Refugium or Skimmer Pick 1

Pretty much a straight up question, If you could only pick one, what would you rather have, a refugium or a protein skimmer??

So here is why I ask. The sump I built for my 24g Aquapod works great, but because of space, it is configured incorrectly. Now since I need a little more space to set it up right, I need to get rid of either the skimmer or the refugium. If I keep the skimmer I will be able to upgrade to something that works a lot better then the Seaclone, I was thinking a Aqua C Urchin. But, If I keep the Refugium, I will be able to have a deeper sand bed and be able to hold more macroalgae. So what do you guys think. What do reef tanks benefit more from??

Also while I'm here, I need to say thanks to everyone for helping me set up my reef. You guys don't know it, but since January, I have probably visited this site on a daliy basis to gather knowledge on this hobby. I would be screwed, probably broke, and be looking for another hobby if it wasn't for everyone here. Thanks again..

 

By far you need a skimmer before a fuge. Why don't you just sit the skimmer outside the sump and let it discharge back in the sump then you can have the space for the fuge.

 

Can't, not enough room. There is barley enough room to get the sump in the cabinet. Only about 1.5 in on each side and about 2.5 front and back...

 

Then forget the fuge and get a nice skimmer, you will get more benifit off the skimmer. You can always get a hang-on fuge. Refugium

 

Ok, so if I get rid of the refugium, I am wondering if I will start having algae problems in my display tank?? My first nano didn't have a refugium, and it was an algae nightmare. Since I started this tank, the majority of the algae grows in the refugium. Very little accumilates in the display. I'm not sure if the refugium helped with the algae, but there is a huge difference. Plus I run the refugium light at the opposite time as the display for PH level consistancy. Can I still light up the sump w/o a refugium just to keep a constant PH? Thanks..

 

As long as you are not mixing SPS with the rest you shouldn't have a problem not skimming.

I'd run the fuge

 

It's funny you say that because I am planning on putting SPS in the future. The tank is roughly 3 months old. I was going to wait until the new year to start the transition to an SPS dominated tank. As of right now, I have one goby, and a small variety of corals like zoas, mushrooms, and LPS. I'm pretty much using this time to cycle, prepare and learn. Take it slow, right? (everything's been doing good now)

 

+2 I'd never run a reef tank without a skimmer.

 

The skimmer can take out more crap than what the algae can, Your water will be cleaner, also don't overfeed. The refugium is good but mainly just lowers nitrates.

 

So if I scrap the refugium, what about the light cycle? Do I keep it? Also, will I start to accumilate more algae in the display if I don't have a refugium?