Hi:
The HSA1000 was my first beckettskimmer, these are great skimmers, well made, and skim amazing. Both skimmer you mention will work fine for you. The key w/ either of these skimmers will be getting a high powered pump w/ them, I would recommend a mak4 or iwaki40(pressure rated) to drive the HSA. So ensure you add in the cost of the pump to your budget
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I found only one thing bad w/ the HSA skimmer I couldn't fit my hand into the reaction column to clean it, however w/ some ingenutity you can figure it out
As you know there are a number of other beckett skimmers on the market. The HSA skimmer is 45" tall and needs to be external plumbed, if you want to put a skimmer in your sump or under the tank cabinet you should consider other skimmers
here an article on skimmers which might help
frank
I had a ETS 800 for many years and I was never thrilled with the performance (Used MAK4 and Iwaki 55RLT pumps on it). I switched to a beckett based skimmer (custom made) and wow what a difference.
I would suggest the HSA or some other brand of beckett based skimmers over a ETS skimmer of the same size. And ETS skimmers are way over priced. I sold my ETS used for more money than the cost of the replacement beckett skimmer! (Hope that fellow doesn't read this :wink: )
