how do I put a refugium/sump in an existing tank?

I have experience with making my own. I went to lowes, they had a 18"x24" piece of thick acrylic for $13. They also cut it for free. Had them make two pieces the sizes i need out of it. I use basic silicone to put them in my 55g sump. Let dry over night.. and she is done! Rocking a big skimmer section with a Vertex IN-180 skimmer, a big fuge with sand/rock/chaeto, and a big return. All is good.
As far as fitting one in your stand. If you can move your stand out you could put it through the back. Otherwise, no idea man. I DEFINATELY would not take the tank apart to put it in. I had to modify the doors on my stand to get the 55g in.

 

on melevs reef (great site) they took the center brace off and held it up by 2by4's could I do that? too risky?

 

is your display already full ? you cant move it ?

 

yup I got about 60lbs of live rock and 2 false per. clowns

 

what if u just used tank with a smaller footprint for your fuge/ filter / balls ect and to save on space threw a HOB protien skimmer on it ? as oposed to the in sump skimmer ?

 

I have a hob skimmer but how would I do that? intake-fuge-return and put it in the intake and put the heater in the fuge?

 

yea all you'd want is the overflow and the return line hanging on your display tank , everything else would go in the fuge / sump

 

I like cdeboard's idea with Lowes.
Ques: Can you get your sump out now? What are the dimensions of your sump? If you can get it out do you think there is enough room to have three zones?
Don't even mess with the stand while you have water in the tank. If you weaken it you might have a more serious problem.
You may be able to work with your sump by using an acrylic divider like cdeboard said. You have time to think this over.

 

just wondering but would a 20 regular be a big enough sump for a 72?