I recently purchased a 180 which will be a slow build and it came with a practically brand new D&D terminator 2 skimmer when i cleaned this thing up you couldnt even tell it was ever used. But i dont think that is going to be the best route for my reef. So i ask what is a really good skimmer that i wont have to sell a kidney to get. Could i use the D&D it is rated up to 300 gallons? I also have a friend selling a coral life superskimmer 220 for $100. Im new to the big tanks so any help would be great. Thank you.

Depends on your budget. There are a lot of nice skimmers out there in the $1000 range that would do fantastic, but... they're in the $1000 range. Euro-reef, Deltec, Bubble King, ReefFlo, and a few others are excellent needlewheel skimmers that would work for your situation, assuming you bought an appropriately sized model. MyReefCreations sells beckett skimmers; these are cheaper, but are a little more maintenance.

I'd really recommend looking at the Reeflow 250 skimmer- that'd be plenty for your needs. Sorry- I don't know anything about the two skimmers that you mentioned, although I'd question putting a skimmer only rated to 220g on a 180 reef...