Pumps and skimmers? Pricey ones better?

Ok....do the Savio skimmers really work better than the less pricy ones?

And what can anyone tell me about Laguna vs. Tsurumi vs. Harbor Freight vs...others... I'm thinking submersible here....but do the external ones really save that much electricity?

I'm working with my 1,200 gal. pond so I would expect to use a 1,200 - 2,400 pump....altho there's a Laguna 7000 I'm thinking of...

I'd personally go with the less pricey skimmers--they're really (in my opinion) way too similar (and simple) to be worth paying big bucks for, unless you're trying for one of those skimmer-filter combo units.

Pump-wise, I wouldn't skimp. I think it's worth getting something high-quality that you won't have to worry about replacing every year or two, especially if you're thinking about plumbing it in with PVC, and not just submerging it with flex hose where you could pull it right out. If it's going to be run all the time, bearings on the cheaper ones go bad in an awful hurry, and warranties usually only last a year.

I don't know anything about Harbor Freight or Tsurumi, but I do believe that Laguna makes a really good product.

Have not compared differences in electrical use between submersible and external, so can't say anything about that at all. It would seem to me though that pumps rated at similar horsepower would pull similar amounts of current, but maybe not, if one type was drastically more efficient than another...???