Marine Plants , Algaes, Caulerpa, Mangroves

I read from online journals that the use of organic absorbers such as marine algae(Gracillaria,Chaetomorpha,Caulerpa and Mangroves) are getting popular to use in sumps and refiguiums.

Some even claim that mangroves even are so efficient that you don't even need to use protein skimmers in the long term. Has anyone deployed these in their sumps?

"The Hawiian Red Mangrove absorbs nutrients from the water in order to grow, and in turn, helps to lower nitrates and phosphates in the aquarium. The use of mangroves plants for filtration in a saltwater aquarium, particularly for helping to reduce and control nitrates is not a new concept.However, this is changing because more and more aquarists are looking for a "natural" method of filtration for their aquariums, so mangroves are drawing lots of attention. Mangroves not only have the ability to absorb nitrates, but phosphates and other organics as well. In fact, they remove organics so well from the water that they act as a replacement for a protein skimmer. When using mangroves you will notice your protein skimmer working less and less all the time. The more the mangroves grow and mature, the more they absorb the excess organics in your water, and the skimmer has nothing to remove and becomes obsolete. If you are a naturalist and don't want to have to use chemical additives or compounds to reduce and control nitrates in your aquarium, this is a very effective filtration method to consider. Last note, It is important for nutrient control in the aquarium, that when leaves are dropped from the plant that they are not allowed to decay in the aquarium. "

There is nothing new about using algae for natural filtration.

I've used Caulerpa on a tank for about 4 years and it handled Nitrates very well.
I am now using various algae including Chaeto, and Caulerpa. Both handle Nitrates very well but wont keep up with the amount of phosphate produced in a marine tank.
This is based on the average marine tank with average fish stocking and corals.

IMO with all the prepared and frozen food going into a tank and the waste from fish/corals the phosphate will still steadily climb. Even if the main tank is half full of algae.

I haven't used mangroves so cant really comment on them. But i do know the Hawiian Red Mangrove can be slowly acclimated to fresh water.

Can they replace skimmers? It really depends on the set up but over all i would say no.
IME regardless of the amount of algae used the skimmer still pulls out a lot of pollution.

If you choose to go with Chaetomorpha i would set up a refugium in the sump with 9-18W of light over it.
Set this on a reverse lighting period with the tank. So when the lights go off in the main tank they come on over the chaeto.
This keeps the pH stable due to photosynthesis.

If using Caulerpa keep the lights on 24/7. This stops it becoming sexually mature and crashing.

Which ever method you use i would seed it with copepods and also supplement it with iron (Fe).
I would also recommend the use of miracle mud in a refugium. This will also help with phosphates.

Small tank, no sump but have converted hob filter with LR and chaeto on reverse light cycle doing the honours on mine. phosphates non existent or very low and it also keeps nitrates in check. no skimmer but only have softies so not a real test given the other corals are more delicate when it comes to organics.

Mangroves might even be nice to look at in a HOB rather than in the sump as they grow tall. seen some pictures on-line of people with them at the back of the tank and they look cool. sort of like a pauladrium (excuse spelling). look good on fresh or salty.

might cause a problem with all the rednecks and moonshine though