life reef skimmers?

Hi all,needing some advise on sumps and skimmers,(i know it is cheaper to build my own,but i plan to buy one) ok first the guy i deal with at the lfs said life reef makes good sumps but there skimmers are not very good,anyone ever seem a life reef skimmer in action? he said he could build me a sump with a coralife skimmer and told me coralife is not the best skimmer either could order me an octopus skimmer,also what aout reef mania?now the lfs guy said his sump will be made out of an aquarium(glass) life reef and reef mania will be made out of acrylic,now the lfs guy quoted me $500 complete,(pump,skimmer,overflow return box,hose's,everything,life reef quoted $800 and i am waiting on reef mania.any comments are welcome please,thanks all