Algae in Refugium

[Kronk]

I really dont think anything eliminates the need for a skimmer. Even with a "light" fish load and a TON of algae growing, your skimmer would still pull some foul smelling liquid out of the tank. I personally let green hair algae grow in certain spots of my aquarium because i think it looks cool and it works much like macro algae, i do keep it in check though. I have Caulpera macro algae it differs from chaeto in that it grows roots i have heard the best way to setup your Chaeto is to have it "rolling" like a ball in water flow..good luck... i think its much like java moss in freshwater aquaria.

If you use bioballs to break up Detrius i think it may make it easier for the skimmer to take out, BUT if you have a overflow internal or external wouldnt the poop sink and not float out and therefore break down in the bottom of your tank? If you had a stockman pipe or something that allowed the poop to shoot down into the bioballs i would think your bioballs might trap it rather than breaking all of it up.

Cheers,
Ken