Needle wheel technology is an advancement over Beckett type or down flow type skimmers. Admittedly the Coralife skimmer is made of extruded acrylic and so is the other skimmer, and the needle wheel skimmer works better at a smaller operating cost. I would choose the Coralife as it is more efficient and made of the same materials. A needle wheel is also quiet where as the other skimmer is not. Plus downflow skimmers inherently have clogging problems. I have used every imagineable type of skimmer over the years and find the needle wheel skimmers the best advancement in skiimers since venturis. Needle wheels use a venturi principle plus a needle wheel to chop up the air drawn in through a venturi. Definitely the most efficient, quietest skiimers that have ever been available on the market. And they are sold in all sizes and price ranges. Light weight, heavy weight, small, large or HUGE.