Skimmer Refugium relation

This seems to be one of the most controversial questions out there, i have never read so many contrasted opinions and chances are thats exactly what will happen here. so lets keep it simple.

iv set up a 40 l (11g) refugium for my 180 l (47g) tank. this refu. has a thick sand bed and several live rocks as well as some healthy Caulerpa prolifera. it seems that the skimmer and the bacteria + macro in the refu. have the same effect just at different speeds, so my plan is this.....

run the skimmer during the day and shut it at night (reverse light cycle for the macros), sounds like a good idea? can i get rid of the skimmer as a whole? (this is where the endless debate starts)

inhabitants

2 percula
1 6 liner
1 diamond goby
1 flame angel
2 yellow tale blue damsels
about 8 snails + 3 peppermint shrimps + 2 skunk shrimps for my CUC

1 Tourch Coral
1 Exenia silver
3 Exenia pulsing
4 ricordia (brown, orange, green, purple)
other mushrooms
3 toadstools
2 BTA

let me know of your experiences on the matter.

Cheers
-Jeff-