Starting refugium in sump, algae in protein skimmer

[hybridshrimp_]

I'd love to start a refugium to reduce nitrate and phosphate in my tank. I am planning to set it up in the middle section of my sump. However, with putting grow lights into my sump, would algae grow inside my protein skimmer? If it does, would it affect the skimmer's performance? Here is a picture of my sump.

 

[pshootr]

I'd love to start a refugium to reduce nitrate and phosphate in my tank. I am planning to set it up in the middle section of my sump. However, with putting grow lights into my sump, would algae grow inside my protein skimmer? If it does, would it affect the skimmer's performance? Here is a picture of my sump.

Any light going into the skimmer should be relatively indirect. Routine maintenance on the skimmer should take care of any little bit that does grow in there.

 

[Scrubber_steve]

Yes algae would grow in the skimmer.
But, just get a sheet of black plastic to block the light entering the skimmer section

 

[Dave Mrnak]

I agree with @Scrubber_steve a simple ABS plastic would solve your concerns.