Skimmers are great just make sure get the right one.
This is the one I use and it is connected to a pondmaster 18. Don't use it!!! It does skim the surface well, but it gets clogged easily. If the flow isn't strong enough due to the basket clogging it will suck the inside dry and cause the skimmer with the pump attached to float to the surface and make gulping sounds. This happens when the basket surface area is about 50% covered. The fit between the floating part and the basket has a gap that is just wide enough to allow leaves to slip past. Then the leaves get stuck in the impeller and break it. I have had to replace 2 impellers already. This was the cheapest surface skimmer I could find and I definitely got what I paid for. I may switch to the ones that attach to the liner wall.