side lit refugium

[Meshmez]

Hey everyone,
Im planning out my sump for my new tank, and im planning on having a chaeto refugium. anyone see any issue with lighting it from the side through the sump tank wall? I figure this way it would be easier to prevent the light from spilling over into other compartments causing algae where I don't want it.

 

[flooddc]

I think it should be fine. However, you will need to clean the side often as algae will grow on the side.
I have a stock tank as a sump and tired of cleaning algae inside the skimmer due to light spilled over. So I took a 5 gallon bucket and drilled 4x1.5" holes near the bottom. drop it into the sump. Put my chaeto into the bucket and place the light direct over the bucket. No more light spill over and never have to clean the skimmer since then.

 

[pyithar]

the only issue i can see is algae growing on the sump wall and blocking some light to get to chaeto if you don't clean it often.