Advice? Algae scrubber or protein skimmer

I have both and have been running both for years

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same. I have both and they work great, and have for several years. If your tank starts getting too clean, it's easier to turn off the protein skimmer for several hours.

 

I run both. No problems with pulling to much. I just feed alot.

 

It seems like running a protein skimmer is more normative when given the option of skimmer or algae scrubber but running both is best as long as you keep your nutrients in check.
My question is, is running an algae scrubber more efficient than having a refugium? I know brs is doing an investigation on what type of light is best for refugiums but could that be obsolete if an algae scrubber is more effective and efficient than a refugium?

 

In my opinion/experience. I have better nutrient reduction with an algae scrubber. But I guess if you have a large enough space for a refugium it would do the same. I just never have long term success with the smaller refugium I have tried.
Now I have 3 systems. One is skimmer and scrubber another is just a scrubber and the other is just a skimmer. I don't run GFO or biopellets. So I rely on water changes and scrubber and or just skimmer and scrubber for nutrients reduction. And I run unlit cryptic zones in my sumps that are full of rock and critters.
The refugium I have tried died off or didn't grow anything but slime and hair algae so I just removed them.

 

Interesting. In your experience which system has more algae in the display tank?
I ran a refugium for a while but it also grew algaes that I didn't want like yours.
Is a cryptic zone just a place for extra surface area?

 

I just started the algae scrubber only about 3 weeks ago. Before it was no skimmer just water changes. And I have hair algae. But it should start going away soon. The scrubber is growing really well.
My other tanks hardly any algae in display. That is with scrubber and skimmer.
Cryptic Zone is just an unlit area in my sump with rock for more surface area and it has a bunch of sponges, pods, worms, tube worms and stuff growing in it.