Protein Skimmer vs. Refugiums?

Hi,

It's been over 10 years since I operated a salt water tank, and new techinques
has left me in catch up mode. So after much reading I have
come to the following conclusion, and I would like opinions / corrections
to finish off my understanding.

I will be setting up a Nano reef system....the AquaMedic Nanowave 9. It
comes with a proten skimmer and a Refugium. I am thinking about running
the system without the skimmer and if the refugium is stocked properly all
should be fine. What do you think? Of course there's the regular
regiment of maintenance required...but the concept of setting up an
almost self sustaining ecosystem really appeals to me. Of course nothing
beats my eco-sphere yet...but that's another project.

Let me know what you think. Thanks


Redbrick

PS: My last tank was a 10 gallon sal****er fish tank with a 1 gallon
sump...believe it or not...I sat the whole setup by the
window and used the sunlight as the lamp...cooling the water was critical
then...but the water quality was so easy to maintain