That is cool you and Frankie met

It's great to have local reefers to hang out with and share ideas
You might could get a used skimmer for $150. If you want new, I suggest saving up and getting a good one.
For a hang-on model, get an aquaC Remora pro. I used to have a few and they worked great.
For in-sump, there are many good models out there but try to get one with an ASM/EuroReef design if you can.